North Putnam addresses technology, handbooks and building projects

At its monthly meeting Thursday night, the North Putnam School Board addressed handbooks, school technology and building projects.

Opening the meeting, however, Superintendent Dan Noel addressed the strain that a recent tragedy involving the death of an elementary school student has put on the community.

"It has been a very, very tough week," Noel said while further commending the counselors, teachers and all faculty members of the school corporation for providing support and a sense of community.

Board member Jill Summerlot also recognized the tragedy near the end of the board meeting, pledging support where it is needed, commending those who are providing support and expressing sympathy with the community.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with you," Summerlot said.

Before moving on to items on the agenda, Noel asked those in attendance to share a moment of silence.

Andy Cooper, of Johnson-Melloh Solutions, then updated the board on the construction progress at Bainbridge Elementary.

Cooper presented a timeline and outlined what to expect with the ongoing renovations, which have a February completion date.

The issue of school handbooks, with their state and board policy compliance, continued to strain progress with differing viewpoints on the level of acceptance of what is a satisfactory handbook.

Part of this ongoing discussion is that while school principals and staff are developing handbooks, they must simultaneously be sure those handbooks are in compliance with both board policy and state law.

From there, it is up to the board to review and suggest edits to be made to help achieve compliance while also setting standards for the school district that are up to the standards of the community.

At Thursday's meeting, the issue of interpretation of what is considered a weapon and what the punishment for such an offense should be, became a point of contention.

In this case, the definition included waterguns and spent shells in the same verbiage as handguns and grenades. The point was brought forth by board members John Hays and Oliver Haste that those items are very different and that expulsion for having a spent shell or a water pistol was too extreme and that those contraband items should not be lumped in with actual guns and explosives.

The point was made that water pistols can look or be made to look like a real weapon.

Indeed the items are quite different, and while they are not dangerous in and of themselves, they could still present a threat to students and staff.

Where that line is drawn and at what point any item can be considered dangerous remained a crux of the differing viewpoints.

Haste made the point that even bubble gum is contraband and raised the question of whether or not that could be punishable or viewed as dangerous.

"I don't think we've made any real changes to it," Hays said in regard to his dissatisfaction with the handbook that was presented to the board.

At the end of a discussion where disagreements were obvious, stern but composed arguments were made from all sides of the issue and a motion was made to approve the handbooks in its current state.

Three voted in favor of the existing handbooks while Hays and Haste opposed its passing.

In other business:

* The board approved the use of the Roachdale Elementary facilities to host a fundraising concert for Mike Mahoy's new canine partner. Riggin Reins, who has opened for John Mellencamp, will play live and all proceeds will go toward the new, four-legged officer.

* NPHS Principal Jason Chew presented the idea of a homecoming parade on Sept. 26. The parade is meant to help foster a sense of community and to help bolster support for school events. Chew made a presentation earlier this month to the town of Bainbridge with the idea that the parade would take place in different North Putnam communities each year.

* The board approved the implementation of the My Big Campus learning management system as a way to help deliver school content via the web and other online processes. With this approval, the school will not be making any changes that result in online-only assignments, but will try to utilize the technology to prepare for what may turn into a 1:1 technology adaptation in the future.

* The board has developed the 2015 budget with tax rates and levies and approved to advertise that information as per its legal obligation.

* The board approved and authorization document that provides the superintendent with the ability to place an individual in a residential placement program if that individual is a threat to students or staff. This is not a new authorization but is part of a yearly approval process, no additional powers are granted in this year's agreement.

* The board approved a request to apply for the Honda STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Initiative.

* The board tabled a discussion, pending further conversation with other school faculty, on whether to approve or disapprove a license agreement that schools currently have with the Licensing Resource Group. The group uses school logos and images to sell merchandise at stores such as Walmart and Dollar General.

* The board approved Principal Scott Miller to attend a professional conference in November.

* The board approved a bid from Prairie Farms to provide dairy products.

* The board approved a family fun night at North Putnam Middle School in the football stadium parking lot Sept. 20. The event will present a movie (as yet to be chosen) free of cost for families and community members.

* The board approved a number of new hires, including Alyssa Ward as student council sponsor at NPMS; Chris Gross as third-grade teacher at Bainbridge Elementary; Angela Werking as math teacher for NPHS; Tony Gray as alternative school teacher at NPHS; Paul Stinemetz as corporate testing coordinator; Leana Collisi as athletic director's secretary for NPHS; Erin Beavers, Cami Miles and Nancy Mendenhall as SPED instructional assistants in Roachdale; Marcella Blanton, Annette Sperback and Jolana Jarrell as bus drivers; Tyler Shorter as lifeguard for NPHS and Sharon Stranger as cafeteria aide for Roachdale.

* The board approved a number of new athletic hires, including Benny Ault as head softball coach at NPHS; Tony Gray as head swim coach for NPHS; Jim Hess as assistant baseball coach for NPHS; Travis Kratt as assistant volunteer football coach for NPHS; John Baker as assistant volunteer football coach for NPMS; and Kayla Franklin as assistant cheer coach at NPMS.

* The board also approved a number of resignations, including Jason Chew and Scott Spencer as co-corporation testing coordinators; Holly Frye as a teacher in Bainbridge; Jeff Silko as bus driver; Rick England as wellness coordinator and Bradi Felden as academic math coach for NPMS.