Athletic director, high school principal share vision for North Putnam athletic facilities

BAINBRIDGE -- At the board’s request, Athletic Director Roger Busch and High School Principal Jason Chew shared their vision for North Putnam’s athletic facilities during the North Putnam School Board’s recent regular meeting.

“I am very realistic in the fact that the high school has some needs that need to be met before this,” Busch cautioned at the start of his presentation, adding that the following ideas are only possibilities, perhaps years down the road.

In what Busch called the “first step,” an existing structure would be renovated to allow for restrooms and concessions at the softball field; press boxes would be added to the baseball, softball and soccer fields; and lighting to the softball and soccer fields.

To keep fans from having to cross large parking lots, which Busch said was a serious problem at least twice last year, the current southern entrance would become the main athletic entrance.

A new football stadium, located near the current stands, would include new football locker rooms, a trainer’s room, concessions and restrooms. The current stands, Busch said, are 20 years old and will also need replacing.

Lastly, a large fieldhouse, built onto the front of the school, would include swimming locker rooms, a weight room (the current one would be given back to wrestling) and a Hall of Champions for displaying North Putnam’s athletic history.

“This is our long-term vision,” Principal Chew said. “We asked, ‘If money were no object, what would be our dream?’”

President Ron Spencer responded, “It’s something to think about as we look at the renovation project at the high school.”

Darrell Wiatt later commented, “I am excited about the possibilities at the athletic facilities.”

In other news:

-- Absences: Travis Lambermont and Mark Hoke were absent.

-- One-to-One Technology: Beth Waterman, principal of Roachdale Elementary School, reported that the third, fourth and fifth grades will be able to take their ISTEP tests on Chromebooks this year, which will allow the school to “test students at their best time of day.”

Later in the meeting, the board approved the outright purchase of more Chromebooks and travel cases at a total cost of $349,650 from the capital outlay fund. The board also approved naming TDS Communications as internet service provider and renewing its content filter licensing at $22,784.

-- Personnel: The board approved the following personnel report:

-- Hires: Catherine Lawson (MS instructional assistant), Ann Wood (transportation secretary), Paula Batchelor (HS health aide/instructional assistant), Crystal Parent (sub bus driver/assistant mechanic), Jason LaFever (music director), Linda Gjesvold (set design), Craig Armitage (technical director/sound technician), Sarah Bond (choreographer), Morgan Asher (pianist), Matt Wargel (pit director), Jana Brothers (English academic coach), Bryce McCoy (Social Studies academic coach), Linda Patrick (girls’ HS golf head coach), Earl Hall (boys’ HS golf head coach), Sam Carnes (HS football head coach), Bonnie Osborn (HS volleyball head coach), Kevin Lutes (boys’ and girls’ HS cross country head coach), James Hilton (girls’ HS soccer head coach) and Kyle Morgan (boys’ HS soccer head coach).

-- Resignations: Levi Yowell (HS assistant principal), Robin Smith (food service director), Heather Daniels (HS health aide/instructional assistant).

-- Snow Days: The board approved using April 6 and 16 as snow days.

The North Putnam School Board’s next regular meeting is set for March 15 at the North Putnam Schools Administration Building, 330 N. Washington St., Bainbridge.