SP board addresses gym floor damage, additional concerns

During its first monthly meeting since the school year began last Friday, the South Putnam School Board addressed various maintenance and liability issues.

In an item added to the agenda, SPCSC superintendent Bruce Bernhardt asked the board to approve an emergency declaration for company quotes to replace the damaged gym floor at South Putnam High School.

The wood is now warped due to recent water damage sustained when a drain clean-out cover dislodged from the wall inside the gym.

Bernhardt informed the board that the school corporation was working with insurance on the cost to replace the surface. In this same vein, he also stressed that the repairs were imperative due to the impending basketball seasons.

The board determined that the emergency declaration would be a “fast-track” that would cover administrative requirements by the state and get repairs started as soon as possible.

The cost to replace the 50-year-old floor would be mostly covered by insurance, with the corporation paying about one-third of that expenditure.

Bernhardt said that the quotes would be acquired within two weeks.

Board officials also heard input regarding South Putnam’s International Travel Program and liabilities to students and parents.

South Putnam Middle School dean Brady Rhodes, who was involved with the program as a social studies teacher, assured the board that student expenditures would be covered by insurance in case of an unforeseeable incident overseas. Brady also provided that he would be able to oversee the program in his current capacity.

Bernhardt also informed the board that transportation since the beginning of the school year has gone smoothly, and that upgrades to the HVAC systems to the middle school and high school are almost complete. He also addressed school safety, saying that all school buildings are secured with an office-to-hallway path.

A community member asked the board if it would pave the gravel parking lot at Central Elementary School. Bernhardt expressed that it was considering doing so, but that the budget was being focused on other more immediate issues.

The board also approved account signature changes required by the corporation’s bank due to the resignation and transfer of school treasurers.

Additionally, the board approved the following personnel resignations:

• Matthew Griswold, MS/HS dean of students;

• Kacie Grimm, Central Elementary counselor;

• Mary C. Walton, MS/HS food service;

• Brandi Meece, Central Elementary food service;

• Andrea McCullough, bus driver; and

• Marie Neumann, MS/HS treasurer

In addition, the board also approved the termination of the following individual:

• Teena Spencer, MS/HS food service

The board also approved the following personnel hires:

• TyAnn Gillum, MS/HS teacher;

• Leah Henry, MS/HS teacher;

• Robie Simms, Central Elementary counselor;

• Laura Russell, part-time MS/HS food service;

• Carl Knapp, bus driver;

• Martha Scott, MS/HS instructional assistant;

• Carlie Nichols, MS/HS instructional assistant;

• Marcia Nichols, Fillmore Elementary kindergarten instructional assistant;

• Casey Rossok, bus driver;

• Chrysta Snellenberger, Central Elementary food service;

• Brenda Alspaugh, part-time MS/HS food service;

• Cathy Janeway, part-time MS/HS food service; and

• Crystal Gabbard, part-time Central Elementary food service

Finally, the board approved the following personnel transfers:

• Cortney Branam, MS/HS treasurer from position as secretary;

• Lindsay Teipen, high school office secretary from position as office receptionist;

• Sharisse Arnold, high school office receptionist from position as library aide; and

• Brady Rhodes, middle school dean from position as social studies teacher.