North Putnam board divided on administrator pay increase

ROACHDALE -- The North Putnam School Board has essentially stood united on many issues and considerations that have been presented in the past.

However, concerns stemming from the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 spread led to three failed motions on one action item during its monthly meeting last week.

The item in question was a request to approve a pay increase, including a one-year contract extension, for North Putnam Schools’ administrators. While other such requests have usually been approved enthusiastically, this became a split issue.

Board member Mark Hoke effectively led the opposition after the first vote failed because of a lack of a majority. Hoke’s vote was added to by nays from board members Dustin Osborn and Travis Lambermont.

Hoke said not granting either the extension or the pay was not a reflection on the administrators’ leadership or work. However, he expressed concern that there are potential economic ramifications which would negatively affect the corporation.

Lambermont then made the second motion to extend the contracts, but to freeze the pay for one year. He said this was so that the board could make a better judgment on what these effects looked like as they developed. However, the motion died without a second.

Superintendent Nicole Singer added prior to this vote that the administrators’ pay had been budgeted out from 2019. She also said that the reason for the one-year extension was to keep them ahead of their contract’s expiration and ensure that they would stay.

Osborn then made a motion to revisit the consideration in total within 90 days from the meeting. Yet, this one also did not receive a second.

Osborn summed up his own concerns with granting the pay raise, saying funding now may hang in the balance because of COVID-19. To him, parents’ concern about sending their students to school would mean that this funding could be lost.

Osborn was likely referring to North Putnam’s ADM, or average daily membership, as what would be hampered. Enrollment determines funding that a public school system receives from the state.

Though Osborn and Hoke believed North Putnam’s administrators were deserving of both the contract extension and the raise, they remained apprehensive about where school itself would stand in the next year.

Hoke made a final motion to revisit the pay increase no later than a month after the meeting, but to not make reference to the contract extensions with it being considered a separate issue. The board’s majority approved this motion.

In an item added to the agenda, board member Amber Greene also made a motion to return teachers’ workday from 7:50 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. and reinstate early release on Wednesday afternoons. This rescinded an approval made by the board last month to establish time for professional development.

Both Greene and board member Joanie Knapp expressed that they had felt hurried to approve the change, and that there were misunderstandings about how teachers would prepare for class. The board then passed Greene's motion.

Teachers at North Putnam expressed concern about more hours being added to cover professional development, but without there being an increase in salaries.

At the start of the meeting, special education teacher Kathy Sykes, who is also the co-president of the North Putnam Teacher’s Association, presented remarks on how she felt the change put more strain on teachers.

Teachers from both North Putnam and Greencastle attended the meeting, forcing separated groups to listen in on the session from different rooms. This was done to maintain physical distancing, but not limit the number of people.

In other business, Director of Operations Terry Tippin spoke about how North Putnam would provide a food service program through at least June 30. He said the USDA has offered guidance on providing a summer food program through Aug. 31 in light of hardships brought on by the COVID-19 spread.

Tippin said the corporation had served more breakfasts and lunches during its closures than when school would be in session. However, the corporation would be reimbursed for each lunch served if food was given seven days a week.

Tippin’s remarks also were in reference to the board approving a contract renewal with Chartwells, the corporation’s food provider. Singer said that while the board approved Chartwells last November, the corporation had to evaluate its service and decide to stay on.

Tippin also said the corporation’s food debt was now getting into the black, though it was still necessary to reconcile pre-paid versus in-person paid meals.

The board also approved student handbooks. Assistant Principal Brandon Wagler expanded on changes made to the high school’s handbook. These include terminology related to tobacco and vaping and expulsion for a set number of disciplinary referrals.

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• New hires: Dan Fouts - high school assistant football coach; Myra Cox - high school head cheer coach; Kyle Kirkham - middle school head football coach; Brandy Dickson - high school head volleyball coach; Ashley Rust - high school assistant volleyball coach; Jenny Heron - high school assistant volleyball coach and girls’ assistant basketball coach (freshman); Christie Summers - high school assistant volleyball coach; Michelle Spencer - high school assistant volleyball coach; Taylor Nauert - high school assistant volleyball coach; Lukas Haworth - high school cross country (co-ed) head coach and girls’ head basketball coach; Kevin Lutes - high school cross country (co-ed) assistant coach; Christina Miller - middle school cross country (co-ed) head coach; Matt Couch - middle school cross country (co-ed) assistant coach; Andrew Hardy - middle school girls’ head soccer coach; Jacob Bender - middle school boys’ head soccer coach; Kyle Morgan - high school boys’ head soccer coach and JV girls’ assistant basketball coach; Scott Spencer - high school boys’ assistant soccer coach; Allison Everman - high school girls’ head soccer coach; Scott Curran - high school girls’ assistant soccer coach; Vincent Brooks - high school boys’ head basketball coach; Curtis Lawrence - high school girls’ assistant basketball coach; Bethany Guyer - middle school head cheer coach; and Jennifer Payne - middle school assistant cheer coach;

• Leaves: Jeanna Amos - Bainbridge Elementary counselor; and Chase Hiland - high school teacher;

• Resignations: Sam Carnes - high school certified teacher/all ECA; Mike Fritz - Bainbridge Elementary STEM/instructional assistant; and Lauren Flanders - middle school College Careers/personal finance teacher;

• Retirement: Tom Hedrick - bus driver.

Board President Ron Spencer amended the approval to separate the leaves, resignations and retirement from the coaching hires. This was to establish an understanding that the coaching positions would be evaluated later, pending background checks and how sports stood come July.

Board member Darell Wiatt did not attend the meeting, while Lambermont did so remotely.

The next regular meeting of the North Putnam School Board is scheduled for Thursday, June 18.