The Greene County Schools board of education hoped to hire a superintendent who would demonstrate educational leadership, and superintendent Brett Abbotts did exactly that at his first board meeting July 20.
Abbotts proposed and the board approving adopting the MAP (Measures of Annual Progress) Growth Assessment as an assessment tool for reading, language usage and math for grades K-11.
Students will complete the online MAP three times during the school year. It will replace the FAST and aMath tests used in previous years at the elementary school.
Abbotts has experience with the MAP Growth Assessment in his previous position in the Council Bluffs Community Schools. According to Abbotts, the assessments are closely aligned with the Iowa State Assessment taken by students and serves as a predictor of the performance of students in grades 3-8 within 4 percent.
Students get a “growth score” between each assessment and teachers get enough data to tailor their instruction and identify students who need additional help or could benefit from advanced instruction. Parents will get a report following each test as well.
The MAP is sold by Northwest Evaluation Association. The board approved a three-year subscription to the service. Cost for the first year includes virtual training in using the assessment for up to 30 teachers for a cost of $17,955. That will be covered by ESSER (Covid-19 relief) funds. Years Two and Three of the subscription will be $14,355 each.
Abbotts said the Greene County district is receiving a 66 percent discount in the price as he worked with the same vendor in Council Bluffs.
Abbotts changed up the routine for meetings, also. Previously, the superintendent gave his monthly report after old and new business. Going forward, the superintendent’s report will be with the other administrators’ reports, between old and new business.
Abbotts started the position July 1. “It’s been a great first few weeks getting started. I’ve been very welcomed to the community,” he said.
He reminded board members they’ll consider legislative priorities for the Iowa Association of School Boards at the August meeting. He said he’d like to see the legislative priorities align with the board’s priorities of mental health, diversity in PK-12 education, teacher retention, and fiscal responsibility. He also plans to update the board on new legislation that will impact the school next month.
Abbotts reported on a “financial focus” meeting he and district business manager/board secretary Brenda Muir had with IASB staff earlier in the week. That type of meeting is routine with a new superintendent. He said the IASB staff was complimentary of the district’s fiscal management. “We’re in great fiscal shape for a district our size… We’re fortunate that Mr (Tim) Christensen, in the work he did in the past, really set the district on a good trajectory.”
Transportation and grounds supervisor Shawn DeMoss reported on work on resurfacing the high school football field. He said putting down new sod in June during 100-degree weather “wasn’t our best decision,” and that about 70 percent of the sod is “taking very well, but the rest, we’re having troubles with. Unfortunately, it’s on the 50-yard line and the sideline.”
He said the company was returning to evaluate the next step.
The board did several tasks preparing for the new school year.
The board approved prices for school meals for the first time in two years, as student meals were federally funded through the American Recovery Plan Act. That has expired, and students who don’t qualify for free meals will have to pay either a reduced of full price. Meal prices for 2022-23 are: $2.55 student lunch, $1.20 student breakfast; $4.15 adult lunch, $2.50 adult breakfast; and extra milk, 40 cents. Reduced-price meals for students who qualify are 40 cents for lunch and 30 cents for breakfast.
Book fees were set at $30 for kindergarten, $40 for grades 1-3, and $45 for grades 4-12. Students in families that qualify for reduced fees will pay $12 for kindergarten, $16 for grades 1-3, and $18 for grades 4-12.
(Guidelines for the free or reduced meal program are available on the school district website.)
Activity season passes will be $50 for students, $100 for adults, and $25 for persons older than 55. Paton-Churdan passes for shared sports only will be $25 for students and $50 for adults.
The board approved updated handbooks for middle school students and parents, high school students and parents, coaches and directors, bus drivers, and employees The handbook for elementary students and parents will be presented at the Aug. 17 meeting.
The board approved a contract with 21st Century Rehab for sports medicine coverage for the coming school year. Coverage will be similar to past years and includes concussion baseline screening and initial assessment of any sports injury at the Jefferson office (located on the clinic level at Greene County Medical Center) at no cost to the athlete. Total cost of the contract is $9,000.
The board reappointed Brenda Muir as board secretary, Sid Jones as board treasurer, and Mumma & Pedersen as the district’s legal counsel.
The board approved the second reading of an amended policy regarding release of a teacher from a contract. The amendment requires a teacher to pay $1,000 for employee related time/expense associated with finding a suitable replacement if he/she wants to be released from the contract that is in place. The release is also contingent upon the district being able to find a suitable replacement.
The board approved the first reading of amended policies dealing with open enrollments. The state legislature in June removed the March 1 deadline for parents to apply for open enrollments for their students; students can now change districts at any time during the year. However, students are not eligible to compete in athletics for their first 90 days in a new district.
