Bernhardt cautious about funding, optimistic about new school routine

Thursday, August 13, 2020
Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt addresses the room during the South Putnam School Board’s regular meeting Wednesday.
Banner Graphic/BRAND SELVIA

As area school corporations begin an unprecedented school year, South Putnam Schools is now set to continue needed renovations throughout its buildings. However, funding has become a waiting game.

During the South Putnam School Board’s regular meeting Wednesday evening, Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt gave an update on the start of school at South Putnam, as well as where the school corporation stands with enrolled students.

He first credited students for following rules put in place with regard to COVID-19.

“The kids have been really good is all that I’m hearing, and our teachers are just doing a great job in the buildings here working through what we all know are very tough, difficult times,” Bernhardt said.

The superintendent acknowledged that he has no idea what the future holds, but that it was hoped that school could get back to a “semblance” of normalcy. Regardless, he expressed thanks to teachers and staff for a “smooth” start despite the changes.

However, Bernhardt also stated that the school corporation had lost 29 students since last spring, but adding that this number “could be totally wrong” next week. As of Wednesday morning, he said South Putnam had 956 students in class, while 85 were online.

This drop in the student count negatively affects the school corporation’s average daily membership (ADM), which determines how much educational money public school systems receive from the state.

“Obviously that means that budgets are going to be tight, because that can be $150,000-plus that we would be down unless those numbers grow,” Bernhardt said.

The official student count would usually take place in September. However, moving it to at least December is being considered. While more students could come to South Putnam, Bernhardt said it was “anybody’s guess” as to what funding would look like.

On Wednesday, Gov. Eric Holcomb asked the Indiana State Board of Education to delay the count so in-person and online students could be included.

Responding to a question about what parents and the community at large could do, Bernhardt said this was centered around supporting students both in school and online.

“I think the important thing is that we’re trying to have an environment that the students feel safe in,” Bernhardt said. “The things that we’re going through (are) to try and keep the students from being fearful.”

Ultimately, it was about promoting students’ mental attitude in a positive way and helping them to be successful in light of the new routines.

“If you just watch TV, if I was that age it would scare me to death,” he said. “Here, we’re not experiencing things as in-depth as you see in a lot of school corporations, like Indianapolis and a lot of what they’re experiencing.

“I think it’s something you can encourage children and say, ‘Hey, it’s a lot safer here than it is in other places. You’re very fortunate that you live where you live, and you have us around here to support you.’”

As the major issue on its agenda, the board held a public hearing on approving a general obligation bond so the school corporation can continue to make renovations throughout the buildings. This is required when it is anticipated that more than $1 million will be spent in each school.

Bernhardt provided that a previous bond had gone off in January, and that the point of this new bond was so that taxes did not have to be raised to cover these repairs.

Items addressed in this phase will include continuing roof replacements and parking lot rebuilds, as well as electrical and HVAC system repairs.

The board approved four resolutions pertaining to the project.

The first was one approved additional appropriations. The second was a rundown of the project’s cost and its tax impact. The third was the final bond resolution containing specific information such as the first interest payment date. The final one stipulated procedures to assure financial responsibility.

No comments from the audience about the project were made during the hearing.

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• Resignations: Kelly Stevenson - Central Elementary teacher; Kayla West-Roberts - part-time Fillmore Elementary instructional assistant; Megan Nees - part-time Central Elementary instructional assistant; and Brandi Meece - part-time Central Elementary instructional assistant;

• New hires: Laura Solano - MS/HS teacher; Janet Zimmerman - MS/HS teacher; Jamie Birkemeier - part-time Central Elementary instructional assistant; Sherry Hanley - MS/HS custodian; Gerald Skoog - bus driver; Andrew Waters - head varsity wrestling coach; Melissa Murphy - middle school cheer coach; Rachelle Custis - high school student council; Martha Miller - MS/HS cheer coach; Jay Custis - MS/HS volleyball coach; and Rebecca Custis - MS/HS volleyball coach.

The next regular meeting of the South Putnam School Board is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. in the South Putnam MS/HS Learning Center.

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