North Putnam board says goodbye to member, veteran educator Darrell Wiatt

Monday, December 21, 2020
Recognizing his service on the North Putnam School Board, Superintendent Nicole Singer presents retiring board member Darrell Wiatt with a plaque. Though joining virtually, outgoing board member Dustin Osborn was also honored.
Banner Graphic/BRAND SELVIA

ROACHDALE -- The North Putnam School Board expressed its appreciation for its outgoing members during its most recent meeting.

Darrell Wiatt and Dustin Osborn were honored for their service. They will be succeeded respectively by Eric Oliver and Rachel Mandeville.

Wiatt has been on the board for the past eight years, while Osborn has been on the board for the past four years.

Besides being a two-term board member, though, Wiatt served North Putnam Schools for 39 years from 1972 through 2011.

During his tenure, Wiatt taught grades two through six, as well as serving as principal of Russellville Elementary School for 12 years.

Many of his 39 years were also spent as a fourth-grade teacher at Bainbridge Elementary.

In terms of business before the board, North Putnam High School students can find more course options beginning next school year. However, more details are to be worked out.

North Putnam High School Principal Jason Chew came to the North Putnam School Board for approval of NPHS’ course description guide for 2021-22 last Thursday evening.

State leaders in the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet are set to implement courses in its Next Level Programs of Study (NLPS) initiative for the next school year.

The overall mindset is that NLPS will improve the quality of career and technical courses through updated standards for postsecondary certificate programs. As such, these offerings could create more certifications and associate’s degrees.

The caveat to Next Level’s eventual implementation at NPHS is that the program is not all “ironed out and mapped out” as of yet. A similar caution was recently expressed to the Area 30 interlocal board by Director Lora Busch.

Chew provided that some of the new courses may never be taught at the high school, but they have to be offered nonetheless. As Next Level is implemented, old or irrelevant course titles will be removed.

Board member Amber Greene asked if a set level of students in courses would be required. Chew said that some prerequisites would not be taught next school year. In essence, North Putnam would be trying to align with Area 30 so that courses are not duplicated.

Superintendent Nicole Singer added that it was best to gauge interest now, and in turn begin building courses which might require equipment in the future.

The board unanimously approved the 2021-22 course description guide for the high school.

In other business:

• Prior to the regular meeting, the board held a public hearing on a contract for Superintendent Nicole Singer set to be approved. There were no comments offered.

• The board approved for retired North Putnam teacher Susan Trent to represent the school corporation on the Roachdale Library Board. Her term will be effective Jan. 1, 2021.

• The board approved for teacher appreciation grant (TAG) money to be alloted toward administrators and counselors employed at North Putnam. The allotment will follow the same guidelines for teachers rated either “Highly Effective” and “Effective.”

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• New hires: Brenda Jones - Bainbridge Elementary instructional assistant; Kathy Sykes - Bainbridge Elementary Homebound instructor; Jeremy Windmiller - assistant NPHS boys’ basketball coach; Marc Garriott - assistant NPHS boys’ basketball coach; RJ Batchelor - sixth-grade girls’ basketball coach; and Brandy Dickson - concessions manager;

• Leave: Cheryl Crosby - Roachdale Elementary teacher.

Present in its entirety, the board was also joined by Corporation Attorney Darren Chadd.

The next regular meeting of the North Putnam School Board is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. in the group instruction room at North Putnam High School.

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  • Mr. Wiatt, you a role model for children and adults alike. So dedicated to education and wanting the best for children to learn. Teaching today is so different when I was growing up. Nowadays they have so many issues to deal with and also the fact that they are underpaid. From kindergarten to sophomore year, I was a student at Russellville. Those memories are always close to my heart.

    -- Posted by Queen53 on Fri, Dec 25, 2020, at 10:36 AM
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