No increase in fees for 2025-26; decrease cost of student activity passes
The Greene County Schools board of education approved a change in how high school grade point averages are calculated with the approval of the high school student handbook for the 2025-26 school year at the July 7 regular meeting.
A new weighted GPA reflects the increased rigor of college classes that are now available to high school students. While a “A” earned in a high school class counts as 4.0 points on a standard scale, and “A” earned in a Career Academy, Early Bird or dual credit course offered at the high school through Iowa Centra Community College counts as 5.0 points. With the weighted scale, a “B” in a college course counts as 4.0 points.
Board member Michelle Fields explained to the board that the change is due to in part to the new (Wallace) Teagarden Memorial Scholarship that is available to the GCHS valedictorian if he or she plans to attend Iowa State University or the University of Iowa. The class of 2025 had three co-valedictorians with 4.0 grade point averages, two of which planned to attend ISU.
Fields said the addition of the weighted GPA is meant to decrease the likelihood of that happening again, and also not discouraging students from taking harder classes to maintain a higher GPA.
Superintendent Brett Abbotts said “a lot of good thought” went into making the change, and noted that many other schools, including HOAIC schools, use a weighted GPA.
Students who take college classes will see two GPAs on their transcript, a weighted GPA and a standard GPA. The change is retroactive. Students who have already completed college classes will see both GPAs on their transcript.
The published honor roll will still be based on the non-weighted GPA.
The board approved decreasing the price of student activity passes from $50 to $25 for Greene County students, and making them available for the same cost to Paton-Churdan students. Student activity passes for Ram sports were not previously available to P-C students.
Adult activity passes will be the same price as last year – $100 for adults for all Ram sports, or $50 for P-C shared sports only; $25 for fans 55 or older; or $110 for a 20-game punch card.
Student fees and meal prices for the new school year are the same as last year.
The board approved the 2025-2026 depository resolution with a $2 million limit at Heartland Bank, $10 million limits at Home State Bank and Peoples Bank, and a $7 million limit at Iowa School Joint Investment Trust. The board re-appointed Teresa Hoyle as board treasurer and Laura Marshall as board secretary. Mumma-Pedersen Law Firm was re-appointed as legal counsel. The board also approved the needed 28E agreement and food service agreement with New Opportunities Head Start.
