North Putnam solar park update

BAINBRIDGE -- The North Putnam School Corporation, in cooperation with Johnson-Melloh Solutions and Duke Energy, announced Wednesday that its solar park is under way and is nearing full functionality.

Vice President of Sales and Operations Jami Krynski explained the park's current status to the school board during its monthly meeting.

"We're moving through our engineering in our collaboration with Duke -- that's going very well," Krynski said. "We haven't got the Interconnection Agreement (with Duke) completely done, but we're getting pretty close.

"In terms of the physical attributes, last week and the week before we worked on getting all of the foundations installed," Krynski continued. "You'll see the fences are completely up now. We've also started the racking installation that will actually house the modules -- that should run its course in the next five or six days."

Krynski went on to give timelines for other projects which are expected to fall during ideal times.

"It will all come together, physically, in the next two weeks," Krynski said. "Hopefully, by Thanksgiving, we'll have most of the underground work done, and we're looking to get at least half of the system energized before the end of the year. We're probably in the 60 percent complete range, and 60 to 100 percent goes pretty fast."

In other business:

* North Putnam "Celebrated Success" to open Wednesday's meeting as principals Rodney Simpson, Scott Spencer, Scott Miller and Jason Chew acknowledged the hard work done by several of their students. Simpson introduced students Jayce Monnett and Colton Asher; Spencer introduced student Alex Ventura; Miller introduced student Izaiah West; and Chew introduced student Madisyn Smith, honoring them for their dedication and improvements.

* The board approved four federal grants: Title II ($48,870), High Ability ($31,000) and Technology ($30,000). A Title I grant was also approved.

"Our assistant principals and principals have worked very hard to secure these grants," Superintendent Dan Noel said. "Several of our programs could not function without these."

* Superintendent Noel has approved several fundraisers: The high school band will sell an entertainment coupon app; the high school wrestling team will sell custom-made flip-flops, "slides" and socks Nov. 9-27; the high school Cougarettes will sell PartyLite Candles Nov. 19-Dec. 4; the high school softball team will sell Casey's VIP cards March 10-18.

* Superintendent Noel has approved the following field trips: The Fine Arts Academic Team visited the Indianapolis Museum of Art on Nov. 5 and eighth-grade students will visit Area 30 in Greencastle on Dec. 11.

* Neola Policies were discussed for potential adoption. No action was taken Wednesday.

* Professional leave for Kyle Black, Annette Maier, Jessica Wright, Kristy Lippencott and Matt Wargel received approval so the employees can attend an AP Workshop at Butler University Nov. 23-24.

* Revisions to the Student Wellness Policy were approved via a 6-0 vote.

* Several hirings, transfers, resignations and temporary leaves of absence were approved Wednesday: Kinzi Pierce, medical leave effective Jan. 4 -March 7, 2016; Donna Adams, resigned as instructional assistant, effective Nov. 6; Amee Bryan, resigned as cafeteria aide, effective Nov. 16; Dallas Meadows, resigned as bus driver, effective Nov. 6; Cameron Brothers, hire as temporary teacher to cover for Bill Brothers while on medical leave, effective Nov. 18; Elizabeth Barnett, hire as instructional assistant to replace Julie Mitchell, effective Nov. 18; Tiffany Trissel, hire as bus driver, effective Nov. 18; Ciara Boyer, hire as head swim coach at the middle school, effective Nov. 18; Brandy Dickson, hire as assistant swim coach at both the high and middle schools, effective Nov. 18; Randy Funk, hire as outdoor education teacher for field trip to Camp Tecumseh, effective Nov. 18; Amee Bryan, transfer from middle school cafeteria aide to instructional assistant to replace Donna Adams, effective Nov. 18; Becky Clahan, transfer as second-shift custodian at Roachdale Elementary to first-shift custodian at the middle school, effective Nov. 18; Steve Grant, hire as substitute custodian and substitute bus aide, effective Nov. 18; Kathy Green, hire as second-shift custodian to replace Clahan, effective Nov. 18; Patricia Potts, hire as substitute custodian, effective Nov. 18; Katrina Perry, resigned as instructional assistant (special education) at the high school, effective Nov. 17.

The next North Putnam School Board public meeting will be Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. at the corporation's administration office in Bainbridge, located at 300 N. Washington St.