Students increase at North Putnam

Members of the North Putnam Community School Board learned from Superintendent Murray Pride at Thursdays meeting that the student count for the school corporation was better than expected this year.

Last year the school corporation's head count was down over 40 students. This year it is only down 28 students.

"This is particularly good in the High School where we only lost three students," said Pride.

Kindergarten to fifth grade has 33 less students while the middle school is up eight students.

"These are pretty significant numbers over the past years. We originally feared the number would be more like 40 this year," said Pride.

Under new business the group is reviewing a new policy that would prevent unsupervised children from having access to school computers.

This policy will include any students on the grounds including staff members and volunteers.

"If I have a job to do, I can't do that and supervise my child," explained Pride.

The policy would also prevent any children from working from a teacher's computer or being in an area where confidential information is available or being discussed. The policy passed on first reading.

Board members also received a letter drafted by school attorney Gene Hostetler regarding transfer tuition options. They will review the information and give their input on the implementation of having a policy about transfer tuition exchange before Jan. 1, 2009.

The board also offered congratulations to the North Putnam High School band that qualified to perform in the regional contest in Chesterton.

Under personnel the council approved a maternity leave of absence for Lisa Asher from Bainbridge Elementary, accepted the resignation of Tracy Montgomery as Instructional Assistant at Bainbridge Elementary and approved hiring Darcie Green as Instructional Assistant at Bainbridge.

The board also approved hiring the following extra curricular staff: Tony Riggen, high school assistant boys' basketball coach; Lonnie Lawhorn, middle school seventh grade assistant boys' basketball coach; Shawn Miller, Middle School sixth grade boys' basketball coach; Mark Lehr high school Assistant boys' swimming coach; Ashley Rust, High School assistant Volunteer girls' basketball coach; Josh Stigall, high School assistant volunteer wrestling coach; Ed Foltz, High School assistant volunteer wrestling coach; Joe Ban, high school assistant Volunteer swimming coach and Jessie Harper, high school assistant volunteer swimming coach.

The North Putnam Community School board meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.