Interlocal agreement moving ahead

Friday, March 16, 2007
Flamingos appearing around the city as fundraiser. See article on More Local News page.

The North Putnam School Board heard nothing but good statements from the superintendent as it made quick work of its agenda at Thursday's meeting.

Supt. Murray Pride provided the board with information on the status of two items, the Old National Trail interlocal agreement and the refunding of corporation bonds.

According to Pride, the interlocal agreement was approved by the State Board of Education, and is now in the State Attorney General's office for approval.

"It looks like we're in the final stages of that process," Pride said.

Pride also said the corporation is beginning to work on the ONT transition, which will start next school year.

Meanwhile, for the past couple of month, the school corporation has been working toward refunding the 1999 middle school bond. Last month, the board learned that City Securities was in the process of pricing the bond around $89,000 to $90,000.

Pride told the board during Thursday's meeting that the corporation was able to save $95,302.50, with the refunding of the bond, plus the $40,728 that was already in the account. This gives the corporation $100,030 to be used for another project.

"We came out really well I think in the refunding," Pride said.

Board member Mark Fordice asked Pride if there were any stipulations for the $100,030. Pride said the money has to be used in association with the 1999 middle school building project. He also said the money cannot sit in the bank, it has to be used in one year.

Also Thursday, the board learned about the accomplishments of several students. Pride said that junior Jessie Wilborn has been selected by the Hendricks Power Cooperative to attend the 2007 Cooperative Youth Tour of Washington, D.C.

Pride also told the board about Bainbridge and Roachdale elementary schools competing in the local Math Bowl competition.

According to Bainbridge Elementary teacher Katie Lewandowski, there were a total of 13 other schools at the local competition at Central Elementary March 6. Bainbridge's fourth grade team was placed in the Class Three Division and competed against Tzouanakis Inter-mediate School, where they came in first place.

Both Pride and Lewandowski said the team was later ranked 6th in the state under that division. The winning team members are Shannon Althouse, Brandon Binnion, Dylan Bodnarick, Kayla Clodfelter, Brody Downey, Kaylee Henninger, Amber Miller, Kaitlin Mindiola, Angel Reed, Alyssa Rouse and Alex Wittig.

Roachdale Elementary was placed in the Class Four Division, and was ranked 38th in the state.

In other business, the board:

-- Approved to send notice of reduction in force and/or notice of non-renewal letters to certified staff as necessary.

-- Approved the physics class field trip to Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville on May 10. The board also approved the boys golf team to travel to Patoka Lake in Jasper Tuesday, March 27 through Thursday, March 29 with the stipulation that another adult as a chaperon.

-- Approved the girls' basketball skills and drills club for grades two through five starting April 6 through May 18. The club will meet Friday afternoons in April and then conduct clinics in May. The board also approved the summer boys' basketball camp.

-- Approved the hiring of Lori Wittig as an instructional assistant at Bainbridge Elementary and Lana Powell as the high school girls assistant track coach. The board also approved Debbie Carrico's professional growth leave request for April 12-14 and the ONT transfer of Kristen Manning from instructional assistant to teacher at Bainbridge Elementary.

The board meets regularly every third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in the school corporation building. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April, 19 and will be conducted at Bainbridge Elementary to round out the "What's Right With Our Schools" tour.

The meeting is open to the public.

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