Mothers express concern over new pick-up policy

Several mothers and a teacher expressed concern about Central Elementary's new pick-up and drop-off procedures during the South Putnam School Corporation's board meeting on Tuesday. The changes have been in place for three weeks.

"I know you're trying to revamp and I appreciate it," Corrie Estes, one of the mothers, said. "But it is really crazy. There are cars almost out to (U.S.) 40. I'm thankful you tried to change it, but it does need to be tweaked," adding later that the long pick-up time would cause students to be out in bad weather.

"We've been looking at ways to wind around and shorten that (line)," Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt said. "We are locked in a short space, and you're right about that."

"Our concern is not the wait time," Jamie Helton, another mother, said. "But if I had to pick up my daughter for a dentist appointment at 2:30, I can't get in here. Two cars had to drive the wrong way to get in here," adding that, while in the morning the parking lot is functional, in the afternoon it is "useless."

President Wes Hacker said that the purpose of the changes were to "alleviate" situations in which students might be hit by buses, but that the procedures were not "locked in stone." He told the mothers to get his contact information after the meeting for further comments and that he would personally observe the pick-up and drop-off in the near future.

"Thank you for taking the time to show up and for caring about your school," he said.

Vice President Steve Cash asked Penny Long, a secretary at Fillmore Elementary, present at the meeitng, about pick-up and drop-off procedures at Fillmore Elementary. She said that the buses are sent to the back while parents are sent to the front.

Director of Transportation Neil Rissler is expected to attend the next meeting to discuss the necessary changes.

In other developments:

-- Caroline Hodge (Central Elementary, 4th grade); Jaicee Jackson (Fillmore Elementary, 4th grade); Keeli Pastore (South Putnam Middle School, 6th grade) and Julianna Delano (South Putnam High School, senior) were named April's Students of the Month.

-- The board unanimously approved the hire of Anita Ferrand as grant writer. Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt said that while this is an unpaid position, Ferrand could receive funds from "administrative costs" included in any received grants. Ferrand is currently the executive director of the South Putnam Community Education Foundation, which provides scholarships to South Putnam students. As a grant writer, Ferrand will be working with teachers and staff on various projects.

-- At the recommendation of Superintendent Bernhardt, the board unanimously approved the following appointments, which will take place this fall at the start of the 2016-17 school year:

-- Debbie Steffy, Principal of Fillmore Elementary

-- Todd Gowen, Principal of Central Elementary

-- Zachary Love, Assistant Principal of South Putnam Jr./Sr. High School

-- The board unanimously adopted the district's Responsible Use Policy for students' take-home laptops. Tona Gardner, director of Cirriculum Instruction and Technology Integration, said that the policy was assembled by the Teacher Technology Team, which reviewed other schools' policies and their outcomes. She also said that changes could be made to the document "as needed" with the board's approval.

More information about the policies will be available at the device distribution date set for August 2 at 6 and 7:45 p.m. The Responsible Use Policy, as well as Device Usage Guidelines and Procedures" and other helpful information, can be viewed online at sputnam.weebley.com.

Director Gardner also answered some questions the board had about using a third party to process device repair fees. She said that using a third party would be more user-friendly, make it easier to collect deductibles and for parents to understand what they're paying for, prevent the need for more effort or staff and provide information for future decision making.

-- Steve Ricketts, director of Five-Star Technology, said that the Mill Creek Community School Corporation, whose middle school students have had take-home devices for two years and their high school students for one year, paid $15,000 in out-of-pocket repairs this year. Superintendent Bernhardt said that Mill Creek has about 400 more students, and Ricketts cautioned that South Putnam uses a different device and case.

"We might be ahead of the game with the equipment we have," board member Angie Nichols said.

In other business:

-- The board unanimously approved total April claims at $526,388.06, down $58,000 from last month's claims.

-- The board unanimously approved the following personnel changes:

-- Resignations: Kacie Daughtery (Middle School Cheer Coach) and Becky Plunkett (High School Cheer Coach).

-- New Hires: Kacie Daughtery (High School Cheer Coach), Megan Milner (Middle School Cheer Coach), and Rachelle Custis (Middle/High School Head Volleyball Coach).

-- Leave of Absence: Tracey Heet (Middle/High School; through the end of the school year)

-- The board unanimously appointed Terri Beasley the privacy officer for the school corporation, as required by its health insurance program. As Privacy Officer, Beasley will ensure that the school corporation complies with current privacy law. She is also the board's deputy treasurer. Superintendent Bernhardt said that while Beasley has been the privacy officer for years as part of her human resources duties, recent requirements dictated the need to officially designate a privacy officer.

-- The school board approved setting the non-resident student admission deadline at May 25 in a 4-1 vote. The deadline is for students who want to transfer into the school corporation.

"We have a large number of students who are transferees," Superintendent Bernhardt said during the short discussion. He added that with the deadline being on the last day of the students' year, "we literally do not set a date on when they can transfer to us. I've always felt that, if there's a student who wants to transfer, why should we want to limit that?"

Anthony Heavin was the dissenting vote, explaining after the meeting that, "I think it doesn't affect people who move into the corporation. I see little benefit for the student or the corporation to accept them in the last months of the school year."

-- Superintendent Bernhardt reported that the schools are finishing up the second round of ISTEP testing, and encouraged parents to make sure their students get plenty of sleep and keep a positive attitude.

The next school board meeting will be May 16 at 7 p.m. in the Central Elementary music room.