Money-strapped North Putnam sees savings on project

North Putnam School Board members gave the OK to Athletic Director Jason Sims to begin work on a new concession and restroom building at the High School.

The project will begin right away with much of the labor and materials donated or purchased at discount prices.

Hadley Construction will begin digging footers and laying concrete possibly as soon as this weekend. Sims, who has worked for Hadley, has developed plans to build a 22-by-36-foot concrete building to house the concession stand and provide handicap accessible restrooms.

The cost of the project is $17,888 but will cost the school corporation only $1,500 when completed due to the amount of labor and materials which will be donated by Hadley, the Youth Football League, Athletic Department and purchased at discounts from local companies.

"This is really an investment for me and the football field," Sims told the board. "There are a lot of people not paying to watch football games. We can add to our concessions and have better control."

Superintendent Murray Price encouraged the board to agree to move ahead with the project.

"It will be much easier to supervise with the new building," he said. "Our current concession stand now is just about ready to go to the great concession stand in the sky. I'm tickled to death that Jason would initiate this project."

The building will be erected several feet south of the current ticket booth at the football field.

Board members discussed the use of some materials like the urinals, sinks and taps and determined that Pride should do a cost survey on providing some new equipment in the soon to be constructed building.

"I hate to see us use old equipment that will have to be replaced in a year or two in a new building like this," said board member Dale McGaughey. "I don't want to be shortsighted in this instance."

Sims also discussed the possibility of adding a storage unit on the other side of the field which could be used by soccer, softball and football. The new building will go up very quickly and will be painted dark blue by the football team and Sims.

In other business, the board voted to not renew nonpermanent teacher contracts for Sandra McDaniels at Roachdale Elementary, John Nees, North Putnam High School and Paul McGill, North Putnam High School.

Pride pointed out that the nonrenewal of these contracts were not a reflection in any way of teaching ability. But were rather a financial necessity.

The board also accepted the resignations of Angela Hilderbrand, high school English teacher and Rachel Fox, choral director at the High School and Middle School ... Susan Risings' resignation was also accepted. She is an instructional assistant at the middle school.

Greg Barrett was hired as a High School physical education teacher and as strength and conditioning coach.

Board members gave Pride permission to apply for temporary loan bids in the amount of $4,500,000 for the period of July 1, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2008.

The loans are necessary because of the cash flow situation caused by property tax and other monies not being released by the state to the county.

Board member Charlie Boller commented that he would like to know how much interest schools and libraries and other facilities were paying by having to take out the temporary loans while waiting for disbursements.

"I think the public should know how much interest is paid in all these units like the library and schools," he said. "Somebody should do a report on it."

The North Putnam School Board regularly meets the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.

Meetings are open to the public and are conducted at the corporation office, 300 N. Washington St., Bainbridge.