Steffy named assistant principal

The South Putnam School Board approved a new administrator at Central Elementary this year in their special meeting Monday evening.

Former South Putnam High School Physical Education teacher Debbie Steffy will be the new assistant principal at Central Elementary.

"We are doing this to ease Principal Brad Hayes' role at Central so he can spend more time at Fillmore Elementary," said Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt.

This appointment comes on the heels of a couple of months of parents questioning the safety of the two schools with one principal. Some parents attended the May meeting suggesting that the board consider hiring a new principal for Central Elementary.

For her new role as assistant principal, Steffy will have to resign her position as physical education teacher. She will not, however, resign her role as head girls basketball coach in the winter.

The board also accepted a request to give all classified jobs a two-percent pay raise with two exceptions. A classified employee is one who does not take the role of an educator.

Other changes in personnel include the resignations of teacher Andy Wise. Wise also resigned as the assistant varsity boys track coach. Natalie Allen, a Reelsville bus driver, also resigned. Reelsville instructional assistant Aleska Hutchison was terminated from her position. New hires include Christine Vandermark as Reelsville's new instructional assistant, Traci Boyce as high school computer lab assistant, Lisa Tandy as Reelsville bus driver and Patricia Wells as a part-time high school food service worker.

Thursday, Aug. 14 is students first full day of school. Fillmore and Reelsville Elementary will begin and end 10-minutes earlier this year.

The reason for the change is to help with bus scheduling so the high school doesn't have to attend so late.