Residents’ thoughts and ideas regarding the proposed Greene County Community School building and remodeling project are being sought by the Friends of Education committee of the district and the architects for the project, and copies of a DVD video outlining the project are available starting this Friday to stimulate discussion.
The committee reports growing enthusiasm for the project, based on comments from several residents. “We’re asking for the public’s help to flesh out more of the details of the proposal,” said Jones. “Residents of the district will have to be comfortable with the project, and the video is designed to help them reach that comfort level. We want to be as transparent as possible.”
The participants in the video chat outline the components of the concept, which proposes to build a new high school and a regional career academy on the south side of Highway 30 just west of AAI Spalding at the north edge of Jefferson. The plan envisions moving the district’s middle school classes to the current high school building, which would be remodeled.
The current middle school building would then be available for repurposing, probably into apartments and/or condominiums to provide much-needed local housing.
The proposed regional career academy would be located adjacent to the new high school. Outfitted, staffed and maintained by Iowa Central Community College, its curriculum strands would be designed to meet the employment needs of the region’s major employers.
Course content could include software development, advanced manufacturing, agricultural technology, bioenergy production, industrial sewing, hospitality and restaurant management, and health care, among other curriculum threads.
Students at the academy would come from Greene County High School and seven neighboring high schools, and adult classes could be offered in the evenings.
College credit would be earned by high school students who take classes at the academy.
The committee invites interested residents of the district to watch the video in small groups in their homes, businesses, clubs and other suitable locations. Arrangements are also being made to show the video continuously in a specific location, like a community center, in each town of the school district on specific dates. A committee member would be present at those locations to answer questions and take suggestions regarding the proposed project.
After residents have taken the opportunity to watch the video, larger town meetings will be scheduled starting in January for further discussion. The town meetings will be held in Grand Junction, Scranton, Rippey and Jefferson.
Persons who would like to reserve a copy of the DVD video should call Greene County Development Corporation (GCDC) at 515-386-8255, or email infoGCDC@greenecountyiowa.com. DVDs may be picked up at the Jefferson city hall’s front counter or from the GCDC office in city hall.
“We’re asking for the public’s input on the proposal,” said Deal. “We’ve received very good support so far, and we want to make sure it continues to develop into something that residents of the school district will support in an April 3 vote.”
