The Greene County School Board met Wednesday night.

The meeting started with two public hearings. The first one was about the 2022-23 school year budget, which was approved with an overall tax levy rate of $14.42 per $1,000 of property valuation. The second hearing was on an amendment to the current school year budget. The Board approved the amendment with some expenses toward federally allocated covid funds and upgrades to some kitchen equipment.

Then during open forum, parent Heather Ruzicka addressed the Board about lack of communication. She said her high school son had her read a short story assigned by his teacher. She thought the material was inappropriate and tried addressing the matter with the teacher. She was then told about the grievance policy the district had in place. She claimed she tried to go through that policy and was told she needed 500 signatures or ten-percent of those who voted in the last election in order for the matter to be on the agenda. Later in the meeting Superintendent Tim Christensen apologized for misinterpreting what she needed and instead should have been directed to use the district’s instructional material review policy. 

The Board then approved the first reading from changes that were made to the graduation requirements and then waived the second required reading. It is for high school students to earn at least 50 credits to graduate. They also approved the purchase of a video scoreboard for the football field for $147,000, and also to use Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation grant of $100,000.

The Board also approved six school driving permits, after each student stated their case for why they needed one, as per a new policy change. Additionally, the Board approved the finalized superintendent contract for Brett Abbotts for two years with a first year salary of $165,000. The Board also approved the administrative contracts for next school year with a 3.68-percent total package increase and for Business Manager Brenda Muir to receive a ten-percent increase. They also approved the classified staff with a 3.68-percent wage increase and six individuals received additional pay, along with allowing for up to a $2 raise for secretaries and associates that take four professional development training sessions and implement it in their work. 

They also approved a fertilizer bid from Raccoon Valley Lawn Care for a total of $31,520, additional summer projects with updating some switches, installing more sprinklers into the middle school, two buses and security cameras at the elementary school for a total of over $405,000 using Physical Plant and Equipment Levy and sales tax funds, additional federal funded covid funds for capital expenses, six fundraiser requests and tabled the board policy concerning functions of the school board and its meeting procedures, pending further review.