N. Putnam's middle school makes the grade

The North Putnam School Board heard about what is right with North Putnam Middle School during its meeting Tuesday night.

Middle School Principal Mike Wilcox informed the board that the school was thrilled to have the board present there. The middle school has had a great fall so far. Its cross-country team has experienced the best season in five years, seventh-grade football is co-conference and county champions and the seventh- grade volleyball team is participating in the county tournament.

He also informed the board about the changes to the landscape in front of the building.

The board also heard a book report from sixth- grader Lance Clodfelter on George Washington and a fall concert preview from seventh-graders Shelby Hall and Jaclyn Roush. The concert will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.

Assistant Supt. Kevin Emsweller informed the council how the ADM figures were looking. ADM is the sum of the number of days in membership for all students divided by the number of school days in the term. Emsweller said that the corporation is down 27 students compared to last year. Supt. Murray Pride had looked into the situation and had found that elementary schools gained 26 students, but lost 12 students from the middle school and 17 students from the high school.

This puts North Putnam's ADM figure at a total of 1,839 students, compared to 1,866 from last year. Emsweller said that is due to the number of student who move out of the district each year.

"This is the first time in a number of years that we have had a lesser number of students compared to previous years," said Emsweller.

In the other business, the board:

-- Approved the middle school teacher Lora Haskell's maternity leave and Bainbridge instructional assistant Michelle Elliott's resignation.

-- Approved the transfers of Greg Kosobud to high girls volunteer assistant basketball coach, Jonathan Shannon to high school girls assistant basketball coach and Lori Baker to middle school assistant cross county coach.

-- Approved the employment of high school assistant wrestling coach Benny Ault, high school volunteer assistant wrestling coaches Ed Foltz, Joe Willis and Matt Wrightsman, eighth grade assistant boys basketball coach Rob Thompson and sophomore class sponsors Angela Hildebrand and Rachel Fox.

-- Approved the professional growth leave of Sandra Aker, Tammy Surber, Lucy Willand and Patrice Pruitt.

-- Learned that Susan Trent was named as a Who's Who Among America's Teachers.

-- Learned about the new software being utilized by the bus drivers. This software allows drivers to type in the disciplinary forms and monitor how the principals are handling the situation. It also allows the corporation to see how many write-ups were given out.

-- Approved to advertise for additional appropriation for the general fund, the preschool special education fund and the transportation fund.

-- Approved a resolution of neutrality for the selling of penchant bonds. This item will be added to the budget in the future.

-- Approved the fundraisers for the swim team's fish dinners and for the Bainbridge PTO's scratch off tickets. The PTO fundraiser is pending a license from the gaming commission.

-- Approved the overnight request from the middle school student council to National Indiana to take part in a state leadership group.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at the corporation building. This meeting is open to the public.