The Guthrie Center School Board met in regular session last night.

Travis Squires from Piper Jaffray proposed options for refinancing the District’s debt. Squires discussed a series of proposals for bond investment with various interest rates. The Board moved to accept the bond package offered by JP Morgan at a rate of 2.19%. The investment could save the District around $270,000.

The Board examined goals for the upcoming school year. Specifically, the Board hopes to improve overall proficiency scores on Iowa standardized testing for 4th-11th graders from 79.5% to 80%. Notably, the 2016-2017 proficiency rates for math and science at the same grade level were at 85% or higher.

The Guthrie Center Travel Club also presented their summer trip to Greece and Italy. The ten day trip brought 22 high school students and 8 adult chaperones to Europe. Students funded the trip out of pocket. The Club plans to embark to the British Isles and Ireland in 2019.

Listen to Superintendent Steve Smith on today’s Let’s Talk Guthrie County program for more reaction from last night’s meeting.