Lack of revenue stifles funds at North Putnam

ROACHDALE -- With uncertainties surrounding funding for public schools across the state, North Putnam Schools is anticipating the complications of lost revenue.

Corporation Treasurer Tanya Pearson presented her projections for North Putnam’s budget for 2021 during the North Putnam School Board’s regular meeting last Thursday evening.

According to the taxpayer notice outlining the fund totals, the education fund stands at $10,003,315, while operations totals to $5,234,000. The corporation’s student population figures funding based on its average daily membership (ADM).

Pearson told the Banner Graphic in an email that North Putnam Schools was down 50 students from last year. While 1,318 students were counted in 2019-20, 1,268 currently for 2020-21 were counted as of her email.

Eighty-nine students out of the current count are virtual. Pearson provided that online students are not fully funded as in-person classes. This only means more state funding would be lost if this is not changed.

“This year we receive around $6,000 for every student, so you can see the impact of student loss each year,” she wrote.

The corporation’s rainy day fund is up to $2,748,234, though money was pulled from the education fund. Pearson said that $250,000 was recently transferred to cover the HVAC system at Bainbridge Elementary School, which needs to be replaced.

Superintendent Nicole Singer added that operations was going to be higher because the value of agricultural land has dropped.

The advertised impact to taxpayers comes to a $1.41 tax rate; but this could be lower. When it comes to the corporation’s assessed value (AV), Pearson explained that she used $510 million to make the projections.

When a certified AV is sent from the Putnam County Auditor’s Office, it is hoped it will be higher so the tax rate could be around 99 cents instead. The idea is to still advertise high with the budget to get the most funding possible.

Overall, the projected total for North Putnam’s 2020-21 budget stands at $20,967,814.

After it was presented, the board approved to advertise the tentative budget. The budget is set to be adopted during the school board’s regular meeting next month.

In other business:

• The board recognized Roachdale Elementary special education teacher Mary Lee Rippy as the Teacher of the Month.

• The board approved to move the corporation’s casualty, workman’s comp and liability insurance from the Wright Insurance to Astra Insurance.

• The board approved a contract for a library media specialist.

• The board approved general fees for virtual classes provided during the 2020-21 school year. They will be $25 for Bainbridge and Roachdale Elementary, and $35 for the middle school and high school.

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• New hires: Shaunta Muck - high school media center instructional assistant; Dennis Gray - substitute bus driver; Judy Rozelle - substitute bus driver; Amanda Charters - Roachdale Elementary instructional assistant; Angela Moore - middle school Read 180 teacher; Michael Murphy - high school assistant football coach/head wrestling coach; Fred Shorter - high school assistant football coach; Haylee Cox - high school assistant cheer coach; Julie Ann Elmore - boys’ and girls’ head swim coach; Chris Geeser - high school head baseball coach; Bronwyn Spencer - eighth-grade head volleyball coach; Tarra Lawrence - eighth-grade assistant volleyball coach; Farren Miller - seventh-grade head volleyball coach; Terri Daigle - seventh-grade assistant volleyball coach; Mandy Storm - seventh-grade assistant volleyball coach; Raven Lewis - sixth-grade head volleyball coach; Brandy Dickson - sixth-grade assistant volleyball coach;

• ECA: Randall Funk - middle school academic competition coordinator/science academic coach; Jennifer Fischer - middle school language arts academic coach; Andrew Hardy - middle school social studies academic coach; Bonnie Osborn - middle school math academic coach; Matthew Couch - sixth-grade Outdoor Experience/Science Bowl coach; Christina Miller - middle school Spell Bowl coach; Jessyca South - sixth-grade team leader; Jonathan Hathaway - middle school Student Council leader; Alyssa Chew - seventh-grade team leader; Dan Fouts - eighth-grade team leader; Kayla Kocher - middle school Yearbook/Art Club; Jessica Tarr - Bainbridge Elementary Spell Bowl coach/Yearbook; Staci Parent - Bainbridge Elementary Math Bowl/administrative assistant (no stipend); Laurie Hensley - Bainbridge Elementary cross country coach; Jeanna Amos - Bainbridge Elementary Student Council; Lou Ann Pell - Bainbridge Elementary robotics; Terri Barnhart - Bainbridge Elementary robotics; Kristy Lippencott - high school math academic coach/math department head; Kyle Morgan - high school social studies academic coach/social studies department head/National Honor Society; Annette Maier - high school science academic coach/ science department head/PE and health department head; Monique Fields - high school language arts academic coach/language arts department head/foreign language department head/Spell Bowl coach/Yearbook; Sarah Chizum - high school fine arts academic coach/fine arts department head/Art Club (volunteer); Kate Skirvin - high school technology and practical arts department head/FFA; Riachel Mosteller - high school special education department head; Amy Certain - high school guidance department head; Dustin Bond - high school major production director/Musical One director; Matt Wargel - NPHS/NPMS musical orchestra director/director; Morgan Asher high school musical pianist/music choral accompanist; Kirstin Mindiola - NPHS/NPMS Music Winter Guard/Cadet Guard; Janna Oxford - FFA; Lukas Haworth - high school PEP Club; Jordan Baire - high school Spanish Club/ sophomore class sponsor; Ashley Smith - high school FCCLA; Brandy Dickson - high school Key Club; Sheri Roach - high school Gay-Straight Alliance; Chris Geeser - freshman class sponsor; Krysten Long - junior class sponsor; Mildred Enicks - junior class sponsor; Jessica Neild - senior class sponsor; Kylee Clodfelter - high school Student Council;

• Leaves: Nicole Singer - superintendent; Wendall Barrett - Roachdale Elementary custodian; Marlena Bruton - Roachdale Elementary instructional assistant; Sharon Davis - Bainbridge Elementary instructional assistant/bus driver;

• Resignations: Michael Fenneman - seventh-grade math teacher; Krystal Turpin - Bainbridge Elementary instructional assistant; Sharon Davis - Bainbridge Elementary instructional assistant;

• Retirement: Susan Trent - seventh-grade English teacher;

• Transfers: Danny Blanton - substitute bus driver (from full time); Steve Gant - substitute bus driver (from full time); Jim Hazelwood - full-time bus driver (from substitute); Crystal Parent - full-time bus driver (from substitute).

Board President Ron Spencer did not attend, so Board Vice President Dustin Osborn led the meeting. Board Member Joanie Knapp listened in virtually.

The next regular meeting of the North Putnam School Board is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. in the North Putnam Middle School Media Center.