Fees set for 2026-27 school year
There will be new restrooms at Linduska Field, home of the Greene County Rams football, soccer and track teams, but not in time for the upcoming football season. The project has been a long time coming, as the first cost estimate provided by OPN Architects was much more than anticipated.
Greene County school superintendent Brett Abbotts told the board of education its July 15 meeting that OPN had adjusted the materials list and cut the price by more than $200,000. The cost is now at $410,000, which is within the proposed budgeted. The cost will come from the district’s physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL).
The facility will have two stalls and two urinals on the men’s side and six stalls on the women’s side. A family restroom and ticketing area will be in the middle. The building will be heated enough that winterization won’t be necessary, Abbotts said.
It will be located where the current restroom building is now. School staff will do the demolition to reduce costs.
Work is expected to start in August or September, with completion in the spring.
The solar project is also on schedule, with installation of solar panels under way at the elementary school and site preparation on the west side of the high school also under way.
Another summer construction project is a new preschool playground on the west side of the elementary school. Some of the play equipment is installed, with concrete work and fencing yet to be added. The playground should be ready for children when preschool classes begin in late August.
The board spent much of the meeting preparing for the 2026-27 school year, approving student handbooks for all three buildings, the employee handbook, and the coaches handbook.
The board approved an increase in school meal prices for the first time since 2018. The cost of student meals at the elementary and middle schools for the coming school year will be $3, with high school students paying $3.25. The cost had been $2.55 at all three buildings. Breakfast will be available for all students at no cost. The cost for lunch for students who qualify will remain at 40 cents.
Book fees are increasing $5, the first increase in a number of years, Abbotts said. Book fees for kindergarten will be $35 ($14 for students qualifying for reduced/free meals), $45 ($18 for qualifying students) for students in grades 1-3, and $50 for students in grades 4-12 ($20 for qualifying students).
Activity pass costs were set at $25 for students, $125 for adults, and $25 for adults age 55+. Adult activity passes for only sports shared with Paton-Churdan are $75. A punch card good for 20 entries is available for $144.
Ticket prices at the gate will be $10 for season tournaments and high school track meets; $8 for all other high school sports except football; $7 for football; $5 for adults attending middle school events; and free for students attending middle school events.
Activities director Dave Wright explained increased ticket prices are due to an increase in the cost of hiring officials, and that some changes are to remain consistent with other Heart of Iowa Activities Conference schools.
The board approved a contract with 21st Century Rehab for athletic trainer services. 21st Century will provide a certified athletic trainer or physical therapist at all home and away varsity football games; and all home JV/JV2 and middle school football games, varsity cross country meets, varsity basketball games, high school and middle school wrestling meets, varsity soccer matches, and high school and middle school track meets.
Baseline concussion testing will be available for all high school athletes, and initial assessment and treatment of any athletic injury at the Jefferson 21st Century Rehab office during the week and on weekends as needed. There will be no charge to the athlete for the initial assessment. If further treatment is needed, parents will be notified and following visits will be billed to the appropriate insurance company.
Cost of the contract is unchanged from 2025-26, at $10,250.
The board approved a 28E agreement with the Multicultural Family Resource Center for the services of MFRC director Sarah Huddleston. The school will pay $23,000 over the 10 months of the school year. The board approved the appointment of Teresa Hagen as board treasurer, Shawn Allen as temporary board secretary, and Mumma & Pedersen as district legal counsel.
The first attendance day for students for the 2026-27 school year is Monday, Aug. 24.
