Board also approves next step for solar project, summer PPEL projects, and administrative raises
Linduska Field, home of Greene County Ram football, soccer, and track & field, will have new lighting when the 2024 fall sports season begins.
The Greene County Community Schools board of education approved spending an amount not to exceed $280,000 for new stadium lights installed by Musco Lighting of Oskaloosa. The amount approved by the board includes $22,413 for show lights, which can flash on the spectator stands or be synchronized with music. Board members enjoyed watching show lights on a promotional video during the meeting, but the motion for the expenditure named “an amount not to exceed” rather than specifying that the purchase will include that feature.
The total cost also includes computer software to operate the lighting system for up to 25 years. Not included in the cost is another $13,820 that will be paid to County Wide Electric to run electrical service to the new light poles.
Musco uses galvanized steel poles on a precast concrete base. According to school superintendent Brett Abbotts, it’s the 40-year old wooden poles at Linduska Field, also installed by Musco, that prompted the purchase. The poles sway in the wind. “My major fear is that those wooden poles are going to come crashing down some day. If we don’t have kids there it would be a blessing, but if we do, it would be a disaster,” Abbotts said.
Funding will come from the physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL) and local option sales and service tax (LOSST) revenue.
A question was raised regarding how long Linduska Field will be used. A similar question was raised at the presentation earlier this month about the proposed solar project and placement of solar panels at the high school. During the planning for the new high school, a new sports complex at the Grimmell Rd location was discussed.
Board member Michelle Fields answered at the board meeting, “That’s a whole other conversation. My personal perspective is that we’re a long way from that. I’d like to see our enrollment go in the other direction than what it’s going right now before I’d feel confident investing millions of dollars when we already have, I think, really good facilities out here (at the middle school) that maybe need a little touch up every once in a while. I think making the improvements that we have is probably a little more efficient.”
Board member Cindy Daubendiek said she had previously asked if new lights could be moved from Linduska Field to a new location and that the answer was yes, they could be taken down and moved.
Other PPEL projects approved for the coming summer included repair to sidewalks at the middle school; a minor repair to the northeast corner of the elementary school roof; some carpet replacement at the elementary and middle schools; and work on the heat pump at the elementary school.
The board took the next step in a project to install solar panels at the three school buildings. The board approved a letter of engagement with Piper Sandler & Co to issue general obligation school capital loan notes to provide funds “to renovate, remodel, repair or improve HVAC operations throughout the district and other projects the board may specify.” The notes will be paid using anticipated PPEL revenue over the next 10 years. Interest on the notes is anticipated to be about 3.65 percent. Total estimated cost for the project is $4,365,000.
The board approved a contract with Raccoon Valley Lawn Care for fertilizer applications on 41 total acres at the three schools, at a total cost of $20,450. Half the acreage will receive four applications; the other half is not seen from most onlookers’ viewpoint and will receive one application.
The board also approved a contract with Raccoon Valley Lawn Care for fertilizing, grub control and aeration/reseeding at Linduska and Allensworth (baseball) Fields, totaling 4.43 acres. Cost will be $11,222.
The board approved administrative contracts at a total percentage increase of 3.13 percent. Increases range from 0.9 percent for Abbotts (2024-25 base salary at $168,000), to 5.56 percent increases for middle school principal Cara Osborne and high school principal Karen Shannon (2024-25 base salary at $95,000).
The board previously approved a 3.17 percent increase in teacher salaries.
