North Putnam board reorganizes for 2020

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

BAINBRIDGE -- As it gets ready to tackle a new year and the second semester, the North Putnam School Board held routine elections of its officers Monday evening.

The board approved for Ron Spencer to continue as board president, while Dustin Osborn was voted as vice president. Darrell Wiatt was also tapped as board secretary.

Board members also approved to bring back Taylor, Chadd, Minnette, Schneider and Clutter of Crawfordsville as its legal representation. Tanya Pearson and Heather Lawson were also retained as corporation treasurer and assistant treasurer, respectively.

Spencer and Joanie Knapp were also approved to represent the board in collective bargaining procedures.

The board then took a recess from the regular meeting to conduct its annual finance meeting. After Wiatt and Spencer were voted to head the meeting, Pearson provided a yin-yang on where North Putnam stands on different factors and indicators.

The first element Pearson spoke on was North Putnam’s average daily membership (ADM). She said that the school corporation’s enrollment has declined by 25 students, on average, each year since 2011.

Pearson also provided that the corporation’s fund balances have been steady or increased on the whole, and that North Putnam’s revenues have exceeded its expenditures - even with the ongoing renovations occurring at each of the schools.

Osborn commented that the loss of 25 students each year was “alarming” to him, and asked whether the school corporation could sustain this consistent drop in enrollment.

Both Superintendent Nicole Singer and Principal Scott Miller said Indiana’s transfer voucher program played a part, by which rural communities lose students and families due to a lack of incentive. Miller added that about 70 percent of all school corporations in the state have seen a decline.

Singer elaborated that different socio-economic factors, especially the birth rate, can dramatically affect enrollment. She provided that young adults are waiting longer to have children, and that the North Putnam area does not have a particularly strong economic draw as compared to larger school corporations.

On the other hand, Singer also wondered whether North Putnam has actually lost 25 students each year. She added that even though a potential student may be born in the district, it cannot be known if the child was “ours” if they never crossed “our threshold.”

As to how North Putnam could draw in more students, Singer surmised that it was crucial to develop the community’s workforce and bring in more families.

As the last action item, Singer asked the board if North Putnam could enter into a experimental cooperative called the Wabash Valley Education Alliance. This group is being made of representatives from school corporations in Putnam, Clay, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo counties.

Singer said that the stated goal is for each to work together to grow opportunities in their respective areas, as well as the Wabash Valley region in general. She added that infrastructure and housing are key issues which need to be tackled.

The board approved a resolution adding North Putnam to the group, with the caveat that any possible financial commitments be run by it as they come.

There is no financial investment from North Putnam as of the approval, with Singer adding that funding from state grants may be obtained through its participation. Starting out, she said she will only attend future meetings of the group as it tries to establish a board and an advisory committee.

Singer said that Superintendent Rob Haworth of the Vigo County School Corporation is the point man as the Education Alliance continues to take shape.

In other business, the board approved the adoption of its $2,000 salary. Taylor said that this was the statutory limit for school board members.

The board also set the day and time its regular meetings in 2020. The body will continue to meet on the third Thursday of each month except in July, when the board wants to accommodate setup at the Putnam County Fair. The specific day will be decided on later.

School officials also approved additional days for all counselors at North Putnam, with those at the middle and high school getting 200 days and those at both elementary schools receiving 190 days. Singer said this was to allow them more opportunities to tackle crucial work.

Bainbridge Elementary Principal Rodney Simpson and the board also recognized fourth-grade teacher Jennifer Porter as the Teacher of the Month.

The board also approved the following personnel item:

• Resignation: Kyle Morgan, high school boys’ assistant track and field coach.

The next regular meeting of the North Putnam School Board is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in the North Putnam Administration Office in Bainbridge.

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