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NPCS board meeting last for Oliver Haste
BAINBRIDGE -- After an evening of construction updates, NEOLA presentations and recognizing student success, Oliver Haste finished out his last meeting as a school board member among kind words and parting gifts Thursday night.
"It has been a pleasure serving on the board with our fellow board members," Haste said at the end of the meeting.
Haste was presented with a plaque on behalf of the school board to recognize his service and although Superintendent Dan Noel and his wife were not in attendance due to medical reasons, an orange North Putnam Cougars' jacket with Haste's name embroidered on it was presented as a gift from the Noels on behalf of the school district.
Haste was elected to the Floyd Township seat (one of seven board members) in 2011 and served the duration of his four-year term.
As part of his departure, Haste cited his belief in serving a term and then letting someone else have their turn.
"I think, as a public servant, it seems that our society has gotten into professional public servants and they sign on and never leave," Haste explained.
"I have three kids all involved in sports. I'll spend some more time with them as well as continuing to coach and other things. It's just time for the next guy."
Haste also hopes for the best for his replacement Ron Spencer, who will serve on his first board meeting in January.
"I have enjoyed serving and I wish my replacement Mr. Spencer the best wishes in this chair," Haste concluded.
Spencer was elected to the Floyd Township seat in the September 2014 elections, running against Betsy Fouts.
With the absence of superintendent Dan Noel due to medical concerns, board member Jill Summerlot presided over the meeting, running the board through the agenda for the evening.
The meeting began with recognizing the recent success of students within the corporation, providing small plaques and rounds of applause to the selected students.
Kaelen Montgomery was recognized by Scott Spencer on behalf of Roachdale Elementary; Jordan Evans was recognized by Scott Miller on behalf of North Putnam Middle School (NPMS) and Jennifer Zehner was recognized on behalf of North Putnam High School (NPHS).
Johnson-Melloh Solutions presented an update to the ongoing renovations in the district, showing a conceptual blueprint of what will happen to NPHS and NPMS in the future, highlighting the addition of a greenhouse, an enclosed indoor courtyard, choir room renovations and a weight room that could be made open to the general public several nights per week.
Andy Cooper of Johnson-Melloh suggested that other schools he has worked with in the past have implemented gym nights wherein the local high school gym is opened for public use several nights per week in the evening.
Cooper explained that part of the enclosed courtyard would include things like coffee and free Internet, citing that, according to his past experience, plenty of students that don't have regular access to the internet utilize Wi-Fi enabled courtyards in schools.
NEOLA representative Jim Halik was in attendance to answer questions and to present reason why the district should reconsider its thoughts on leaving the organization.
NEOLA aims to assist schools with various policy implementation, as well as keeping those policies within both state and federal law including bylaws, administrative guidelines, as well as student and staff handbooks.
The board has been discussing leaving the organization due to its continually falling behind on updates that NEOLA has presented to the school, making it difficult for North Putnam to attempt to "catch up" with approving bylaws and regulations.
In other business:
* The school board approved the swimming program for the second semester with only Travis Lambermont opposing the motion.
* The board approved a number of other items on the agenda as well, including permission to advertise for fuel bids; to accept a quite from BBC Pump and Equipment; to accept a Walmart Transportation "Safe Miles for Education" donation to Roachdale Elementary in the sum of $1,000; an overnight wrestling trip to Twin Lakes for a two-day invitational and to allow fifth-grade students to participate on the NPMS swim team (influenced by the fact that swimming is not a contact sport but one in which students compete against the clock, making the inclusion different than other sports, from the perspective of student safety).
* The board approved a number of new employment, including Mark Flora as seventh-grade math teacher (temporary contract) and Greg Freije and Ann Wood as bus drivers.
* The board also approved a number of athletic employment, including Julie Gibson and Chuck Pace as NPMS girls' basketball coaches (volunteers); Bailey Ault as NPHS assistant softball coach (volunteer); Bob Clampett as NPHS assistant softball coach (volunteer); Eric Gibson as NPMS head softball coach; Ollie Haste as NPHS assistant football coach (volunteer); Jim Hess as NPHS assistant baseball coach; Brian Judy as NPHS boys' head golf coach; Tony Judy as NPHS assistant softball coach (volunteer); Art Laker as NPHS assistant softball coach and Kyle Young and Rachel Young as NPMS girls' assistant basketball coaches (volunteer).
* The board also approved medical leave for several employees, including NPHS business teacher Nicole Jordan and superintendent Noel.
Regularly scheduled meetings of the North Putnam School Corporation Board of School Trustees are conducted at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month and are open to the public.
The next meeting is slated for Jan. 15 and will be held at the school corporation administration office at 300 N. Washington St. in Bainbridge.