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

The retiring board discussed the next steps following the defeat of the $20 million bond referendum.  Plans include holding public forums in each of the communities in the district and creating a survey or a Google form for people to voice their suggestions for better solutions before the issue is put in front of voters again in 2016.

Following the retiring school board was the induction of the new board members with incumbent Ashley Johnston and newcomer John McConnell taking their oaths of office.  The Board then elected Teresa Hagen as president and David Ohrt as vice-president.  Committee assignments are as follows for board members: Mark Peters, Hagen and Sam Harding will serve on the negotiation committee, Susan Burkett, Hagen and Ohrt on the classified and administrative salary committee, those on the school improvement advisory committee include Peters and McConnell, Harding and McConnell will serve on the facilities committee, Johnston is on the county conference committee, Harding will continue to serve on the parks and recreation committee and he will also be on the school foundation committee.

Johnston was also named as the Iowa Association of School Boards delegate and the work session as well as the regular board meetings will start at 5:15pm in the conference room of the administrative building on the third Wednesday of every month for the 2015-16 school year.

The Board then approved to renew its lease agreement with Roger Norgren to utilize parking at the Rippey baseball field with an increase in rent from $100 to $300 per year.  The Board also approved to hire a high school vocal music accompanist, the 2014-15 certified annual report, the allowable growth request of $147,308 for the special education deficit, middle school fall officials, more fundraising requests, continue to participate in the Iowa Drug and Alcohol Testing Program for school bus drivers, a transportation agreement with Region XII Council of Governments, an Affirmative Action statement and the school-wide Title I application.

Finally, during the superintendent’s report, the Board agreed to split the cost of transferring the land deed from the district to the City of Rippey for the Wisecup Memorial Gym.