South Putnam Schools approve new lighting project

The South Putnam School Board approved accepting a $198,846.25 bid from Energy Harness with 60-month financing to install new LED lighting in the annex, transportation barn, the entire inside of the high school and all of Fillmore Elementary.

Patricio Daneri, managing director for the Midwest, estimated the project will run from Nov. 1 to Dec. 1 working weekends and after-hours.

The motion to approve came from Vice President Steve Cash, was seconded by Anthony Heavin and unanimously approved.

Another bid from Vectren came in at $239,500.

In other developments:

-- Additional appropriations: The board approved advertising for additional appropriations in the amount of $300,000 for the rainy day fund. A public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Central Elementary music room.

-- Claims: The board unanimously approved total claims at $554,920.77, an increase from last month of $28,974.18 and a decrease of $106,542.35 from the March-September average.

-- Little Library: Vice President Cash announced that a Little Library has been set up in front of the Putnam County Museum.

-- Personnel report: The board approved the following:

-- Resignations: James Nees (Central, special education teacher), Jill Newton (Math Bowl coach) Doris McMains (middle/high school head cook) and Tiffany Dickson (National Honor Society).

-- New hires: Dana Carr (Central, special education teacher), Becky Phillips (Math Bowl coach), Heather Perkins (drama coach), Cathy Boyce (Fillmore, elementary choir), Sue Pitts (Math Bowl coach), Nina Burkett (middle/high school, part-time food service) and Bethany LeBlanc (English academic coach).

-- Public hearing: There were no comments made during the public hearing on the proposed 2017 budget, capital projects plan, and bus replacement plan.

-- Salaries and benefits: The board approved the master contract with the South Putnam Classroom Teachers Association. Changes were made to the salary schedule to allow teachers to collect “career points” via evaluations and years of service to receive a $500 raise every five years on average. The board also approved changes to the classified employees salary and benefits to increase pay by 1 percent on average, and changes to administration salaries and benefits to increase pay by 1.5 percent.

-- Students of the Month: The September Students of the Month were Caroline Hodge (Central Elementary, fifth grade), Cory York (Fillmore Elementary, fifth grade), Garrett Becker (seventh grade) and Madeline McHugh (junior).

The next South Putnam School Board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Central Elementary music room.