South Putnam School Board approves elementary textbooks
Taking care of an essentially routine agenda a week ago, the South Putnam School Board had little in the way of new business to address during its regular May meeting.
Board members approved a request from elementary teachers to adopt new textbooks for kindergarten through fifth grade. Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt said that the textbooks were a part of a group in the Pearson myView series.
He also said the new package would be cost-effective, lowering the fee from kindergarten through third-grade by $3, while the fee in grades 4-5 would increase by the same amount. The board approved the request.
Board members also approved a consideration to lend a bus and driver to the Purdue Extension Office for transporting 4-H members to their annual camp at Shakamak State Park. Bernhardt said this request had been made in the past, and the board then approved it.
The board also approved the calendar for addressing considerations in the school corporation’s budget for 2020. Special meetings and public hearings will start at the beginning of the fall semester and continue into next year. These will be discussed as the dates come along.
In his monthly report, Bernhardt said the last school day for students will be May 21, and that graduation will take place on May 25, with the ceremonies beginning at 1:30 p.m. He also said senior awards would be held on May 17, while the athletics awards are scheduled for May 20.
Bernhardt also provided a recap on the kitchen fire at South Putnam High School which occurred during lunch last Monday. He said ServePro was contacted after the incident, and that the kitchen was cleaned into Monday evening. The space had been covered in retardant material from the extinguishers used by staff.
Bernhardt said further that the Putnam County Health Department inspected and cleared the kitchen for use on Tuesday, and that Food Service Director Lori Boyce was looking into a replacement for the damaged oven. These expenses will be submitted to the corporation’s insurance company.
Board members also recognized South Putnam’s Students of the Month for May. Mason Meece and Kason Ames were honored at Central and Fillmore Elementary School respectively, Luke Allbrook was recognized by South Putnam Middle School and Nicklaus Warren represented South Putnam High School.
The board also approved the following personnel report:
• Resignations: Brenda Alsbaugh and Anna Burger, part-time MS/HS food service; and Tammy York, middle school volleyball coach.
• Retirements: Rebecca Phillips, Central Elementary teacher; Carmen Cash, Fillmore Elementary teacher; and Lisa Smith, Central Elementary instructional assistant (all effective at the end of the 2018-19 school year).
• Termination: Lee Foster, MS/HS custodian.
• New hire: Alexus Stancil, part-time MS/HS food service.
The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 12 in the MS/HS Learning Center.