~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
With new buildings and programs in the district and continuing challenges from the pandemic, the Greene County Community School District board of directors met for a work session prior to the regularly scheduled board meeting on Aug. 18 and discussed a five-year rolling plan to address needs.
The board identified the following goals as the district moves forward to maintain and improve educational standards: 1) Explore new ways to interact with students; 2) develop communication tools through a new website; 3) recruit students to the Career Academy; 4) understand state guidelines regarding divisive curriculum and monitor curriculum to be ensure it is balanced and accurate and in line with any new state laws; and 5) develop core instruction strategies to meet students’ needs.
The board reviewed the 2020-2021 goals in general.
Final goal-setting will be on the regular board meeting agenda for Sept. 15.
The board heard updates from eight staff members. Most updates were general statements of being positively prepared for the school year. Elementary principal Scott Johnson reported 100 kindergartners for the new school year, one of the larger classes in recent years. Middle school principal Shawn Zanders noted that class periods will be longer this year, at 58 or 59 minutes, and there will be no study halls. He said teachers will use a new approach to behavior that “game-ifies behavior” and uses ideas found in videogames using avatars.
Math instructional coach and family-school liaison coordinator Audrey Hinote said she plans to enlist the help of Ellen Ritter to “reach out to families” to help make the transition back to school smooth. Hinote said families have “all sorts of feelings” about the return to in-school learning. Remote learning is not an option for Greene County students this year.
Technology director Brent Gerzema described a program of providing Chromebooks to students on a schedule through their school years and then possibly selling the Chromebooks to them at a greatly reduced rate as they continue to higher education.
Gerzema also described livestreaming games from Linduska Field and the high school gym using a subscription service and automated cameras. The activities ticket system will be revamped, possibly having an option for a yearly pass on a phone and the use of debit/credit cards for fans paying for admission at the gate.
During the regular meeting, board treasurer Sid Jones presented the annual treasurer’s report which was then approved by the board.
Board president Steve Karber administered the oath of office to treasurer Jones and board secretary Brenda Muir, who both had been re-appointed to the board in July.
The major work of the board focused on the 2020-2022 Return to Learn plan presented by Superintendent Tim Christensen.
The plan is based on House File 847, which states masking in response to the pandemic cannot be required in public schools. Christensen said any student or staff member can still mask for their own protection or “peace of mind.” This also applies to school transportation.
Christensen said the Return to Learn plan includes daily cleaning of high contact areas and giving students access to cleaning materials.
Principals will decide if visitors will be allowed in buildings.
Christiansen said the district’s emphasis will be on personal health.
The board unanimously approved the Return to Learn plan.
The board took up the task of rescinding and replacing and adopting new policies that will meet the requirements of recent legislation. A list of the policies affected can be found in the minutes of the meeting.
