South Putnam board approves Chromebook purchase

The South Putnam School Board considered and approved a purchase to further expand South Putnam Schools’ one-to-one program during its regular meeting Wednesday evening.

The board heard information from Tammy Severe of Five Star Technology Solutions regarding the purchase of Chromebooks for kindergarten through fifth grade next year. She said she had obtained quotes, but it was not clear what the lowest one was due to reverb during her remarks.

Severe said 500 Chromebooks would be purchased for about $150,000, but the price would depend on how many are ordered. She did not expect to purchase more than 500 based on the current number of students in this demographic, and that they would be the same kind as those used by the high school students.

A motion was made by Board Secretary Wes Hacker to purchase the Chromebooks for less than $150,000, and to also secure outside financing so that a technology may be charged. The board approved the motion.

In other business:

• Athletic Director Tom Starnes also presented a fluid plan for how fall and winter sports would play out at South Putnam, which the board approved.

Starnes stated that practices are set to be under way on July 6. This date corresponds with Phase 1 of a three-pronged plan that was sent out by the IHSAA last Friday. This plan was highlighted in a recent Banner Graphic article.

• The board also approved lunch and breakfast prices for the 2020-21 school year. Student lunches for pre-K through fifth grade will be $2.85, while grades 6-12 will be $2.95. Student breakfasts, which did not see an increase, will be $1.55 and $1.60, respectively.

Adult breakfasts will be $2.35, and adult lunches will cost $3.75.

In his monthly report, Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt spoke briefly on how he and school administrators are awaiting direction from the Indiana Department of Education and Gov. Eric Holcomb on returning to school this August.

“The true answer is that no one knows right now,” Bernhardt said. “Meanwhile during the summer, the administrators and board are working hard to make plans to have a safe and secure start to the school year.”

Hacker made a request to bring administrators to the board’s meeting next month to discuss what precautions and actions are being taken in each school to keep them safe.

Board member Larry Bottorf also suggested that Endeavor Communications in Cloverdale be contacted, so that more information on fulfilling South Putnam’s one-to-one program can be considered.

The next regular meeting of the South Putnam School Board is scheduled for Wednesday, July 8 at 7 p.m. Bernhardt told the Banner Graphic that the board is planning to begin in-person meetings in the South Putnam MS/HS Learning Center.