Next month, voters in the Greene County Community School District will be asked to go to the polls to decide on a $20 million general bond

Funds for the bond will be used to put additions onto the elementary and high schools, so that the district can eliminate three of its five buildings.  Plans are to add four classrooms onto the elementary building and turn it from a prekindergarten through third grade attendance center into a prekindergarten through fourth grade building.  The high school would then be converted into a 5th through 12th grade building.

Superintendent Tim Christensen says there are three key reasons why the district wants to reduce its number of buildings to two.  He wants the district to operate at a higher efficiency, especially during hard economic times, compete for student enrollment and improve safety and security.  With improvements to efficiencies, Christensen notes that there would be reductions.  He says there will be reduced number of administrators, custodial and cafeteria staff as well as counselors and bus drivers.  Some of the security measures would be to lock all entrances to each building and better parking areas.

“Off road drives and everything at the building would help with security of drop-off and pickup of students, that’s extremely important.  (The) proximity to the LEC (Law Enforcement Center) I think is a big factor in terms of safety and security.  (The) proximity to the Greene County Medical Center is another one.  So, that safety and security is huge for us as well.”

Polls for the bond referendum will be open from noon to 8pm on Tuesday, September 8th.