Upcoming renovations prompt increase to South Putnam budget

With South Putnam Schools anticipating a major renovation project, its budget for 2024 will see increases compared to last year. However, tax bills are to not change.

With a brief workshop by Supt. Corey Smith and advertisement approved last month, no public comments were provided at a public hearing on the budget at the South Putnam School Board’s regular meeting on Wednesday.

The Education Fund, which is supported by average daily membership (ADM), is set at $8,877,560, with 15 percent of this to eventually be transferred to the Operations Fund. Smith noted at the workshop that South Putnam’s enrollment is up from last school year.

The $2,794,850 for the Debt Service Fund includes general obligation (GO) bonds from 2021 and 2022 which are being paid down. Meanwhile, the School Pension Debt Fund at $237,255 cover pension bonds from 2004 which are almost paid down.

In terms of the Operations Fund, the maximum levy for revenue stands at $2,712,570, with its budget at $4,122,378. The Rainy Day Fund is to have a $400,000 additional appropriation, though it all is not expected to be spent.

The estimated $20-million renovation project, which has been covered previously, is to not affect the tax rate for South Putnam, as current bond debt is falling off considerably. As such, the rate is to remain at $1.32.

As to the school bus replacement plan, two Thomas-built Freightliner ones are planned to be replaced next year, with the estimated cost at $145,000 each. This two-bus trend is to continue through 2028.

South Putnam’s budget, school bus replacement plan and capital project plan are to be adopted at the school board’s regular meeting next month.

In other business:

• Speaking as the board’s updater on education-related legislation, Joseph Roach related that he attended a webinar about a new state law permitting the removal of “obscene” media (e.g., books, films, etc.) from school libraries.

Roach related that the law sets out cataloging materials and posting said catalogs on school websites by Jan. 1. He said the webinar’s hosts sought to define what constitutes obscenity, as well as whether materials in classrooms are included.

Though some of this is still undefined, Roach provided that the corporation could set its own procedures for how materials are challenged and otherwise maintained. Smith added that these procedures are being worked through.

• The board formally approved to sign off on contracts for new administrators at South Putnam.

• Transportation Director Brad Ogborn informed the board that South Putnam’s school bus routes and safety policies were reviewed recently. Commenting that he was the substitute, he added that the corporation has a “good group” of bus drivers.

To a query from Roach about lights and signs, Ogborn acknowledged stop arm violations having increased. Noting that they occur often due to there not being a median, he said signage is up in Mount Meridian and Putnamville. He commented that the county and the state have been amenable as such.

The board also recognized South Putnam’s Students of the Month: Cecilia Becker (Central Elementary), Madison Perretti (Fillmore Elementary), Wyatt Foxx (South Putnam Middle School) and Ethan Rooksberry (South Putnam High School).

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• Resignation: Linda Callahan - Central Elementary instructional assistant;

• Employment: Chasity Sanders - Central Elementary instructional assistant; and Rachelle Custis - senior class co-sponsor.

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, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. in the South Putnam MS/HS Learning Center.