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North Putnam board chooses project method, GO bond proposal
ROACHDALE — With a general obligation (GO) bond project coming for some improvements, the North Putnam School Board settled on its architect Thursday evening.
Based on a presentation given last month about different methods of delivery, the board also decided on construction management at-risk as the one to utilize for larger projects in the future.
As stated at a public hearing held in September, the proposed project entailed improvements needed for paving, tiling replacement, new kitchen equipment and replacing doors. However, it was acknowledged that only some of these could be addressed presently.
Construction management at-risk (CMr) is process in which a project client can choose a construction manager before its design stage is completed. This is contrasted with a traditional design-bid-build (DBB) progression, in which the construction manager can also act as an adviser.
It was determined that DDB was not conducive in terms of school construction, it ensuing multiple stages and accompanying contacts. In essence, CMr simplifies communication and having contracts with both the construction manager and an architect.
“This would be so that as we spend time planning for a bigger project, I need to know what path to start traveling,” Supt. Nicole Allee said in recommending CMr. She referenced the scale of North Putnam’s major renovation project three years ago as an impetus for this preparation.
Providing that he was not part of considerations beforehand, newly elected Clinton Township representative David McCollough abstained from CMr’s approval.
With the GO bond project, Barton Coe Vilamaa was selected as the architect in addressing interior and exterior door replacements. Its fees as such were set at $98,000 including mileage expenses. Another proposal from CSO set fees at $90,600 exclusive of mileage.
Allee stipulated that timelines for completing the project are “indeterminate” now. She noted that procurement and then installation of an interior wood door would take 18 weeks.
In other business:
• The board addressed its year-beginning organization with tapping of its officers and other officials.
Joanie Knapp, Mark Hoke and Heather Lawson were slated as the board’s president, vice president and secretary, respectively. Knapp, Lawson and Ron Spencer were named its representatives for collective bargaining, while Hoke, McCollough and Amber Greene were tapped for a new building improvement committee.
Meanwhile, Tanya Pearson and Amanda Kessler were stated as the corporation’s treasurer and deputy treasurer, respectively.
Taylor, Chadd, Minnette, Schneider & Clutter were also retained as the corporation’s legal counsel. With McCollough abstaining, the board in kind approved an hourly rate of $225, apart from different rates applying to bonds, school projects and other special services.
• The board approved to keep its regular meetings scheduled on the third Thursday of each month, apart from any special meetings it may have.
• The board approved its annual member salary at the statutory maximum of $2,000 with no per diem rate to apply.
• The board approved setting bonds for treasurers at each level in the corporation. They were set at $50,000 each for Pearson and Kessler, $10,000 for Caitlin McMurtry at North Putnam High School and $5,000 each for Jennifer Nelson (North Putnam Middle School), Katrina Watson (Bainbridge Elementary) and Leanna Collisi (Roachdale Elementary).
• The board conducted its annual financial review. Noting that North Putnam gained students this year in terms of average daily membership (ADM), Pearson said the corporation is doing “really well” with its fund balances. She specified that more than $3 million is in Rainy Day, and that the next three months are covered operationally.
• The board reapproved the corporation’s back-to-school plan to retain its funding through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program.
• The board approved for the creation of a disc golf course near the middle/high school building. It was noted that the course could be for both physical education and public use and maintenance would be minimal. The cost is to be covered by donations and fundraisers.
The board also recognized Roachdale Elementary health aide Julie Harbison as North Putnam’s Teacher of the Month.
The board also approved the following personnel report:
• New hires: Jeff Doss NPHS - alternative placement classroom instructional assistant; Chloe Wright - Bainbridge Elementary instructional assistant; and Tarra Lawrence - NPMS/NPHS instructional assistant/lifeguard;
• Resignations: Emily Potts - NPMS custodian (effective Jan. 20); Raven Lewis - NPMS/NPHS instructional assistant/lifeguard (effective Jan. 17); and Kathryn McGuire - NPHS instructional assistant (effective Jan. 23);
• Retirement: Julie Lee - Bainbridge Elementary - pre-school teacher (end of 2022-23 school year); and
• Termination: Ashley Land - Roachdale Elementary instructional assistant (effective Dec. 20).
With Eric Oliver absent, the rest of the board and Allee and Pearson were joined by Operations Director Terry Tippin, Corporation Attorney Tyler Nichols and Administrative Assistant April Lambermont.
The next regular meeting of the North Putnam School Board is set for Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. in the large group instruction room at North Putnam High School.