NP board makes new hires, talks long-term plans

BAINBRIDGE — The North Putnam School Board moved to approve several new hires for the upcoming school year at their monthy meeting Thursday evening.

However, the vote was not without some controversy, as board members weighted the prospect of staff cuts with the need to replace faculty and staff who have left.

These two issues briefly drove a wedge between Daniel Noel, who will be stepping down as superintendent later this month, and Travis Lambermont, who represents Clinton Township.

Lambermont, who was opposed to the approval, voiced his concern about not being able to maintain new faculty due to overstaffing and other issues like declining enrollment.

“We don’t want to hire then fire next year,” Lambermont said, expanding upon comments made at the meeting’s start about having too many teachers in social studies.

At that same point, as throughout the discussion, Noel acknowledged Lambermont’s overall point that the board should seriously review the logistical neccesity of bringing in new teachers and counselors.

However, Noel believed that the necessity was there.

“We may be overstaffed in social studies, but not in all areas,” Noel said, asserting that the replacements were needed to keep the schools going as best they could.

Noel would later provide that they had to put faith in the schools’ individual assessments as to fulfilling their needs. This came after Lambermont stated that the board needed discretionary action to replace teachers.

“Where is the directive to replace teachers?” Lambermont asked in tempered frustration.

Other board members responded saying that it was not in the best interest to keep new hires waiting, especially if they were quality candidates.

Ultimately, Noel’s stance that it was necessary to fill these positions resonated, even as he further acnknowledged that the board would have to address cuts when it came time to review performance and staffing.

The board accepted the resignation of the following faculty and staff:

•Morgan McCance, teacher for Bainbridge Elementary, effective May 25, 2018

•Lana Powell, second-grade teacher for Bainbridge Elementary, effective at the end of the 2017-18 school year

•Jesse Winger, ninth and 10th-grade counselor for North Putnam Middle School, effective June 12, 2018

•Bryce McCoy, sixth-grade social studies teacher for North Putnam Middle School, effective at the end of the 2017-18 school year

The board accepted the retirement of the following faculty and staff:

•Ann Wynn, seventh-grade science teacher for North Putnam Middle School, effective at the end of the 2017-18 school year

•Cynthia Mindiola, instructional assistant for Bainbridge Elementary, effective at the end of the 2017-18 school year

The board also approved the following new hires for teaching:

•Jacob Bender, sixth-grade social studies teacher for North Putnam Middle School, effective for the 2018-19 school year

•Andrew Hardy, seventh-grade social studies teacher for North Putnam Middle School, effective for the 2018-19 school year

•Jonathan Hathaway, guidance counselor for North Putnam Middle School, effective as of board approval on June 21, 2018

•Kimberly Thomas, special education teacher for North Putnam High School, effective for the 2018-19 school year

•Jennifer Neureiter, Title I teacher for Bainbridge Elementary, effective for the 2018-19 school year

•Nichole Houser, first-grade teacher for Bainbridge Elementary, effective for the 2018-19 school year

•Amy Certain, ninth- and 10th-grade counselor and Freshmen Solutions (CKOM) sponsor for North Putnam High School, effective for the 2018-19 school year

•Jordan Blaire, Spanish teacher for North Putnam High School, effective for the 2018-19 school year

•Kathryn McGuire, instructional assistant for North Putnam High School, effective Aug. 8, 2018

The board approved the following hires for extracurricular activities:

•HS Girls’ Basketball: head coach - Jarrod Duff; varsity asssitant coaches: Brad Szczerbik, Hilary Vukovits, Jenny Heron and Jim Brothers;

JV head coach - Hilary Vukovits

•HS Boys’ Basketball: head coach - Collin McCartt, varsity assistant coaches - Craig Franklin and Kyle Gilliat;

JV head coach - Kyle Gilliat

•HS Football: assistant coach - Kim Carnes

•MS/HS Cross Country: assistant coach - Cassie Busch

•MS Cheerleading: coaches - Kayla Wiatt, Bethany Guyer and Adria Stephens

Finally, the board accepted the resignations and hirings from the following in extracurriculars:

•MS Volleyball: resignation of seventh-grade head coach Bethany Wiatt

New seventh-grade coach - Ashley Rust, seventh-grade assistant coach - Christy Black

•MS Football: resignation of head coach - Bryce McCoy

New head coach - Michael Murphy

•MS Wrestling: resignation of head coach - Bryce McCoy

The board also recognized Noel for his six years of service to the school corporation as superintendent. He will be succeeded by Nicole Singer, who has served as the superintendent of Hamilton Community Schools in DeKalb County.

The next North Putnam School Board meeting will be on July 19 at 7 p.m. at the Administration Office.