The Greene County Schools board of education handled routine business at its Dec. 13 regular meeting.
Karen Sandberg, the district’s director of teaching and learning, presented the district career and academic plan (DCAP). This is the first year the state Department of Education is requiring districts to provide the plan, which is intended to provide a framework for districts to assess, connect and improve their support of student career exploration at all grade levels.
The DCAP includes students building self-understanding, career information to held them understand the world of work, career exploration experiences, and postsecondary exploration, all to assist them in making decisions about what follows high school graduation.
Tools the district is using include Xello, a computer app that engages students in building skills, knowledge and plans for future success; Infinite Campus, a program that provides students and teachers with information about progress toward academic and/or career building goals; Iowa Central Community College; various career fairs; a postsecondary fair; and work-based learning.
The goal is to have all students in grades 8-12 create and/or review and revise their plan in Xello. Sandberg and high school guidance counselor Allison Wenck are working on ways to better involve parents and the community.
The board approved the resignation for the purpose of retirement of Teresa Shahan, effective at the end of the school year. Shahan has been an elementary associate for 28 years.
The board approved authorizing the administration to submit three requests to the School Budget Review Committee. The first is for a modified supplemental amount of $453,649 for the at risk-dropout program. The second is for $102,574 for students open enrolled out of the district who were not included in the district’s previous year certified enrollment count. The third is for $4,834 related to the English language learning program for students who have exceeded five years of weighting who are included in the Fall 2023 certified enrollment headcount.
Board president Bonnie Silbaugh reported the date for the 2024 BOOST Bash fundraiser has been set for April 6.
School superintendent Brett Abbotts reported the installation of outdoor play equipment at the middle school is nearly complete and that demolition of the former south grade school/administrative offices/ Early Learning Center should be complete by the end of the month.
