Will meet again April 29 to discuss end of the school year, start of next
The small bit of good news in school buildings being closed for the rest of the school year is that it makes the job of repurposing the current Greene County high school as a middle school easier. Superintendent Tim Christensen and OPN Architects spent considerable time planning how to phase the work to get the job done over the usual summer vacation. The timeline was tight. The governor’s decision to end face-to-face instruction adds two months of work time to the project.
At the regular meeting April 15, held via video conference, the board held a public hearing and accepted a bid for roof work on the original east portion of the building, now the industrial technology shop. Brockway Mechanical of Des Moines submitted the low bid of $137,620. Roof work on other portions of the building will be done in 2021 and 2022. Cost for the entire roof work is $364,400.
New business at the meeting included accepting a bid for asbestos removal at the current high school. Site Services of Algona submitted the low bid of $35,330. The work will begin as soon as the company is available.
In other business, the board ratified the negotiated agreement with the Greene County Education Association. The total package represents a 2.77 percent increase, including benefits. Base pay will increase 2.17 percent, from $31,672 to $32,375. The total payroll cost for 2020-21 will be $8,211,938. That includes increases for teachers who will move on the salary grid with years of teaching experience and/or further education.
Chief negotiator Heath Telleen had lobbied the board for an insurance benefit with lower deductibles. For the coming year, there is no change. The teacher’ initial request was a 5 percent pay increase; the board’s initial offer was no wage increase.
The board passed the final resolutions needed to complete the sale of $10 million in School Infrastructure Sales, Service and Use Tax bonds.
The board also amended the resolution passed at the April 1 special meeting to pay hourly and non-exempt employees during the forced closing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution as it was first passed was through April 12. The amendment extended pay through April 30, which at the time was to be the last day of the closure.
Christensen said the district will receive money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, but continuing pay for employees is a requirement for the funding.
Junior class sponsor Teresa Green told the board many students still want to have a prom. She said there are no Saturday nights available at Wild Rose Casino, but Fridays June 12 or June 26 would be available.
Since the question of whether school buildings would be allowed to open had not been answered when the board met, superintendent Tim Christensen called for a special meeting April 29. A decision will be made then regarding commencement for the Class of 2020. There will also be discussion of plans and strategies for the start of the 2020-21 school year.
Christensen commended the staff for doing “a fantastic job” in dealing with the pandemic.
