Little change with employee insurance at North Putnam

ROACHDALE — Granting a relatively marginal premium increase, North Putnam Schools’ employee insurance will not see significant changes for the coming year.

EPIC Insurance agent John Parmley simplified the school corporation’s insurance package to the North Putnam School Board at its regular meeting Wednesday evening.

Parmley first noted that North Putnam’s property values have increased five percent year-over-year to keep up with inflation and increased building material costs. This is as he said appraisals to get an accurate view of those costs are being pursued.

The corporation’s cyber, educator’s legal and auto liabilities remaining the same from last year, Parmley recommended that it stay with TheZenith on its workman’s compensation, despite a $900-lower cost elsewhere but for the sake of its longevity with the company.

“In today’s marketplace, this is really good,” Parmley said about the 2.1-percent premium increase in terms of its exposures.

With that consideration, the board approved the new insurance package.

In other business:

• The board approved for Kate Skirvin and Janna Oxford to take part in a new mentoring program for agriculture teachers. Both will be assigned new teachers elsewhere in the state to help develop their skills and be resources. The program has been developed by local teacher Duane Huge.

North Putnam High School Principal Jason Chew noted that there will be reimbursement for the substitute teachers covering Skirvin and Oxford when they are gone.

• With Ron Spencer noting that it was a “good idea” given how administration has had to “pick up the slack” following its change in leadership, the board approved Kramer Companies to act as a general manager.

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• New hires: Stacey Camp - seventh-grade math teacher; Stephanie Brooks - NPMS instructional assistant; Bart Cassida - NPHS math teacher; Margaret Smith - Roachdale Elementary fifth-grade teacher; Penny Mack and Lexie Odum - Bainbridge Elementary special education teachers; Rebecca Swinehart - bus driver (Old National Trail route); Kim Dwigans, Ashlee Hanna, Kayla Tackett, Jessica Gomez and Corine King - Bainbridge Elementary instructional assistants; Kate Skirvin and Lexie Odum - NPHS girls’ soccer assistant coaches; Chris Geeser - NPHS baseball head coach; Jackson Kendall - NPHS baseball assistant coach; Cheryl Cook - NPHS football laundry; Hailey Norton and Ricki Campbell - NPMS girls’ soccer assistant coaches; Kristen Jordan - NPMS Thespians Club; and Nate Bryan - FCA leader;

• Mentor teachers: Bonnie Osborn - mentor teacher for Nick Duggan; Alyssa Chew - mentor teacher for Stacey Camp; and Matt Wargel - mentor teacher for Emily Shippy;

• ECA: Randy Funk - NPMS academic competition coordinator/science academic coach; Jennifer Fischer - NPMS language arts academic coach; Bonnie Osborn - NPMS math academic coach; Jessyca South - sixth-grade team leader; Scott Spencer - eighth-grade team leader; Alyssa Chew - seventh-grade team leader; Helen Dunn - NPMS Student Council leader/Honor Society sponsor; Kayla Kocher - NPMS Yearbook sponsor/Art Club sponsor; and Jessyca South - NPMS high ability coordinator/sixth-grade Outdoor Experience coordinator;

• FFA volunteers: Seth Ariens; Kyle Morgan; Nate Skirvin; Skylar Clingan; Kristy Straziscar; Denise Oxford; Anna Ariens; Jeff Coleman; Kevin Ariens; Char Coffman; Sarah Correll; Allison Bayless; Walter Colvin; Austin Wright; Amanda King; Cameron Frazier; Jenny Hodgen; Paul Hodgen; Ricki Campbell; Seth Campbell; Heather and Ray Poynter; Jonathan and Ashley Poynter; Dave Berry; Jessica Neild; Kylee Clodfelter; and Rodney and Jackie Simpson;

• Leave: Sarah Sims - NPHS art teacher (Nov. 27-March 8, 2024);

• Resignations: Shelby Olofson - NPHS math teacher (effective immediately); Kayla Mahoy - NPMS instructional assistant (effective immediately); Anthony Rossok - NPHS special education teacher (effective July 31); Todd Curtis - custodian (effective Aug. 7); Mandy Cox - bus driver (effective Aug. 8); Jennifer Gibbs - Bainbridge Elementary Yearbook sponsor (effective Aug. 15); and Lisa Costin - Bainbridge Elementary Spell Bowl team sponsor (effective Aug. 15).

With David McCollough absent, Corporation Treasurer Tanya Pearson, Student Services Director Rodney Simpson and Administrative Assistant April Lambermont joined interim Supt. Carrie Milner and the rest of the board for the meeting.

The next regular meeting of the North Putnam School Board is set for Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. in the large group instruction room at North Putnam High School.