The underwhelming restrooms at Linduska Field, home of Ram football, soccer and track, will be replaced by the end of the coming school year as the uncertain housing market continues to impact the school’s construction trades classes.
The school has a long history of students building entire houses over the course of a school year, but the increased cost of new construction and the risk of building a house without having already identified a buyer for it, has morphed the program into one of building needed district facilities.
During the 2022-23 school year construction students built a large storage building southeast of the high school. That project still isn’t complete, as overhead doors ordered 10 months ago are still on backorder.
The Greene County Schools board of education at its July 19 meeting approved the 2023-24 class building a 553-sq ft steel post frame building with restrooms on the north end of the athletic field. Cost was approved not to exceed $180,000, with funding from the district’s PPEL (physical plant and equipment levy) fund.
The draft floor plan the board saw in June included six stools in the women’s restroom, three stools and four urinals in the men’s restroom, two large unisex handicapped accessible restrooms, and a storage area. Cost for that plan was estimated at $150,000.
The updated plan shows one fewer stool in the women’s restroom and one fewer urinal in the men’s restroom. The roof will hang over 3 feet on all four sides with paved walkways on three sides.
In other planning for the new school year, the board approved student book fees, meal prices and activity prices. Meal and book fees for students are unchanged from last year. The cost of an adult lunch is increasing from $4.15 to $4.85. The cost for an adult breakfast is increasing from $2.50 to $2.75.
The price of season activity passes also is not changing, but single game admissions are increasing. Football admissions, which are set by the football district, will increase from $5 to $7 for adults and K-12 students. The Heart of Iowa Activities Conference is increasing single admissions from $5 to $6 for adults and K-12 students. Admission to middle school events will remain at $5 for adults and no charge for students.
Greene County admission gates are transitioning to being cashless. See related information from activities director David Wright.
The board approved the employee handbook which covers all employees.
The board approved depository limits at Heartland Bank, Home State Bank, Peoples Bank and the Iowa School Joint Investment Account. The board appointed Teresa Hoyle as school board treasurer and Mumma-Pedersen Law Firm as the board’s legal counsel.
The board approved a contract for sports medicine coverage with 21st Century Rehab at a cost of $9,500, the same cost as last year.
The board, with directors Steve Fisher and John McConnell absent, briefly discussed placing the voted PPEL on the November school/city election. The tax must be approved by voters every 10 years. It is not a new tax in Greene County Schools.
The current voted PPEL rate is $1.01 (per $1,000 of taxable valuation) to a maximum rate of $1.34. The property tax levy can be combined with a surtax on Iowa income tax, and the board changes the combination from year to year.
According to superintendent Brett Abbotts, the PPEL has averaged $.92 (per thousand) in the past eight years.
PPEL funds can be used to fund the purchase and improvement of grounds; purchase, construction or remodeling of buildings; major equipment purchases (including technology), and rental of land and equipment.
The board plans to promote renewal of the voted PPEL through town hall meetings, community coffees, and social media. The ballot issue must receive a simple majority of votes for approval.
