NP enters new school year with plans for future

BAINBRIDGE -- The North Putnam School Board was presented with a detailed improvement plan for each building in corporation on Thursday.

Administrators from the high school, middle school and both elementary schools discussed their goals for the 2012-13 school year, as well as changes that have occurred.

High school assistant principal Jason Chew said the four main goals for his building are to reach a 90 percent pass rate in English/language arts and math standardized tests, maintain a high graduation rate, work to prepare students for college and careers and bring the attendance rate up to 98 percent.

Chew spend the most time discussing college and career preparation, saying the school is hoping to add more AP courses that will be available to students who are not in the top ten percent of their class

Students scored 87 percent in English and 86.2 percent in math last year, Chew said.

He added that last year the school had a record-high 88.2 percent graduation rate and that attendance is currently around 95 percent.

Middle school principal Terry Tippin said the biggest goal for his building is to work toward teaching beyond what is on standardized tests.

"(We want to) find strategies that not only incorporate math and English, but incorporate other subjects as well," he said. "I think we did."

He also said the school is doing more to include writing across the curriculum and that the teachers are working to stay on the same page by meeting three times per week before school.

Bainbridge Elemenary principal Jo Ellen Cook said her school has been testing well and experiencing a notable amount of volunteering and help from the community.

Roachdale Elementary principal Scott Spencer said his building has started to incorporate more reading into the curriculum, including a 90-minute block each day.

Administrators are looking at changes as well, as the search for a new athletic director continues.

The hiring committee has narrowed its list to nine.

The process is taking longer than it was originally hoped, so the board agreed to extend the contract of interim AD Mark Masariu through Oct. 19.

"My philosophy is to run a first-class program and do things the right way," Masariu said, "and that's what I'll do until the day I leave."

In other business, the board agreed to the following personnel changes:

Juanita Anderson has retired as NPHS cafeteria aide.

James Hazelwood has retired as a bus driver, effective Dec. 31.

Eschol Eavey will replace Diana Dick, who transferred to a different position, as NPHS cafeteria aide.

Tammy Surber will replace Judy Humbles, who resigned, as Bainbridge Elementary Cafeteria aide.

Kasandra Tompkins will replace Brian Scobee as a bus driver.

Leslie Austin has resigned as media center assistant at Bainbridge Elementary.

Julie Conlin will replace Terri Barnhart as an instructional assistant at Bainbridge.

Christy Lucas will be an assistant cheerleading coach.

Holly Frye will be a volunteer girls' basketball coach.

Ashley Schopp will coach the eighth grade girls' basketball team.

Aaron Allee (yearbook), Jeanna Butler (student council), Krysten Kingery (academic spell bowl), Lana Powell (spell bowl), Dan McMurty (student council), Ann Ruble (drum line), Matthew Warge (drum line) and Beth Taylor (math bowl) will begin additional roles.