Approves summer purchases, emergency operations plan; discusses graduation requirements
An addition to the local entertainment line-up is expected in the next couple of weeks.
According to Greene County Schools technology director Tim Buenz, a live webcam will be installed at the site of the new career academy and high school. Anyone interested will be able to monitor progress on the school website.
Until then, Sam Harding, owner’s rep for the project, and school superintendent Tim Christensen will provide updates.
Harding reported at the school board’s regular meeting June 19 that the project is “officially getting behind” due to mud at the site. Delivery of the precast concrete walls has been postponed for two weeks because the weight of the delivery trucks is too much for the abundant mud.
Despite the rain, the site work is “pretty much done,” Harding said. All the footings are poured for the career academy; footings for the classroom portion will be next.
He’s pleased with what he’s seeing at the site. “The quality of the workmanship is awesome,” Harding said.
In other business, the school board gave the go-ahead for the high school construction class to build a house during the coming school year. Teacher Kirk Davis told the board he’s been encouraged to do a home-build by staff at Tri-County Lumber and retired construction teacher Dan Benitz.
Students didn’t build a house during the 2018-19 school year, but instead worked on an extensive renovation of apartment space above the Prairie Lakes AEA office on the north side of the downtown square.
In recent years enrollment in the class has been low and it’s been a challenge to complete a house before the end of the school year. There are 12 Greene County students enrolled in the class for 2019-20 and seven Southeast Valley students are interested as well.
Davis wants to take on the larger project to keep students interested in the class. “If we get this going it will help our program and it’s going to help our kids. We have a group of kids who are interested in it and I think we can make it grow,” Davis said.
Davis was offered a lot at a reduced cost on Briarwood Bend, a new neighborhood now being developed. The board urged Davis to consider one of the city-owned vacant lots, as one of those could be had a no cost.
The board began a conversation expected to continue for several months about changing the number of credits needed for graduation.
Currently the Iowa Department of Education requires 30 credits. Greene County requires students to earn 42 credits for a basic diploma and 58 credits for a regular diploma.
The basic diploma option was added fairly recently primarily to assist students with extenuating circumstances. A student must complete an application for a basic diploma and explain why he or she should be allowed to graduate without the full 58 credits.
Board member Steve Karber said he worries students are shorting themselves when they earn a basic diploma.
High school principal Brian Phillips said he struggles with many students to get the to take the elective classes needed to get to 58 credits, and added that 42 credits “is a pretty good education.”
The board approved an emergency operations plan to comply with state requirements. The 100-page plan covers a multitude of scenarios and names procedures, chain of command and responsibilities for each situation. The plan includes the three attendance centers and the administration building. It does not include the bus garage.
The plan is not a public document, but Christensen shared the table of contents in open session.
The board approved replacing seven roof top heating/cooling units at the high school. Building maintenance director Adam Snowgren had two bids for the units. The board accepted the low bid from Drees Co totaling $113,714.
The board also approved replacing a heat pup at the elementary school. GEM Services was the low bidder on the heat pump and installation at $6,077. Drees will do control conversion at a cost of $715.
Students in grades K-1 will have new Chrome tablets in their classrooms and second graders will have new 11-inch Chromebooks when they start school in August. At the recommendation in incoming technology director Brent Gerzema, the board approved the purchase of 80 Chrome tables and 100 Chromebooks. Total expense, including charges, is $57,428.
There are currently 10 iPads in each K-2 classroom. Gerzema said the iPads are so old that no updates are available, and that management fees are $36 per year per device. Switching to Chrome tablets and books in the younger grades will make managing the entire system easier, as all other grades use Chrome, and Chrome tablets can use any app available for android phones.
Grades K-1 would continue to have 10 devices to share in their classroom; second graders would each have their own device.
Gerzema said Apple devices are good for personal use, but Chromebooks are more suited to classroom use.
The board approved beginning a chapter of Iowa Students for Tobacco Education and Prevention (ISTEP) at the middle school with Lisa Garnett as advisor. The group will promote tobacco free activities in the school and community.
Karen Kelly, youth marketing director for the American Heart Association, attended the meeting to recognize retiring physical education teacher Lori Danner. During her career, Danner and her students raised $108,000 with Kids’ Heart Challenge, formerly Jump for Heart.
“The community has been awesome to work with on the program,” Danner said. “I thank the community and the kids. They work hard.”
