NPSC selects 2015 board roles, approves GSA club sponsor

After recognizing student achievements at the start of its monthly board meeting Thursday, the North Putnam Community School Corporation (NPCSC) voted for new board positions, approved a Gay-Straight Alliance sponsor and discussed changing when the board will meet for 2015.

Although 2014 board president Jill Summerlot received multiple votes to maintain her role from Travis Lambermont, Darrell Wiatt and from herself, she was ultimately replaced by board member John Hays, who received votes from Mark Hoke, Jim Bowling, Ron Spencer and Hays himself, giving Hays at a 4-3 election as board president for 2015.

Hays began his presidency immediately, overseeing subsequent voting and driving the meeting based on the agenda.

The board vice presidency saw Lambermont nominated by Hoke, but Lambermont then nominated Summerlot who was voted into the role of vice president by a 5-2 vote with Hays, Spencer, Wiatt, Lambermont and herself in favor while Bowling and Hoke voted nay.

No nominations were made to replace secretary Darrell Wiatt, who will maintain the position for 2015.

After approving the formation of the North Putnam Alliance, a gay-straight alliance support club at North Putnam High School (NPHS) during a board work session on Jan. 7, Sheri Roach was approved Thursday as the club sponsor.

The ACLU of Indiana had filed a lawsuit against the North Putnam Community School Corporation just days before Christmas, claiming discrimination in the board's decision to deny formation of the club during its December meeting.

Neither the NPCSC nor the ACLU of Indiana could confirm whether, as a result of the club's approval, the litigation would be dropped.

The board approved changing its monthly meeting dates from the third Thursday at 7 p.m. at the administration building in Bainbridge, to the third Wednesday of each month at the same time and location.

The change will not take place until March.

NPHS assistant principal Levi Yowell informed the board that a Chromebook pilot program funded by a grant money began at the high school on Friday.

The Chromebooks will help students and teachers integrated technology tools into classrooms much the way 1:1 technology programs with iPads work in other schools.

Chromebooks are essentially cost-effective, barebones laptops that use Internet connections to "save" the information typically stored on a computer's hard drive.

This means that if a student forgot, lost or damaged a Chromebook with essential documents on it, they would simply login to an account on any computer in the world and be able to access all programs and documents on that computer.

In other business:

* Tanya Pearson was reappointed corporation treasurer and Stacey Bean was appointed assistant treasurer.

* Board members approved the adoption of its salary, set at $2,000 annually.

* Superintendent Dan Noel and acting superintendent Terry Tippin approved multiple fundraisers, including Bainbridge Elementary fundraiser at McDonald's, an athletic department fundraiser selling spirit wear at concession stands and an FCCLA fundraiser selling carnations for Valentine's Day.

* The board accepted an anonymous donation for $500 for the high school swim and dive team.

* The board approved multiple athletic hires, including Mike Arnold as North Putnam Middle School baseball coach; Michael Groves as volunteer wrestling coach; Chuck Pace as middle school girls' softball coach and Linda Patrick as volunteer assistant boys' golf coach.

* The board approved numerous additional corporation-wide hires, including Marietta Hauk as concession stand manager; and Arnold Caldwell and Jim Wilson as maintenance employees.