School board re-elects Peters as president
The Greene County Schools did not get the expected invitation to join the Raccoon River Activities Conference, but will instead remain in a shrinking Heart of Iowa Activities Conference.
Superintendent Tim Christensen made that announcement at the school board’s regular meeting Sept. 19. He said no reason was provided, except that the RRAC wanted to remain at 10 teams rather than 12.
The HOIAC will have only six teams with the departure of Gilbert and North Polk. Christensen, reporting in the absence of activities director Mitch Moore, said HOIAC member schools will work to recruit new schools. In the worst case scenario, Greene County could petition the Iowa High School Athletic Association and be assigned to a conference.
That information was shared before the “old” board retired and a “new” board assumed the helm. With no school election held this year, organizing a new board was a formality.
The next school election will be held in November 2019.
The new board re-elected Mark Peters as president and Steve Fisher was elected as vice president. Meetings will be held the third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm September through May, and at 5:15 in June, July and August. The November meeting will be held Nov. 18 and the March meeting will be held the 13th.
Most committee assignments will be the same as in 2017-18. Assignments are:
• County assessor’s conference board – Steve Fisher
• Jefferson park and recreation board – Sam Harding
• Negotiations – Mike Dennhardt, Harding, Peters
• Administrative/classified salaries – Dennhardt, Fisher, Steve Karber
• School Improvement advisory – John McConnell, Peters, Catherine Wilson
• School Foundation – Harding
• Facilities – Harding, McConnell, Karber
• Insurance – Fisher, Peters
• Scholarships – Fisher, McConnell, Wilson
• Wellness – (new for 2018-19) Karber, Wilson
The board approved a contract with Terracon Consultants Inc for geotechnical engineering services for the new high school/career academy site. The engineering is a required step in determining what footings will be required and what other considerations will be in play for parking, drives ad ponds. The crop has been harvested from the site and grading work can begin after the geotechnical survey is completed.
Terracon did the same studies for the nearby AAI plant and Wild Rose Casino. Cost of the study is $18,900.
The board approved an out-of-state field trip for the FFA chapter to attend the national convention in Indianapolis Oct. 24-27.
The board approved discontinuing the lease of the Rippey baseball field from the city of Rippey and the adjacent parking area from Roger and Colleen Norgren. “There’s a lot of nostalgia there,” said director of buildings/maintenance Shawn DeMoss, but the school seldom uses it. Annual payments have been $100 for the field and $300 for the parking lot.
