South Putnam board looks at possibility of youth football field

The youth football league was a major topic of discussion for the South Putnam School Board during its monthly meeting Monday evening.

Athletic Director Troy Burgess came before the board in hopes of seeking approval for the youth league, which is unrelated to the corporation, to move forward with building a field that the league cannot only practice on, but play its games on as well.

"They've asked me if they can begin start moving some dirt out there to put a football field in," Burgess said. "They also got some donations and they want to be able to put signs up."

The league currently practices on a small portion of land located on the northwest corner of the high school lot. Burgess noted that they have everything laid out for their football field with Clark Brothers doing a lot of the donating and the work itself.

"Their plans are to have them come out and paint the lines for any power lines, water lines and any of that kind of stuff, but I advised them they couldn't do anything until I received your approval," Burgess explained. "Since I've been here we've talked about doing that, but it's always been well we've got to have enough money to put in bleachers, a score board, bathrooms and a concession stand. My advice to them was to get a field built. Get the money to get the field with goal posts and that's pretty good progress."

The upgrading of the field will take some time. It's not something that can be done overnight. However, Burgess noted that the youth group has a good plan in place and a time line of what they hope to accomplish year-by-year.

Although, board member Anthony Heavin had some concerns such as if it was really necessary to have a dedicated youth football field, cost and more.

Burgess noted that the varsity field, which the league currently plays its games on, gets a lot of use each year and the board will soon have to focus its attention on repairing the field in the coming months.

"That field just takes a beating," Burgess said. "In the last two years 44 (total with all groups) football games have been played in the field out here. This new field will also give them an area to practice. Right now, they're practicing on some pretty unleveled ground up there. It gives them a nice little area of their own. The thing about it that's really appealing is, it's at no cost to the school other than piece of land right there that they're using anyway."

Burgess noted that the league is not asking for any money from the corporation. Rather, they just want approval to keep raising the money with the hope of creating a dedicated space for the league.

With several members expressing concerns about the sustainability of the field as well as who will have access to the field, it was determined that a representative from the youth league come and speak to the board during its October meeting.

"I think it's great," board member Angie Nichols said. "I've wanted to see it happen for a while."

Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt also gave the board a brief update on the status of the student count, which was done on Friday.

"It will be a few days before we lock everything down exactly," Bernhardt explained. "There's a lot of double checking on students and making sure we have records right."

Bernhardt noted that at this time it appears that the corporation as a whole is down five students from the last count, which was done in February. However, it is still up nearly 10 students from last year.

In other business:

* The board approved Amanda King, Chad Nunley, Karen Heavin, Wes Hacker, Kieth Puckett, Todd Gowen, Dan Bain, Matt Griswold, Brian Berry, Val Haddon, Craig Newby, Jerod Chew, Beth Arnold and Jamie Steffy as members of the Agriculture Advisory Board.

* The board also approved the resignation of bus aide Dyan Phillips, the retirement of custodian Steve Goodpaster and the termination of food service worker Holly Smith.

* The hiring of part-time food service worker Nancy Ashcraft, bus aide Melissa Leake, part-time instructional assistants Marcia Nichols and Rebekah Richardson and custodian Tim Stanifer. Lori Boyce was also named as the new food service director.

* The board also approved the master contract with the South Putnam CTA.

* The board also approved a $300,000 appropriation from the rainy day fund, which will be used to help fund the remaining cost of the recent construction project as well as technology purchases.

* The South Putnam School Corporation will be holding a public auction at Reelsville Elementary Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. Among the items up for sale are old desks, TV's, refrigerators, tables, chairs and more.