A special election date has been set by the Greene County School District in order to do even more work to convert the current high school into a middle school.

Superintendent Tim Christensen says they originally planned to bond against $4.5 million of the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) funds to go towards the overall $35.48 million project. The project includes a new high school, career academy, gymnasium, performing arts center and converting the current high school into a middle school. Christensen notes that about $1.5 million was targeted to be used on the middle school project. 

Since the Iowa Legislature extended the sunset date for SAVE from 2029 to 2051, Christensen says the district needs to pass a “revenue purpose statement.”

“The revenue purpose statement basically outlines ways that you can potentially spend those funds. The (School) Board wants to do additional work to the high school to convert it into a middle school. And in order to spend those future proceeds (from SAVE) we need to pass a new revenue purpose statement and (we’re) looking at having a special election to do that.”

Christensen says other than adding language from the State Legislature, the revenue purpose statement is exactly the same as it has been. The special election date is September 10h. Christensen explains why they want to hold the election in September instead of waiting for the general election in November.

“We’re looking at a special election in September because as we do this and make plans, we need to make plans as soon as possible for changes to the high school to be converted to a middle school as soon as possible.”

Christensen adds that this isn’t a new tax or a property tax, but SAVE is the state’s one-cent sales tax that school districts receive.