South Putnam recognizes spell bowl competitors

Thursday, December 1, 2016

The South Putnam School Board recognized the Central Elementary Spell Bowl team for its achievements in recent competitions.

The team -- consisting of Trenton Craddock, Lilly Emmerich, Madison Gardner, Dylan Gilley, Caroline Hodge, Elly Holland, Alexa Newby, Madison Stahl and Naomi Sunderman -- placed 13th in the state out of 134 elementary schools.

Craddock, Gardner, Hodge and Holland all received nearly perfect scores.

The board also recognized the middle school team for winning the middle school competition, but the team was not present.

In other developments:

-- Central elementary playground: The board approved granting the Central Elementary PTO $12,900 for mulch in a 4-1 vote with President Wes Hacker opposing.

-- Claims: The board approved the claims at a total of $714,359.26, an increase of $236,079.37 from October but a decrease of $67,372.49 from the March-November average.

-- Fillmore Elementary internet: Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt reported that Endeavor Communications had begun installing internet fiber at Fillmore Elementary School and should complete the job in a couple weeks.

-- Personnel report: The board unanimously approved the following personnel report:

-- Resignations: Marcia Nichols (Central Elementary) and Kelly Urton (middle/high school) as instructional assistants.

-- Hires: Jennifer Tomaw (Central) and Lindsay Teipen (middle/high school) as instructional assistants, Andrea McCammack (bus driver), Jamie Basore (middle school girls’ basketball coach), Cole Dunbar (middle school boys’ basketball coach), John Briones and Haley Shawhan (elementary girls’ co-coordinator) and Natalie Lugg (middle/high school girls’ co-assistant swim coach).

-- School calendar: The board approved the 2017-18 school calendar in a 4-1 vote with Vice President Steve Cash opposing. Cash said his reason for opposing was that he doesn’t like the students starting on a Friday, but the entire board disagreed with how soon the students start school (Aug. 4).

-- South Putnam FFA: South Putnam FFA adviser Amanda King delivered a report on all the chapter has been up to this fall, which included winning state and national competitions.

“Thank you for carrying on our tradition here at South,” school board President Hacker said to King.

“Yes, we certainly want to congratulate them,” Superintendent Bernhardt added. “State winners and national winners; you’ve brought a lot of accolades to South Putnam. We’re proud of your hard work and we’re proud of your teacher’s hard work.”

-- Subsitute teacher pay: The board unanimously approved increasing substitute teacher pay to $65 per day. It had been $60 per day for the last 15 years.

The next South Putnam School Board meeting will be Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Central Elementary School music room.

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