South Putnam OKs tobacco policy change

In its last regular meeting of 2018 last Wednesday, the South Putnam School Board addressed three considerable items on its agenda. Those items will affect South Putnam students and staff in different ways.

After the meeting was called to order, school officials heard information from high school Assistant Principal Zachary Love regarding an update to the tobacco and vaping policy at the middle school and high school. This is part of a county-wide initiative to align school policy and have law enforcement play a bigger role.

While South Putnam’s policy itself will not change, the update provides that police may issue a $295 ticket for the use or harboring of tobacco and vaping products on school grounds.

However, Love related that students who complete a six-hour tobacco cessation program and pay a $50 fine can have that ticket deferred. The ticket can be reinstated if the student continues to break the policy. This process will be mitigated through the Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office.

Love said that other area school corporations have already approved the new enforcement, and said that South Putnam could begin its part at the start of the spring semester.

Board members expressed concern about how parents and students could be informed about the addition. School administrators present at the meeting agreed that information defining tobacco products and vaping devices, in addition to the county-wide policy, could be shared electronically and by phone.

The board next heard a presentation by Andrew Christiansen and Joseph Haley of the Turfdogs landscaping company about the sports field maintenance that is needed at South Putnam. A bid by the Indianapolis-based company is being considered to do repairs and upkeep of the baseball, softball and football fields, as well as the practice football field.

Christiansen provided that Turfdogs would provide full-service turf management at a total cost of about $10,000. However, he provided that all of the grass blends and fertilizer they use are organic, and will keep the fields green and mitigate weeds such as dandelions as well as grubs. While providing those technical aspects, Christiansen said the timeline for general applications would start in March, and would continue on a tailored weekend basis throughout the year as needed.

While cost was an issue for board members, Haley said its prices for the material and servicing stay the same regardless of distance or need. The company has consistently maintained the sports fields at Greencastle High School and other larger schools in the state such as Cathedral High School and Brebeuf Preparatory School.

The board finally heard a presentation by middle school/high school counselors Heath Pruitt and Brian Gardner on adopting Graduation Pathways as a option to help current high schoolers graduate. The new program instituted by the State Board of Education (SBOE) allows for students who cannot pass the ISTEP+ standardized tests to earn credit for service and work-based initiatives. Such credit can be earned through class-based projects, internships and community service. The new diploma track also takes post-secondary readiness into account through measures such as SAT scores.

Graduation Pathways will become mandatory for the Class of 2023 and after, as the state is indicating a move away from the ISTEP+ as a gauge of proficiency. The North Putnam School Board adopted the track at its regular board meeting in November.

The board voted to adopt Pathways as an option for current students.

The board also thanked David Bombei for his 11 years of service to South Putnam Schools as a board member. Bombei will retire his position as the Warren Township representative effective at the beginning of 2019, and will be succeeded by Craig Newby.

Additionally, the board recognized South Putnam’s Students of the Month for December. Third-grader Alexia Kuhlman (who was not present at the meeting) and second-grader Rhea Dean were recognized from Central and Fillmore Elementary respectively. Seventh-grader Evan Hinkle represented South Putnam Middle School, and sophomore Evan Steffy was honored by staff at South Putnam High School.

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• Resignation: Janet Perry, part-time Fillmore Elementary food service.

• Termination: Bonita Murphy, Fillmore Elementary head cook.

• New hires: Lindsey Sprinkle, part-time Central Elementary food service; Megan Milikan, Fillmore Elementary part-time instructional assistant; Gwendolyn Pittl, Fillmore Elementary head cook; April Gorsline, Fillmore part-time food service; Kelley Leonard, bus driver; and Mike Bridgewater, mechanic.

The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. in the South Putnam Middle School/High School Learning Center.