North Putnam board approves project items

ROACHDALE — Moving forward on the corporation’s anticipated multi-million-dollar improvement project, the North Putnam School Board addressed related items Thursday evening.

Per previous discussions, North Putnam is planning to spend about $30 million on the project. Facility needs for HVAC systems, paving and lighting, as well as transportation issues and athletic upgrades, have been determined.

With Corporation Attorney Tyler Nichols leading the proceedings, no comments were made in a hearing as to an additional appropriation of $1,675,000. This will go toward a general obligation (GO) bond funding the project.

A GO bond is one backed by an entity’s credit and taxing ability, rather than relying on potential revenue brought in by a given project. The board as such also adopted a resolution approving its use.

Meanwhile, the board approved a resolution giving the corporation the authority to reimburse itself from the proceeds of the bond.

With current debt falling off, the project is to not have an impact on property taxes.

In other business:

• With Interim Supt. Carrie Milner noting that it was a “good agreement” in place after several meetings, the board approved the collective bargaining agreement with the North Putnam Teachers’ Association.

“I would like to thank everybody who worked hard on this, and glad to see that we got it ratified,” member Ron Spencer said before the approval.

• The board approved raises for classified staff and administrators.

• The board approved a draft of North Putnam’s calendar for the 2024-25 school year. Milner provided that it closely follows the other county school districts except for Greencastle, as well as Area 30 and Old National Trail.

Milner added that the calendar would come back to the board as changes might be needed.

• With member Mark Hoke opposing, the board approved for no changes to be made to North Putnam’s facility use policy. Hoke noted that the policy came back up with the board to clarify whether charges were stipulated.

“The previous policy that got worked on by a previous committee, I feel like, left a loophole in there,” Hoke stated. Without naming, he suggested that a previous superintendent “read it a different way.”

• The board approved travel programs by middle and high school students to San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles in the spring of 2025.

“There’s a lot of interest,” middle school Principal Bucky Kramer said. “It’s for people to experience things outside of the classroom that you just don’t offer here in Putnam County.”

• With a large group supporting her, the board also heard a statement from Bainbridge Elementary teacher Kristi Rambis concerning North Putnam’s wrestling program. The crux was the program not having its own facility as other sports do.

“When you as a board go into your planning and budgeting for the new project ahead,” Rambis said, “I hope you keep in mind that equal opportunities need to be provided to all sports.”

Member David McCollough later stated that the board was hearing the community on the issue.

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• New hires: Tyna Dillon and Chelsa Buis - Roachdale Elementary instructional assistants; Riley McGaughey, Jake Mullis, Brook Mullis and Travis Franklin - K-2 basketball coaches; Krystal Parker - NPHS girls’ basketball assistant coach; Earl Hall - NPHS boys’ golf head coach; Scott Moore - NPHS boys’ track assistant coach; Seth Campbell - eighth-grade boys’ basketball head coach; Chase Hutto - eighth-grade boys’ basketball assistant coach; Doug O’Hair - NPMS wrestling assistant coach; Mason Ray - NPMS football first assistant coach; Kerry Roussey - NPHS softball head coach; and Ciara Boyer - seventh- and eighth-grade volleyball assistant coach;

• ECA: Dustin Bond - NPHS major production/musical technical director and musical sound technician; Cameron Wonderlich - NPHS major production/musical art director; Emily Shippy - NPHS musical one vocal director; Jordan Baire - NPHS Student Council sponsor; Julie Evans - Roachdale Elementary high ability coordinator; Valerie Lenihan, Eryn Moore and Dan McMurtry - Roachdale Elementary team leaders; Lisa Costin - Bainbridge Elementary district ELL coordinator and robotics coach; Laurie Hensley - Bainbridge Elementary high ability coordinator; Jennifer Gibbs - Bainbridge Elementary district dyslexia coordinator; Jeanna Amos - Bainbridge Elementary Student Council sponsor; Staci Parent and Becky Cook - Bainbridge Elementary Math Bowl coaches; and Cayman Curran - Bainbridge Elementary yearbook sponsor;

• Resignations: Jessica Neild - NPHS Student Council sponsor (effective Oct. 26); Megan Hamilton - NPHS school counselor (effective Oct. 24); Mark Osborn - eighth-grade boys’ basketball head coach (effective Nov. 7); Seth Campbell - eighth-grade boys’ basketball assistant coach (effective Nov. 7); and Anthony Buis - bus driver (effective Nov. 13);

• Termination: Emma Bayless - Bainbridge Elementary instructional assistant (effective Oct. 25).

With member Eric Oliver absent, Milner, Nichols and the board were joined by Asst. Supt. Rodney Simpson, Corporation Treasurer Tanya Pearson and Administrative Assistant April Lambermont, as well as new Supt. Dustin LeMay.

The next regular meeting of the North Putnam School Board is set for Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. in the large group instruction room at North Putnam High School.