South Putnam schools continue moving in the right direction

The South Putnam School Board met for a brief meeting on Monday evening to approve the advertisement of the proposed 2015 budgets, capital projects and bus replacement plans along with several other items that needed to be addressed.

Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt came before the board to seek approval to advertise the proposed 2015 budgets, capital projects plan and bus replacement plans.

The proposed budgets and plans will be advertised in the Banner Graphic twice before the public hearing, which is set for next month's regular meeting Monday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m.

Although, South Putnam has completed just over a week of school, Bernhardt came before the board to discuss some preliminary numbers as far as the student count goes.

"We're very pleased with the way the start of school has gone," Bernhardt said. "In terms of numbers, it's far too soon to talk about numbers because we still have two or three weeks before our firm count and numbers change every day. Every day there is a change, but it appears that we are very close, within just a few, of the numbers that we had on the second count, which was in February last year."

Bernhardt noted that the number was up around 20 from the beginning of last year to the second count day. The corporation has both lost and gained students, but overall the numbers remain about the same as second semester of last year.

"We're still looking to be up 20+. Hopefully, we'll stay that way," Bernhardt added. "We are moving in the right direction for the first time in a long time."

It was also noted that the fitness center at the high school and the restrooms at Central Elementary are moving along quickly.

"The last word I had is that they hope to be done by the end of the month," Bernhardt explained. "By the end of August or very close they should be finished with both of those. They've done a lot of the interior at the restrooms here at Central. They're getting very close and I know we're all excited to see that come to a conclusion."

Bernhardt also came before the board with a number of personnel issues, including the retirements of some longtime South Putnam employees, including the retirement of 36-year middle/high school teacher Carl Coons, 32-year food service worker Trudy Sadler and 16 year food service director Annabeth Smith.

"South Putnam has been blessed with several employees spending most of their careers in service to our students," Bernhardt said. " I am very thankful for the efforts Mr. Coons has given in the classroom and Mrs. Sadler and Mrs. Smith have given in our food service department. We will miss them and extend our sincere best wishes for their retirement years."\

It was also noted that the South Putnam School Corporation will be hosting an equipment auction at Reelsville Elementary on Saturday, Sept. 20 staring at 10 a.m. Several items that will be sold include old desks and chairs, tables, audio and visual equipment and more. All are welcome to attend.

In other business:

*The board also approved the resignations of teachers Lisa Clunie, Adam Rice and Sarah Sterling along with part-time bus aide Darlene Daniels, bus driver Kathy Hendricks, instructional assistant Andrea Hutcheson, part-time instructional assistant Mona Hutcheson, food service worker Cathy Tesmer, study hall aide Jennifer Tomaw, food service worker Gevina Whitinger, middle school swim coach Lisa Clunie and middle school cross country coach Sarah Sterling.

* The board approved the maternity leave of Amanda Graves along with the hiring of teachers Aaron Book, Shanley Cline, Holly Frye, Todd Norris and Emily Skoniecke as well as Greg Dean as the middle school cross country coach.

*The hiring of kindergarten instructional assistant Emily Brinkman, part-time bus aide Darlene Daniels, study hall aide Becky Jones, custodian Tim Parrish, food service worker Lorraine Pryor, part-time bus aide Dylan Phillips, part-time food service Jeslyn Ronan, food service worker Cheryl Sexton and food service worker Holly Smith along with bus driver Troy Trout were also approved.

* The board also approved Becky Plunkett as varsity cheer and junior varsity cheer sponsor, Nikki Watson as the seventh and eighth-grade cheer sponsor, Emily Skoniecke as the drill team sponsor, Todd Norris as the band director and choral director, Anna Nickell and Jennifer Perrin as the high school play directors, Lisa Sumpter as the middle school play directors, Renata Hendrickson as the high school and middle school yearbook sponsor, Kristen Scott and Amy Duvall as the junior class sponsors, Zach Love and Brian Gardner as the senior class sponsors, Tona Gardner as the A.V. director, Kristin Scott as the FCCLA.sponsor, Amanda King as the FFA high school and middle school sponsor, Kristen Hendrich and Brian Gardner as the guidance directors, Kriste Hendrich and Brian Gardner as guidance counselors, Corey Brackney as elementary guidance counselors, Matt Griswold as National Honor Society Sponsor, Amy Duvall as the school newspaper sponsor and Todd Gowen as the concession director.

*The board also approved Natalie Hodge as the high school student council sponsor, Caitlynn McKinney as the middle school student council club sponsor,Tracey Heet as FCA sponsor, Dana Collins as elementary girls' basketball coach, Bill McCarty and Brice Hill as elementary boys' basketball coach, Tiffany Dickson as Aca coach coordinator, Emily Skoniecke as Aca coach social studies at the high school, Jenny Perrin as the Aca English coach at the high school, Natalie Hodge/Theresa Doud as the Aca science coaches at the high school, Tiffany Dickson as the Aca math coach at the high school, Renata Hendrickson as the Aca fine arts coach at the middle school, Brandon Welti as the Aca social studies middle school coach, Caitlynn McKinney as the Aca science coach at the middle school, Tracey Heet as the Aca science coach at the middle school, Elaine Bye as the Aca math middle school coach.

* The board also approved Deborah McNabb, Lisa Sumpter and Catherine Stockwell as special ed case coordinators/reviewers as well as Jill Newton and Shannon Lutes as the Central Elementary special ed case coordinators/reviewer and Barbara Bennett as the Fillmore special ed case coordinators/reviewer.

*The board approved Connie Huber as the choir club instructor, Angie Clark as the Fillmore Student Council supervisor along with Roger Perkins and Kathy Miner as the recycle program

supervisors.