North Putnam board hears construction project update

BAINBRIDGE -- In the wake of a new school year starting, there seems to be optimism as North Putnam Schools continues with renovation work and positioning its budget.

As the first order of business on Thursday, Matt Griffey of Shambaugh & Son gave an update on where work stands with North Putnam’s ongoing, corporation-wide renovation project. Overall, he said despite some hiccups and missed details, the renovations are quickly moving along.

Griffey said “Phase 1” of the project was nearing completion, with bathrooms at the south end of North Putnam High School and locker rooms needing paint and caulking.

Griffey added that some lockers recently installed at North Putnam Middle School were damaged either during transport or installation, but would be repaired as soon as possible. The overhauled office space at Roachdale Elementary School was also behind, but close, with touch-ups being needed. The roof at Roachdale Elementary was also reported as coming further along.

Griffey concluded that “Phase 2” of the renovation project was expected to kick off within the next week or so.

In response to a question from board member Dustin Osborn on where the project’s budget stood, Griffey said even though some decisions are being made as the renovations go along, the balance had remained stable.

Superintendent Nicole Singer added that some compromise could be required in the future on some of the renovations across the buildings, and this would be to ensure that the budget stayed on track.

Updates on the project will now be a regular point brought up during the board’s monthly meetings.

Corporation Treasurer Tanya Pearson addressed the next major item on the agenda with speaking on the 2020 budget, specifically rates and levies.

To the taxpayer, the most important element is that the corporation’s tax rate went up from 69 cents in 2019 to $1.42 next year. This increase is mostly to account for the costs incurring from the renovation project. However, another reason is that the funds for debt service, operations and rainy day expenses went up.

Singer emphasized that the district has potentially lost 12 students, meaning that the corporation only lost funding from the state through ADM, or average daily membership. However, the budget this time is positioned to handle a loss of 25-30 students to account for funding North Putnam could get.

It is also of note that the corporation’s assessed value has been projected to decrease from $577,768,475 for 2019 to about $530 million in the next year.

With these figures in mind, the corporation’s tax levy is, at this juncture, set at $7,549,599, with the tax rate set to account for the difference.

As is the same for other districts, North Putnam will conduct a student enrollment count on Sept. 13. Another will be done next February.

After Pearson provided her feedback, the board approved to advertise the projected budget. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled to be held during the board’s regular session next month.

In other business, the board also granted for the corporation to stick with Wright Specialty Insurance for casualties, workman’s comp and liabilities. Board members also approved a policy for fairly rewarding teachers who are rated as effective to highly effective.

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• New hires: Bryant Pestoff, high school math teacher; Eric VanHaaften, high school teacher/director of alternative school and credit recovery; Caitlyn McMurtry, Roachdale Elementary instructional assistant; Fred Shorter, high school assistant football coach; Cierra Brown, high school assistant cheer coach; Ashley Rust, high school assistant volleyball coach; Jenny Heron, middle school/ high school assistant volleyball coach and fifth, sixth and eighth-grade assistant volleyball coach; Christie Summers, seventh-grade head volleyball coach; Shay Lucas, sixth-grade assistant volleyball coach; Amanda Storm, seventh-grade assistant volleyball coach; Brandy Dickson, fifth-grade assistant coach; Scott Curran, high-school girls’ assistant soccer coach and middle school assistant soccer coach; Brandi Monnett, sixth-grade boys’ head basketball coach; and Billi Martin, sixth-grade boys’ assistant basketball coach;

• Resignation: Collin McCartt, middle school business teacher;

• ECA: Kristy Lippencott, high school math academic coach and department head; Kyle Morgan, high school social studies academic coach and department head/National Honor Society sponsor; Annette Maier, high school science academic coach and science/PE/health department head; Monique Fields, academic coordinator/language arts academic coach/yearbook sponsor; Sarah Chizum, high school fine arts academic coach and department head/Art Club sponsor; Chase Hiland, high school Spell Bowl academic coach and language arts/foreign language department head; Katrina Skirvin, high school technology and practical arts department head/FFA sponsor; Janna Oxford, high school FFA sponsor; Kathy Sykes, high school special education department head; Lauren Alspaugh, high school guidance department head/PEP Club sponsor; Amy Certain, high school Frosh Solutions; Dustin Bond, high school Major Production director/Musical One director; Matt Wargel, high school musical orchestra director/high school and middle school music director; Jason LaFever, high school Musical One vocal director/high school and middle school vocal director/Thespians Club sponsor; Morgan Asher, high school musical pianist/music choral accompanist; Jordan Baire, high school Spanish Club sponsor/sophomore class sponsor; Ashley Smith, high school FCCLA sponsor; Brandy Dickson, high school Key Club sponsor; Sheri Roach, high school Gay/Straight Alliance Club sponsor; Nikki Ash, high school FCA Club sponsor; Chris Geeser, high school freshman class sponsor; Krysten Kingery, high school junior class co-sponsor; Jeannie Haste, high school junior class co-sponsor; Jessica Neild, high school senior class sponsor; Kylee Clodfelter, high school Student Council sponsor; Randall Funk, middle school academic competition coordinator/science academic coach/sixth-grade outdoor academic; Jennifer Fischer, middle school language arts academic coach; Andrew Hardy, middle school social studies academic coach; Bonnie Osborn, middle school math academic coach; Matthew Couch, sixth-grade outdoor academic; Jacob Bender; sixth-grade outdoor academic; Cathy Tesmer, sixth-grade outdoor academic; Christina Miller, sixth-grade outdoor academic/Spell Bowl coach; Jessyca South, sixth-grade outdoor academic/sixth-grade team leader; Jonathan Hathaway, sixth-grade outdoor academic/Student Council; Bucky Kramer, sixth-grade outdoor academic; Kayla Kocher, middle school yearbook sponsor/Art Club sponsor; Susan Trent, seventh-grade team leader; Dan Fouts, eighth-grade team leader; Jason LaFever, middle school music vocal director; and Kim Curran, middle school/high school concessions manager (fall, winter, spring).

In a personnel item recast as an action item, Osborn abstained from the vote to approve his wife, Bonnie Osborn, as a middle school math academic coach due to conflict of interest.

Travis Lambermont was absent from the meeting.

The next regular meeting of the North Putnam School Board is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. in the North Putnam Schools Administration Office in Bainbridge.