South Putnam aligning with state literacy goal

Per action from its school board, South Putnam Schools is adhering to a state initiative aimed at improving foundational reading skills in students’ academics.

The South Putnam School Board approved for the school corporation to receive Literacy Early Intervention Grant (EIG) funding through the state as such on Wednesday.

The grants stem from legislation passed last year by state lawmakers, in which support was lent to a stated goal by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) for the statewide third-grade iRead passage rate to be at 95 percent by 2027. Appropriations were made for supplemental stipends as such.

As required by the IDOE, the board approved a policy outlining requirements for how the funds are distributed to qualifying teachers. The initiative applies to public school corporations as well as charter schools.

Supt. Corey Smith specified that the grant will go toward K-3 teachers generally, and noted that the policy was discussed with the South Putnam Classroom Teachers Association and administrators.

The board honed on language in the policy providing that compensation is to be provided to teachers, instructional coaches and other school staff, “responsible for implementing and delivering literacy and reading instruction.”

“So your IAs (instructional assistants) aren’t necessarily delivering (instruction),” Board President Lisa Cooper provided, tacking onto a query from Wade Fanning about classified staff qualifying for the grant.

“Based on the policy as it’s written, if they qualify underneath that, then they can be added,” Smith said, adding that the policy was assumed to specifically apply to licensed teachers. “We’d have to make sure that they deliver the instruction.”

With the policy approved, the board also passed a resolution developed by the Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA) as to South Putnam’s alignment with the IDOE’s goal.

“We have been ahead of the curve on this initiative by building programming and professional development opportunities,” Smith remarked as the resolution was passed.

In other business:

• The board approved Area 30 Career Center’s interlocal agreement with its sending schools. The agreement was amended in 2021 as Area 30’s budgeting scheme was changed to be based on each school corporation’s average daily membership (ADM).

While it was not done then, new state regulations provide that the school boards approve it.

• The board approved a project to install electronic locksets at Fillmore Elementary School. Smith stated that the project is part of a wider initiative to improve security, in which exterior access has been addressed and interior access will be done in stages.

While the exact quote was not stated, Wireless Networking Solutions was selected for this project, as Smith said it has done others at South Putnam. He added that the locksets are battery-powered and override master key access for administrators.

The board also recognized South Putnam’s Students of the Month: Ava Malone (Central Elementary), Ella Hanks (Fillmore Elementary), Melissa Anderson (South Putnam Middle School) and Aiden Beadles (South Putnam High School).

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• Resignations: Chasity Sanders - Central Elementary instructional assistant; Rebecca Gray - Central Elementary food services; and Kenneth Kolp - South Putnam Middle/High School custodian;

• Employment: Valerie Waters and Dodie Meloon - Central Elementary instructional assistants; Brian Koons - middle/high school second-shift custodian; Emily York - middle/high school instructional assistant/special education teacher; Riley Wilson, Tucker Elmore, Penny Cummings, Bella Fanning and Brodie Carr - lifeguards; David Husk - full-time driver (from substitute driver); and Hannah Clark - substitute teacher.

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, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. in the South Putnam MS/HS Learning Center. The board’s regular meetings will be held on the third Wednesday at this time moving forward.