The Greene County School Board met Monday, due to last week’s Iowa Association of School Boards convention.

The Board heard a review of the National FFA Convention that was held last month from those students that attended. The Board then tabled the adoption of action steps for the board’s overall goals for the school year to next month. The Board then discussed sharing opportunities with Paton-Churdan High School ahead of their joint school board meeting next Wednesday. The Board also discussed options for spending the remaining $32,000 as well as the upcoming funding from Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation.

Following a lengthy discussion, the Board approved OPN Architects as the firm to work on the proposed new high school and regional academy for an April bond referendum. The initial cost will be $71,000 for the firm to work with the district leading up to the bond. Next, the Board tabled a discussion of online high school classes, due to the presenter being absent.

Items that the Board approved included: an early dismissal at 11:45am on December 15th for basketball games against North Polk to be played at Wells Fargo Arena starting 2pm, a School Budget Review Committee request for additional funds for English Language Learners and open enrollment out that were not part of the previous enrollment as presented and putting out for bids repairs that are needed at roof of the elementary building. Additionally, the Board approved: appointments to the School Improvement Advisory Committee, the 2018 Iowa Drug and Alcohol Testing program for bus drivers, winter athletic officials and allowing the early retirement program for the current school year.

The Board also approved changing a resolution to allow the high school senior class to vote on the guest speaker for graduation at the discretion of the high school principal.