South Putnam leaders narrowing down project priorities

Leadership at South Putnam Schools are gearing up for a multi-million-dollar endeavor aimed at a variety of needs. Which of them are tenable now is the concern.

With Andy Miller of the Fanning Howey architecture firm iterating that they are only considerations at this point in time, the South Putnam School Board presented those various needs at its recent regular meeting.

The board engaged Fanning Howey as the project’s executive and met with the firm in June and July. The list presented at the meeting was the initial draft of an ongoing study into South Putnam’s buildings. Meanwhile, Michael Kinder & Sons was tasked as the construction manager.

In a nutshell, the approximate $20-million project is meant to improve and expand on infrastructure, learning programs and athletics and classroom instruction.

Among the biggest items were a new auxiliary gymnasium at South Putnam Middle/High School, roof replacements there and at Central Elementary School and updates overall to the former’s athletic facilities, including a new press box and bleachers. Smaller-scale improvements included new HVAC systems and fencing.

“This is a study; these are pre-planning ideas. We’re going to vet that list,” Miller said about the considerations moving forward. To the list’s fluidity, he noted that costs for upgrading the middle/high school’s pools need more analysis.

The board determined earlier this year that the project, which Supt. Corey Smith has described as a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity, will not mean an increase in taxes. This is as current debt from other bonds is falling off.

In other business:

• To the project itself, the board took the lead from Stacy Barclay of Sutherlin, Zeiner & Barclay on approving four resolutions relating to additional appropriations, the district’s building corporation and funding.

Two of them pertained to increasing the lease rental to the building corporation and assigning its contract and bid duties, one allowing for additional appropriations (which are not part of the budget) and another for providing funding information to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The board approved a resolution declaring the need for the project, as well as ones denoting the formation of the building corporation, at its regular meeting last month.

The Banner Graphic erroneously referred to the project’s estimated cost at $1.6-$1.8 million in its coverage of the meeting. This pertains to a general obligation (GO) bond project that was undertaken last year.

• The board approved to move forward with considering a proposal from the Putnamville Church of Faith to purchase the property there from the school corporation. The property is the site of a former school and has been leased to the church on a long-term basis.

• Teachers Tiffany Dixon and Natalie Hodge recognized students for their successes with Advanced Placement exams. College Board designates students as AP Scholars (scores of 3 or higher on three or more exams), AP Honors (an average score of at least 3.35 on all exams taken and 3 or higher on four or more) and AP Distinctions (an average score of at least 3.5 on all exams taken and 3 or higher on five or more).

They noted that 60 percent of all students who took an AP exam last school year scored a 3 or higher. They also said that the number of classes offered and tests earning college credit has only increased in the past five years.

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• Resignations: Diana Meo - Fillmore Elementary Pre-K teacher; and Joanie Parish - middle/high school custodian;

• Termination: Victoria Land - Fillmore Elementary Pre-K instructional assistant;

• Employment: Lina Callahan - Central Elementary instructional assistant; Elizabeth Button - Fillmore Elementary Pre-K lead instructional assistant; Monica Ballinger and Kenneth Kolp - middle/high school custodians; Joanna Crum and Shanna Gilbert - middle/high school instructional assistants; Evan Bernhardt - middle/high school physical education aide; Laura Williams - middle school head cook; Damon Slaton - assistant boys’ basketball coach; Dodie Meloon - Pre-K bus driver; Paul Fagin - bus driver; and Debbie Steffy - grant director.

Corporation Treasurer Hilarie Logan and Executive Secretary Erin Roach joined Smith and the entire board for the meeting.

The next regular meeting of the South Putnam School Board is set for Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. in the South Putnam MS/HS Learning Center.