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July 22, 2024
BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
BOARD ACTIONS
The Board approved the following agenda items:
Renewal of Agreement with TalkingPoints for district-wide communication platform for the 2024-2025 school year.
Renewal of Agreement with Putnam City Schools Foundation for the 2024-2025 school year.
Renewal of Agreement with Discovery
Education for DreamBox/Reading Plus for secondary sites license subscription for the 2024-2025 school year.
Agreement with Melodie Ann Smith for English Language Development Tutoring Services at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School.
Agreement with Amplify Education for IXL Math Licenses for 6th grade through Algebra I.
Agreement with Amplify Education for DESMOS online calculator for 6th grade through Algebra I.
Agreement with Lexia Learning Systems for Lexia Core 5 and Power Up District subscription.
Agreement with Renaissance Learning for DnA subscription for standards-based assessments.
For a full list of Board meeting items and attachments, please view the full agenda on our website.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
CHARITY AVERY Thanked everyone that was attending. She pointed out that there is a process to everything and we are always working on building new things in our district and doing our best to make the needs met of everyone, but it just takes time. She wanted to remind everyone not to think that we are not prioritizing things. What is happening now are things that are already previous approved bonds and community pages do not realize that. We are doing the best with the funding we have. There are needs to be met but there are also processes to follow.
JUDY MULLEN HOPPER was excited for the next board meeting to see the audience that will be in attendance. She expressed her enthusiasm for the master mentor teaching program starting at Western Oaks Middle School. She hopes it will be successful in providing new teachers with instruction. She also expressed her support for adding long-term substitute pay to our district policy. She noted that Bixby pushed for a no-phone policy and will be attending a webinar that advocates for this as well, stating that we can observe how this policy affects cell phone use in schools. She commends Bixby for taking those steps.
JAY SHERRILL expressed his excitement for the bond project that was voted on in 2014, how cool it is to see it through, and how it will completely change the landscape of the area. He stated that it's great for the administration to have new buildings and new facilities for the district.
STEVE BURGER stated that we definitely need to look at a new cell phone policy like Bixby's, and he talked about how the more PR we have on the new bond, the better. He expressed that the problems in the school systems are ongoing everywhere, nationwide. 'We are all in this together,' he said. He echoed Judy's support for long-term substitute pay. He also brought up the idea of what other states are doing to address the shortage of substitutes by having a permanent pool of substitute teachers.
GAIL LOPRESTO stated that she went to Mayfield and was pleased with how good the improvements look.
Meeting Date: Monday, July 22, 2024, 5pm
Location: PC Administration Building
In Attendance: Board Members: President Gail LoPresto, Judy Mullen Hopper, Jay Sherrill, Steve Burger, and Charity Avery;
Superintendent Dr. Fred Rhodes, Board Clerk Stephanie Knox
Next meeting: Monday, August 5, 2024, 5pm
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Putnam City Centennial Center
It is certainly exciting to see progress being made on bond projects. For anyone who has recently driven by the birthplace of the District, near historic Route 66 and State Street, you have seen a lot of dirt work on the site where the Arnett Building, Central Junior High/Capps Middle School and Central Intermediate/Arbor Grove Elementary, once stood. This two-block area is being transformed into the Putnam City Centennial Center and Centennial Park.
Putnam City Patrons approved this project with their support of the 2014 Centennial Bond and further supported it by adding a Performing Arts Hall with the 2017 Momentum Bond. The Centennial Center will be a vibrant hub for our District, featuring areas dedicated to our rich history, crucial professional development, community events, school board meetings, performing arts, and administrative offices. Someone once said that Putnam City is “city” without a town square, a town hall. This facility will provide that place, by bringing the entire community together and being the torch of the flame to proudly represent and celebrate our rich heritage, for over 100 years!
Completion date is Fall of 2025. Read more about the Centennial Center here.
DISTRICT DATES & EVENTS
August 14 - First Day of School for 2024-2025
September 2 - Labor Day - No School
PC PROUD
PCN FCCLA attended the National Conference in Seattle, WA, from June 28 to July 4. PCN took three students who participated in student workshops, helped judge STAR events, and attended general sessions. Audree Elder competed in the Fashion Construction Level 2 STAR event and received a gold medal. She was also selected to be in the FCCLA National Fashion Show, where she modeled the dress she made in front of 8,000 of her peers!
BACK-TO-SCHOOL REMINDERS
School Supply Lists
All school supply lists are now available on our website under the Families tab.
High Schools do not have general schoolwide supply lists. Please be prepared with paper, pens/pencils, folders, and notebooks. Teachers will provide the specific supplies needed for each course via syllabi.
FRIENDLY REMINDERS
Be PC Proud! Have a story of an amazing achievement by a PC student teachers, group or team?
Putnam City Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, identity, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, or disability. Translations are completed by Google Translate.