The Greene County School Board met Wednesday night in regular session.

The bulk of the meeting was from an added agenda item on COVID-19 and wearing masks. There were 12 community members, teachers and administrators – from both the regular meeting as well as the work session – that spoke both in favor of requiring masks, and those that only wanted masks to be worn when social distancing of at least six-feet couldn’t be managed. The Board voted 3-2 to freeze all school buildings at the yellow mask matrix level, which means masks must be worn if social distancing couldn’t happen. The Board members that voted in favor of the measure were Steve Fisher, John McConnell and Catherine Wilson, with Steve Karber and Mike Dennhardt voting against. The new policy goes into effect today.

The meeting started with a public hearing on the possible disposal of the former middle school property. During the hearing, Developer Nate Adams wants to renovate the middle school building into apartments, ranging from studio-sized, to 1, 2 and 3-bedrooms. However, he said he is not in favor of keeping the gym, due to there not being a sustainable business model to keep the facility. Adams also needs the gym and connecting corridor to be demolished before he can take possession and apply for historical tax credits, which the middle school building qualifies, but the gym does not. Following the hearing, the Board tabled its decision to a future meeting.

The Board also approved 16 early graduation requests, one fundraiser request, and changing the school calendar to allow for a weekly early dismissal on Mondays, starting November 2nd, so that teachers and staff could have additional time to assist remote student learners. 

Finally, Superintendent Tim Christensen announced that the district was down 41 students on its certified enrollment for this year. The District will be allowed to have a 101-percent budget guarantee for the shortfall of enrollment from the previous school year.