Also approves sale of property for new Early Learning Center
The Covid-19 pandemic made a public dedication of the new Greene County High School impossible before the building was put into service, but a proper dedication is now slated for Sunday, Aug. 22, the day before the second school year in the building begins.
School superintendent Tim Christensen briefed the board of education at its regular meeting July 21 on plans for the event.
He said school board president Dr Steve Karber, Greene County board of supervisors chair John Muir, a member of Grow Greene County, and several other people who played key roles in the project will be invited “to say a few words” at a program in the high school auditorium at 1:30 pm. Open houses at the high school and the newly renovated middle school will follow from 2:30 to 4:30.
Construction of a new Greene County Early Learning Center moved a step closer at the meeting. After holding a public hearing at which Early Learning Center board co-president Jacque Andrew was the only one to speak, the board approved a resolution to sell the needed property at the cost of $1.
The parcel is adjacent to the former South grade building, which currently houses the Early Learning Center. The school district still owns that building, and it will remain standing an in use as the ELC until the new building is completed.
The board also held a public hearing on use Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, which are federal funds to be used in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. HVAC improvements, technology, a math interventionist and a home/school liaison position, professional development including mental health first aid, and summer school are among items on the list. No one spoke at the public hearing.
During the ‘Reports’ portion of the meeting, district reading specialist Julie Neal reported that 171 students are attending summer school, with the majority of them in grades K-3. BOOST has paid for all summer school students to visit Blank Park Zoo on the last day of summer school; Neal thanked BOOST for the donation.
The board handled several items of business needed for the new school year. The board:
- Accepted bids from Anderson-Erickson Dairy for dairy products and from Pan O’Gold for bakery products for the school nutrition program. Both were the only bids received.
- Approved a resolution naming depository limits – Home State Bank, $14 million; Peoples Bank, $14 million, and Iowa School Joint Investment Trust, $750,000.
- Reappointed Brenda Muir as board secretary, Sid Jones as board treasurer, and Mumma-Pedersen Law Firm as legal counsel.
- Approved the 2021-22 student and parent handbook, employee handbook, coach and director handbook, and bus driver handbook.
- Approved a 28E agreement and a food service agreement with New Opportunities Head Start
- Approved a contract with 21st Century Rehab to provide sports medicine services at a cost of $8,500.
Also in preparation for the new school year, superintendent Christensen reminded the board that action by the Iowa legislature took action during the last session that prevents school boards from requiring face masks in school. Per the legislature, only the governor can mandate masks in school. “It’s not on the board’s radar. The public should know that,” Christensen said.
The board reviewed a list of possible legislative priorities for the Iowa Association of School Boards to address in the coming year and selected as top priorities mental health supports, sufficient and timely school funding, teacher recruitment, and expanded preschool funding. Those priorities will be forwarded to the IASB.
