NP school board discusses decades of bonds; Girls’ gymnastics takes a leap

ROACHDALE - Anticipating the inagural season of North Putnam High School girls’ gymnastics, a team of one is a team nonetheless.

A rising high school freshman recently expressed interest in competing in state-level girl’s gymnastics, and although the high school does not have the facilities or coaching staff, North Putnam girl’s gymnastics can become officially IHSAA recognized, according to Jason Chew, North Putnam High School principal.

Registering as a team, according to Chew, requires the gymnast’s parents to register as official coaches of the team—attending all practices and competitions—and that Southmont in Crawfordsville allows the family to use their gymnastics space during said practices. If these requirements are met, the IHSAA can authorize North Putnam’s girls’ gymnastics team, even with just one member.

Working closely with the IHSAA, formalizing girls' gymnastics “would not create Title IX issues, at least with the advice they’re giving us,” Chew said.

Councilmember Amber Greene spoke up about the increasing involvement in boys’ volleyball across North Putnam’s schools, saying that they also wish to become IHSAA recognized. With girls’ gymnastics on the horizon and a mandated balance of girls/boys sports, “it could potentially be a way for boys’ volleyball to be entered as a sport, but they’re really two separate issues entirely ... it’s still a possibility,” Chew said.

Although there's only one participant so far, having one student interested in girls gymnastics is “a good way to form a team,” he added.

Other business:

- North Putnam’s financial advisor, Indianapolis based Stifel Financial Corp., presented to the North Putnam school board for the second consecutive school board meeting, proposing two different scenarios in which the school corporation would take out tax-neutral bonds, $10 million or $30 million, to be paid off by 2040. The board approved of publicizing future public hearings on this matter, “but in essence the process is still at the beginning stages,” supt. Allee said.

- The board approved a contract with Hagerman that outlines how business will be conducted, how invoices will be received, timelines and constraints. This allows the board to receive bids from subcontractors with whom the school district will potentially collaborate.

- Board policy chapters seven, eight and nine needed revisions after Gov. Holcomb’s signing of house bill 1216, which eliminates textbook fees, set to begin after June 30. The board approved of these revisions.

- Administrative contracts for two employee agreements were approved by the board.

- A letter of intent with Emcor Construction Services was approved. The letters, which outline estimates $6.7 million for the middle school and $4.9 million estimated for Roachdale, include a commitment to “not more than $2 million of the costs to be incurred.

“What those letters do, as they said at our last meeting, was allow them to put us on the schedule and begin ordering those long lead time items, but we would not owe them any money until work commences,” Supt. Allee said.

- As far as hiring for the next school year goes, “trying to find people is hard,” Chew said. There are openings for a new counselor and a maternity leave math teacher, both of which have not seen many applications.

- In the superintendent’s report, Allee wished families a “relaxed pace,” for their summers thus far.

The next regularly scheduled Board meeting will take place July 20 at 7 p.m. in the North Putnam High School large group instruction room.