Mission statement spar has North Putnam board divided

BAINBRIDGE -- In its final regular meeting of 2018, the North Putnam School Board tackled last-minute decisions that were needed as it heads into the new year.

However, board members also found themselves at odds when it came to approving a recently developed mission statement outlining the educational and social priorities of students and staff. This was part of a continuing discussion on setting goals for North Putnam Schools which goes back to at least October.

The board faced two options with how the mission statement is worded. Both, as has previously been pointed out, were fundamentally the same except for one difference. The first option was written as having academics be emphasized before the developmental growth of students. The second statement lists social, emotional and personal development before academics.

In effect, the issue as to the order of those needs has been seen as putting development over academics in terms of importance. When a motion was made to approve the first option, the board split the vote 3-3. This was partly due to Franklin Township Representative Amber Greene being absent at the meeting, but the divide still stood.

Russell Township representative Darrell Wiatt argued that academics should come first, synthesizing that education was the main priority of a school. On the other hand, Travis Lambermont of Clinton Township believed that the second option was more straightforward and gave students’ other needs more precedence.

With no persuasion or agreement able to be reached, Monroe Township representative Dustin Osborn proposed that approving the mission statement be postponed until the next regular meeting, but that North Putnam’s vision statement, goals and core values be approved instead. With no disagreement on those, the board almost unanimously passed them, with John Hays of Jackson Township being the only dissenting vote.

In a less divided vote, the board approved the calendar for the 2019-20 school year. North Putnam Superintendent Nicole Singer said that few changes had been made from the 2018-19 calendar, with one of them being that Christmas break would be a full two weeks. Singer also said that Aug. 7 and May 22 would be the first and last days of school respectively, and that early release on Wednesdays, except for the first, would still be in place.

Along with that, the board inquired whether North Putnam’s e-learning system would coincide with any make-up days that would be required. Singer provided that few discussions with teachers had taken place regarding setting up courses, but that surveys to determine their availability could be done.

The board next heard a request from North Putnam High School Principal Jason Chew to approve the high school course offerings for 2019. Chew provided that the listings were essentially the same, except that courses in ethnic studies and Indiana studies were included per a requirement by the state. The board approved the courses as presented.

Board members also approved a contract with Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG), an organization committed to ensuring success for students who have socio-economic barriers to completing their education or entering the workforce. Chew, who proposed the contract, said JAG’s programs help students gain work experience, and that the organization tracks their progress with a pay incentive for meeting their goals. The contract is free to North Putnam Schools, as its funding is state-based.

The board also approved a request by the superintendent to attend a professional development program organized by the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents (IAPSS) and the College of Education at Butler University. The program, called the EPIC Superintendents Academy, will comprise of six one-day sessions that will tackle community outreach, board relations and strategy development.

As its last agenda items, the board approved money transfers into the new operations and education funds, which will be set up at the beginning of 2019. The transfers include a 25 percent monthly basis that will move from the education fund to operations to cover necessary purchases.

The board also recognized second-grade Bainbridge Elementary teacher Jeanine Peterson as the December Teacher of the Month. Peterson has been teaching at North Putnam for 41 years, and had a large crowd of students and parents attend the meeting to congratulate her.

Finally, the board thanked retiring member John Hays for his eight years of service representing Jackson Township. He will be succeeded by Joan Knapp in 2019.

The next regular meeting of the North Putnam School Board is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Administration Office in Bainbridge.