North Putnam going with new district voting plan

BAINBRIDGE -- The North Putnam School Corporation has been working up a plan in answer to the October lawsuit that dealt with the unfair districting of the townships. The North Putnam School Board voted on a new plan of action at Thursday's school board meeting.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Brooke Cox, a voter in Floyd Township, brought the suit to North Putnam School Board in October. The lawsuit was about "depriving a woman" of her right to have her voted treated equally.

North Putnam Superintendent Dan Noel and the school board had come up with one plan to redistrict North Putnam, that plan has been scrapped, this will be the second plan presented in answer to the lawsuit.

The districting lines will be set back to the original townships:

* Russell

* Clinton

* Franklin North and Franklin South

* Jackson

* Monroe East and Monroe West

* Floyd West, Floyd South and Floyd East

This new plan will be going back to the six district seats and one at-large member. The difference will be that, the six district seats will be held by one representative from each township. The whole district will have a vote on who will represent each township though. The one restricted at-large member may be from any township and will be voted on by the whole district as well.

Each board member will also be serving a full four-year term.

The original plan to cut the members from Russell, Franklin and Monroe terms down to two years has been done away with and they will be serving their full terms until Dec. 31, 2016.

New members for Clinton, Jackson and Floyd townships will be up for vote in fall of 2014.

The restricted at-large member Mark Hoke will retain his position until Dec. 31, 2017.

The new plan for the voting district will be presented to the North Putnam voters for the next 120 days.