North Putnam board approves raises for admin, tables for staff

ROACHDALE — As part of a short meeting Thursday evening, the North Putnam School Board approved pay raises for administrators. Meanwhile, raises for classified staff are on hold.

The board approved a $2,200 raise for administrators (except for Supt. Nicole Allee), with stipends offered for advancement items. Allee noted to the Banner Graphic Monday that teachers and administrators historically get the same raise, with teachers’ base pay contingent on degrees and evaluations.

The board in turn approved tabling consideration of raises for the classified staff (i.e., secretaries, aides, etc.) on a motion by Mark Hoke and second by Travis Lambermont. There was a consensus that a work session was needed to address them.

“It’s not that we don’t want to give a raise, but we’ve asked for some more information and to give an opportunity for Central Office (to do so),” member Ron Spencer provided. “We’re not just putting it off.”

In other business:

• With Corporation Treasurer Tanya Pearson noting that the tax rate as advertised stands at $1.60, the board adopted North Putnam’s budget for 2023. The budget was broken down in coverage of the board’s regular meeting held on Aug. 18.

In the same vein, the board also passed a resolution authorizing reductions of appropriations in the current budget. It was explained that this is meant to maintain the 2023 budget as expected.

• The board approved its yearly tentative collective bargaining agreement with the North Putnam Teachers Association. A public hearing on the agreement as ratified by the association was held on Oct. 12.

• The board approved a resolution authorizing Pearson to consult with Tri-County Bank & Trust about using the corporation’s credit cards. She explained that Tri-County now outsources its credit cards to another bank.

• The board approved revisions to the corporation’s school wellness plan. Allee related that the policy would reflect general guidance like items for special occasions being purchased from a store, food allergies being taken into consideration and water being available at meal times.

• With guidance already in place, but without a written one being formalized previously, the board approved a plan for identifying and serving high-ability students. Allee related that a committee of teachers, administrators, parents and students meets to discuss this guidance.

The board also recognized Bainbridge Elementary first-grade teacher Kristi Rambis as North Putnam’s Teacher of the Month.

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• New hires: Emma Huber, Emma Bayless and Nyiah Goff - Bainbridge Elementary instructional assistants; Kristen Jordan - NPMS/NPHS choir long-term substitute (temporary contract); Tarra Lawrence - Bainbridge Elementary Title I instructional assistant; Michael Murphy - NPHS boys’ wrestling head coach; Scott Moore, Dillon Binnion, Colin Smith, Jared Allgood, Jake Scott and Dave Wyatt - NPHS boys’ wrestling assistant coaches; Earl Hall - NPHS boys’ golf head coach; Anthony Buis - NPHS boys’ golf assistant coach; Nick Miller, Ryan King and Bryce Jones - sixth-grade boys’ basketball coaches; Neil Miles - seventh-grade boys’ basketball head coach; Mark Osborn - seventh-grade boys’ basketball assistant coach; Michael Murphy - NPMS wrestling head coach; Jared Allgood, Dillon Binnion and Colin Smith - NPMS wrestling assistant coaches; Ronnie Campbell - third-grade youth boys’ basketball head coach; James Havens and Tyler Watson - third-grade youth boys’ basketball assistant coaches; Mark Shepherd - fourth-grade youth boys’ basketball head coach; Josh Nickerson - fourth-grade youth boys’ basketball assistant coach; Marc Garriott - fifth-grade youth boys’ basketball head coach; Matt Wass and Dustin Mayo - fifth-grade youth boys’ basketball assistant coaches; Roger Bush - third-grade youth girls’ basketball head coach/fifth-grade youth girls’ basketball head coach; David McGaughey - fourth-grade youth girls’ basketball head coach; and Fred Shorter and Dave Wyatt - NPMS wrestling assistant coaches;

• ECA: Morgan Asher - Musical One vocal director/ Thespian Society (effective 2022-23 school year); and

• Resignations: Emma Huber - Bainbridge Elementary instructional assistant (effective Oct. 11), Sumer Ramsey - Bainbridge Elementary learning loss coordinator (effective Oct. 10) and Pamela Detro - Roachdale Elementary instructional assistant (effective Oct. 17).

With member Heather Lawson absent, Lambermont, Hoke, Spencer and the rest of the board joined Allee, Pearson, Corporation Attorney Darren Chadd and Administrative Assistant April Lambermont for the meeting.

The next regular meeting of the North Putnam School Board is set for Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. in the large group instruction room at North Putnam High School.