South Putnam implements five teacher mentors

Friday, November 27, 2015

Teachers new to South Putnam Community Schools will be paired with a mentor to ensure the transition to a new school is smooth.

The school board recently approved five teacher mentors at the middle and high schools, including Amy Cassida, Tiffany Dickinson, Natalie Hodge, Zack Love and Jennifer Perrin.

Principal Mike Schimpf said the added support of seasoned educational professionals for the new teachers will promote an encouraging environment, as well as providing a point of contact.

"These individuals will take on some responsibilities pertaining to encouraging and integrating teachers new to our building, and providing them with an extra person to rely upon as a contact when questions arise throughout the course of the year," Schimpf said.

Meanwhile, the board voted to approve the 2016-17 school calendar, but not without concern.

As is the theme with most Putnam County area schools, South Putnam Community School Corporation will have minor changes to the calendar.

Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt said minor changes included an Aug. 5, 2016 start date, with fall and spring breaks a week later on the calendar, Oct. 17-21 and March 27-31 respectively. Graduation will fall on May 27, 2017.

These changes were decided through conversations with area superintendents and South Putnam administrators. In addition, the dates were approved by the Classroom Teachers Association.

When the student start date of Aug. 5, 2016 was brought to light, board member Angie Nichols asked for an explanation for sending students to school so early.

Bernhardt said it is important to maintain a consistent schedule with the schools involved with Old National Trail and Area 30.

"It's critical to keep major holiday vacations in line," Bernhardt said.

He added the extra days were built into the calendar, like a week of fall break for example, as a compromise to the push of a true balanced calendar a few years ago. The balanced calendar would have students attending school year round, and included a two-week fall and spring breaks, which he explained no one he spoke with approved.

Bernhardt said several snow make-up days are also built into the calendar. The number used varies each year, but students have to have 180 instructional school days.

The complete 2016-17 school calendar can be found on the school's website at www.sputnam.k12.in.us.

In other business, the board:

* Approved continued involvement in Educational Service Centers Risk Funding Trust (ESCRFT), which provides the school's workman's compensation and liability coverage.

Bernhardt explained South Putnam has been covered by ESCRFT since 2008, and this approval is a legal requirement after some wording had been changed.

* Approved access for four high school personnel to the First National Bank account.

Bernhardt said this legal requirement included adding the new high school principal, Schimpf, to the account.

* Approved the resignation of Trevor Yates as sixth-grade social studies teacher.

* Approved the retirement of Gail Sutche as bus driver.

* Approved the hiring of Melesa Doty as part-time food service worker at Central Elementary.

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