Virtual courses approved for North Putnam HS

ROACHDALE — Seeking to expand opportunities for students at North Putnam High School, adding virtual courses to its options was given the go-ahead recently.

The North Putnam School Board approved offering such through Indiana Online on Thursday. The nonprofit platform is through the Central Indiana Educational Service Center (CIESC) and designed for supplemental courses.

In proposing the move, Supt. Dustin LeMay noted that students would be supervised in a lab setting by a North Putnam teacher certified in a particular subject. Having the options, he suggested, will shore up students’ dual-credit work through Ivy Tech and Trine University.

“We currently have students doing this on their own time, and paying for it on their own,” LeMay said. “We’re just looking for creative ways to expand programming for our students.”

“I think it’s a great resource and a good opportunity for our students,” member Joanie Knapp commented before the approval.

In other business:

• Though it was acknowledged that it is essentially the only provider in its area, the board approved a contract from TDS Telecom for the corporation’s internet service.

Asst. Supt. Rodney Simpson noted that Five Star Technology Solutions assisted in acquiring bids, and that the costs are support through the E-rate program.

• The board approved stipends totaling $7,326.51 to go toward K-3 teachers and instructional assistants who work with students on their foundational reading skills.

LeMay noted that 75 percent of the total would go to teachers and the rest to instructional assistants. Specifically, 20 qualified teachers will receive about $274 each, while 12 instructional assistants will receive $152 each.

The stipends follow legislation passed last year, 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.

• The board approved a job description for a Title I-funded teacher that would focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

LeMay provided that one instructional assistant has covered STEM offerings at the elementary level, and that having a certified teacher would allow for expansion of interest in related fields.

• The board approved a service agreement with Peine Engineering with regard to HVAC repairs at Roachdale Elementary and North Putnam Middle School.

The repairs are related to a multi-million-dollar project that also includes facility improvements at North Putnam High School. Peine’s contact and corresponding bid come after the board voted last month to reject offers that were deemed unresponsive.

“Peine came in with a better bid with the same services,” Simpson noted. “They also have extremely high references for the work that they do at other school corporations.”

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• New hires: Pamela Kashman - NPHS treasurer/secretary; Scott Carroll - assistant bus mechanic; Jennifer McDonald - Roachdale Elementary instructional assistant; Kyra Munday - NPMS instructional assistant; Greg Freije - bus driver; Skylar Clifford, Andrea King and Candis Ball - NPHS softball assistant coaches; Jeremy Windmiller - NPHS/NPMS baseball videographer/statistician/GameChanger app manager; and Krystal Williamson - youth boys’ basketball coach;

• ECA: Kyle Morgan - NPHS National Honor Society sponsor (2023-24 school year)

• Resignations: Tyna Dillon - Roachdale Elementary instructional assistant (effective Jan. 17); Chelsa Buis - bus driver (effective Jan. 5); Chelsa Buis - Roachdale Elementary instructional assistant (effective Jan. 31); and Curtis Lawrence - NPHS girls’ basketball head coach (effective Feb. 12);

• Terminations: James Roberts - NPHS custodian (effective Feb. 5); and Corren King - Bainbridge Elementary instructional assistant (effective Feb. 7).

With Ron Spencer absent, Business Manager Tanya Pearson, Corporation Attorney Tyler Nichols and Administrative Assistant April Lambermont joined LeMay, Simpson and the board for the meeting.

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