North Putnam offers interim AD position to Masariu

Friday, August 10, 2012

BAINBRIDGE -- Following the surprise resignation of athletic director Rich Bagienski last Friday, the North Putnam School Board called for a special meeting on Thursday to assess its options going forward.

Superintendent Dan Noel recommended the board hire Mark Masariu to fill the vacancy in the interim while the board searches for a new full-time candidate.

"I just don't think we can start out our year without someone there as a presence," Noel said. "I've talked to a number of people in your area that have experience as an athletic director, but I don't think there is someone who can do the job better than the person I'm recommending."

The interim job would last for 35 days, a period that would hopefully allow the school time to post the athletic director position, interview candidates and give its eventual choice a couple weeks before starting.

Masariu spend 27 years as an AD or assistant AD at Kokomo High School, has previous experience as a coach and was a basketball official in the Big Ten, Horizon League and Mid Continent Conference.

"I'll be honest, he's a good friend of mine, but he's helping us out of a jam," Noel said. "He's more than qualified. The only reason he's not in the business right now is because he's retired."

Noel said he and Masariu worked together at Kokomo.

A salary for the full-time position has not been set, but the board agreed to offer Masariu $250 per day, which is less than Bagienski earned as a full-time athletic director.

The job must be posted for 10 days before interviews can begin.

Bagienski was hired in March 2011.

In other business:

- The board announced the retirement of Ron Price, a social studies teacher at North Putnam Middle School

- Tyler Egli, a guidance counselor at NPHS, resigned to pursue a position at another school. Kirstie McClamroch will transfer from Bainbridge Elementary to fill the vacancy.

- Raymond Kramer will replace Price. Other hires included Christy Black (Roachdale, third grade), Jeanna Butler (Bainbridge, guidance counselor), Pamela McIlrath (NPHS special education), Margaret Smith (NPMS special education), Rebecca Scotland (NPHS, family and consumer science) and Anita Ferguson (bus driver).

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