The East Greene school board had what board president Marc Hoffman called “healthy discussion” about the future of school-owned property at its regular meeting March 19. “I think this is all healthy,” Hoffman said. “I think it’s going to relieve a lot of tension with the rest of the locals. They are all worried about each one of these pieces. Obviously we’re not saying what’s forever, but at least they’ve got some idea what the intention of the property owner is going to be for the future of the Greene County schools.”
The East Greene board has only three regular meetings – April, May and June – before the reorganization with the Jefferson-Scranton district becomes effective July 1. At that time, the property of both districts becomes the property of the new Greene County Community School District.
The East Greene board, under Hoffman’s leadership, has been a conscientious steward of the East Greene district’s property as the small district becomes part of a larger district with district offices and the majority of students attending school in Jefferson.
Building and grounds director Shawn DeMoss provided information and made recommendations for each school-owned property in Grand Junction as follows:
- Parking lot on west side of 12th St – 135 X 75-feet with 6 inches of white rock. The school will claim the white rock for other uses and sell the lot by sealed bid. Hoffman said putting the property back on the tax rolls would be beneficial. A public hearing will be held at the April 16 meeting for the sale of property.
- Tennis courts – Are used considerably for recess and by the community for basketball. Grand Junction Horizons changes light bulbs and the school pays the utility bill. The courts require little maintenance. The school will retain ownership.
- Softball field – Jefferson-Scranton does not own a softball field but leases fields from the city of Jefferson. “We’ve had discussions about building our own (J-S)…but I struggle with spending “X” number of dollars when there’s a nice field here,” superintendent Tim Christensen said. The school will retain ownership of the Grand Junction field for future use.
- Football field – “It’s a nice facility no matter whether you’re Grand Junction or Jefferson or a larger school,” DeMoss said. The maintenance needs are low and walkers use the track on a daily basis. Hauling the large, portable restroom from the football field in Jefferson has been a benefit. The school will retain ownership and promote its use by youth leagues.
- Garage north of the football field – It’s in “pretty sad shape,” DeMoss said. The east wall has buckled and is off the foundation. Per DeMoss’s recommendation, the garage will be razed. The school will retain ownership of the lot and use it for bus and overflow parking for the football field.
- Bus barn – DeMoss recommends keeping it, although it has drainage issues due to a nearby culvert and needs additional white rock. The school will retain ownership and will assist a neighboring property owner to the south with up to one half the cost to a maximum of $1,000 to assist in removing dead and unhealthy trees that have the potential to fall onto the building.
- Former superintendent’s house at the northeast corner of the school campus – Has been rented out since the February meeting. The lease does not include the garage, which the school uses for a walk-in cooler/freezer and equipment storage. The school will retain ownership and continue to rent it out.
- Rippey school building – See related story. The board will retain ownership of the lot after demolition of the building in order to have control over future uses.
- Grand Junction building – Will house grades 4-6 for the Greene County district. Classrooms will be reconfigured accordingly, and wheelchair accessibility for a fourth grade student will be considered. Low profile stools and sinks installed for preschoolers and kindergartners will be replaced if necessary, depending on the use of those classrooms.
The school does not own the baseball field in Rippey but pays the city of Rippey to use it. The school will continue that arrangement.
