Lawsuit dropped for NPSCS, solar panels discussed at meeting

Meeting for the first time on its new night of the month, the North Putnam Community School Corporation (NPCSC) met on Wednesday, March 18 to address the dismissal of the lawsuit brought against the school by the ACLU, construction projects and several hires and resignations.

The lawsuit claimed that when the school board denied the formation of the North Putnam Alliance, a gay-straight alliance club at North Putnam High School, it violated students' First Amendment rights as well as the federal Equal Access Act and that a GSA is allowed the same rights of other extracurricular clubs.

The lawsuit was made public in an announcement made by the ACLU on Dec. 23, 2014.

The NPCSC board then approved the formation of the club during a meeting held on Wednesday, Jan 7.

The topic was not actively discussed at the most recent meeting (it was one of a series of informational items that are regularly reviewed on the agenda but require no decision by the board) but, it appears to mark the end of the litigation.

According to NPSCS attorney Gene Hostetter, the lawsuit did not require legal action in the time between when the lawsuit was filed and when the school board approved the North Putnam Alliance.

As a result there were no additional financial costs for the school corporation in connection with the lawsuit.

The case, Gay-Straight Alliance at North Putnam High School, et al v. North Putnam Community School Corporation, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Terre Haute Division.

Updates to ongoing renovations at North Putnam schools being done by Johnson Melloh have been a regular part of school board meetings for a while, with this month being no different.

Project manager Andy Cooper was in attendance with several colleagues to explain that the current projects should be nearly complete by the end of spring break.

Cooper has been vocal at school board meetings about continuing to work with North Putnam to make it the first "net-zero" energy school in the state, using solar power as a means to achieve that goal.

While there is not currently a solar park being constructed, nor has a proposal been approved, the idea has been floating around the school board meetings for some time.

Cooper again spoke to his excitement about the potential project.

"We are pretty fired up about it and it should bring you some good publicity," he said.

While still in a conversational stage as present renovation projects are being completed, the idea is that if North Putnam middle and high schools could utilize a five acre solar park to create enough energy so that both schools would be energy self-sufficient.

In other business:

* The board addressed a variety of personnel changes, including voting against the rehiring of both Collin McCartt as the NPHS head boys' basketball coach and Jim Spencer as the NPHS head girls' basketball coach. For more, please read our story at the Banner Graphic HERE.

* The board also approved a variety of athletic hires at NPHS, including Bucky Kramer as head wrestling coach; Linda Patrick as boys' golf coach; Oliver Haste as assistant baseball coach volunteer and Randy Summers as assistant boys' track coach volunteer.

* Additionally, the board approved several new hires at NPMS, including Doug Baker and Greg Freije as assistant boys' track coach volunteers; Shawn Tennis as volunteer softball coach; Laurie Hensley as girls' assistant track coach volunteer; Rachel Young as assistant softball coach volunteer; and Jana Brothers as English academic team coach.

* Other hires approved by the board include Mathew Day as a temporary math teacher for NPHS; Brien Holsapple as maintenance worker for the corporation and Marv Kirkham as custodian for NPHS and NPMS.

* The board approved the termination of Danny Blanton as school bus driver.

* The meeting opened with "Celebrating Success," highlighting the achievements of North Putnam students. Bainbridge Elementary School principal Rodney Simpson honored Brayden Monnett and Wyatt Kendrick; Roachdale Elementary School principal Scott Spencer acknowledged the fourth- and fifth-grade math bowl teams; NPMS principal Scott Miller recognized Lexanne Fuchs and NPHS principal Jason Chew honored Jenna Olsen.

* The board discussed replacing several buses, using the trade-in value of several existing vehicles to help offset costs. The trade-in value of six buses was estimated at $28,500 and would leave the overall bid at a cost of $232,000. Approval was made by the board but, pending further research of the cost of getting diesel engines as opposed to gasoline in several of the smaller buses in hopes to extend service life.

* Troy and Becky Greenlee of Straight Paths Driving School were approved to provide driver education at NPHS.

* The board approved a recommendation for Terry Tippin to receive salary pay for his time as acting superintendent.

The next regularly scheduled school board meeting is slated for Wednesday, April 15 at the school corporation administration office at 300 N. Washington St. in Bainbridge.

Regularly scheduled meetings of the North Putnam School Corporation Board of School Trustees are conducted at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month and are open to the public.