SP board sets hearing to determine Reelsville Elementary sale

Thursday, July 11, 2019

The South Putnam School Board is moving forward with its consideration to sell the former Reelsville Elementary School.

As one of only two non-routine items on the board’s short agenda Wednesday evening, Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt announced that a public hearing will be held on July 29, during which the board will decide whether to move forward on the sale. If they do, the board will also select an auctioneer, as well as set a minimum bid for the property.

Board member Anthony Heavin added that the board was trying to be cognizant of the needs of the people in Washington Township, and to have their best interests in mind with the sale.

The hearing is set to take place in the South Putnam Middle School/High School Learning Center at 7 p.m.

The South Putnam School Board voted to close Reelsville Elementary School at the end of 2011 due to financial woes incurred by budget cuts and low enrollment.

In a rare split vote with some disagreement, the board also approved a revised handbook for South Putnam High School moving into the 2019-20 school year. Board President Hollie Hutcheson expressed concern that no study halls would be provided, saying that she could not see a benefit in taking away time for students to complete schoolwork. She added that there could not be enough electives to cover this cut.

Heavin responded that more trust needed to be put into the change and in the high school’s new principal Levi Yowell, and pointed out it would only apply to freshmen at this point, describing it as a “trial run.” Hutcheson and Board Secretary Wes Hacker opposed the vote.

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• Resignations: Aaron Book, MS/HS health-PE teacher; and Megan Milikan, part-time Fillmore Elementary library/computer aide;

• Termination: John Sears, part-time Fillmore Elementary library/computer aide;

• New hires: Brittany Pell, Fillmore Elementary Title I teacher; Caitlin Downing, Central Elementary special education teacher; Debbie Long, MS/HS custodian; Carmen Cash, part-time Fillmore Elementary library aide; Marcia Nichols, part-time Fillmore Elementary computer aide; Megan Nees, MS/HS part-time food service; Jill Albers, MS/HS instructional assistant; and Emily Dobson, MS/HS assistant volleyball coach.

The next regular meeting of the South Putnam School Board is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. in the South Putnam Middle School/High School Learning Center.

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  • I just wish they would tell the truth! They had to close Reelsville because the school board put all our money into building Fillmore a new school. As always Washington and Warren townships are not important.

    -- Posted by Hazel on Fri, Jul 12, 2019, at 12:39 PM
  • Hoping whoever purchases Reelsville Elementary building will put the building to good use. So sad. Another building setting empty.

    -- Posted by pjr1974 on Tue, Jul 16, 2019, at 7:21 AM
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