Greene County students will have a shortened school day once each week next school year if the school board approves the 2023-24 calendar as presented at the Jan. 18 regular meeting.
Superintendent Brett Abbotts shared a draft calendar. The calendar includes two-hour early dismissal for students on Mondays to allow professional development time for teachers.
According to Abbotts, feedback from teachers and administrators is that having professional development once a month for full days, as is occurring this year, leaves “too big of a gap” of teacher learning.
Abbotts said Mondays as the day for professional development isn’t “hard and fast,” that Wednesday would be an option.
The draft calendar has Wednesday, Aug. 23, as the first attendance day for students. Teachers would have full days of professional development (PD) the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving, with Wednesday as a vacation day, giving families a full week of Thanksgiving vacation.
Christmas is on a Monday in 2023. Classes would be held through Dec. 22. Teachers would return for PD Jan. 4 and 5, with students returning Monday, Jan. 8, making a full two-week holiday break for families.
The calendar has a week-long break March 11-15, with PD March 18. There are also scheduled days off Feb. 19 and April 8.
The school year would end Friday, May 24.
The board will hold a public hearing on the 2023-24 calendar at the Feb. 15 regular meeting. Click here to see the draft calendar.
The board also had its first discussion of renewing the voted physical plant and equipment levy (VPPEL). The district’s current VPPEL will expire June 30, 2024. Voters approved up to $1.34 (per $1,000 in taxable valuation). The district is levying $1.03, which generates about $700,000 per year.
Abbotts gave a long list of projects that have been funded with the VPPEL. The district uses the funds for technology, buildings, and transportation purchases like the Infinite Campus student information program, building security hardware and software, fire sprinklers and new flooring at the middle school, school busses, the renovation of the turf at Linduska Field, and more.
Business manager Brenda Muir reminded the board the VPPEL is not new, but a continuation of what the district has had for several years.
Abbotts suggested putting the VPPEL on the ballot for the November 2023 general election.
The board approved an increase in admission costs suggested by the Heart of Iowa Activities Conference. Admission for high school events would increase from $5 to $6 for adults and students, and from $3 to $5 for middle school events. Students would not be charged to attend middle school events.
Abbotts provided information about the increased cost of equipment for the various activities to support the need to increase admission costs.
The increase will take effect with the fall 2023 sports season.
The board approved revisions to graduation requirements. The total number of credits remains at 50. The revised policy is more specific as to credits that must be earned in 10th and 11th grade.
During his monthly updates to the board, Abbotts said the StopFinder GPS system in busses will be in place in the next few weeks.
He reported the district has been invited to present at the Summit on Student Success, a 1-1/2 day conference in April. “We’ll tell our story, share our mission and vision, and share the great things we have going on in Greene County, specifically with our career academy,” he said.
