The Greene County School District was recently recognized by a state official for its cost-saving and new way of doing certain things to make the district better.

Iowa Auditor Rob Sand announced that the Greene County School District was the Best Performing 3A School District for his Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) program. The program was established by Sand in 2019 as a way for public entities to think outside the box and be innovative to find ways to improve and save public tax money. 

Greene County Schools Superintendent Brett Abbotts tells Raccoon Valley Radio there are a number of things the district has done including improving the heating and cooling systems, lighting and participating in energy setbacks in the evenings and weekends, along with installing energy efficient appliances in the school building kitchens. He says because this is a rural school district, they owe the taxpayers to spend their money as wisely as possible to ensure that they are being as cost effective as possible. 

Abbotts adds they also do this with technology purchases, such as chromebooks at every grade level, and the types of vehicles the district purchases and maintains. He notes that by participating in the state auditor’s PIE program that the checklist allows him to think about energy efficiencies of the school buildings and determine how to do better everyday and spend smarter. He says the district can look at other districts in the PIE program and learn from them and potentially apply their practices, and vice versa. 

The state auditor’s office will send a representative to the school district to officially award a real pie later this year.