The retiring Greene County School Board met for the final time Wednesday night.

FFA member Dakota Ostrander gave a report on the recently attended National Convention that was held in Indianapolis, Indiana. Then, High School Agriculture teacher Steve Kehoe talked about some projects, including a $63,500 quote from Supply Greenhouse Incorporated to repair the current greenhouse at the high school. He also wanted to install a pollinator buffer strip around the two retention ponds with wildflowers for $4,500. He said there was currently $50,000 in the ag account and using the Max Johnson Trust funding of $40,000, those projects could be paid for.

Another project Kehoe mentioned was involving the Jefferson Tree Committee to install gravel beds for tree plantings. He stated that the tree would be planted in the spring and then use them for the fall plantings in the community. He noted that Trees Forever has a grant available for that project. The final future project that Kehoe talked about was partnering with Rueter’s Red Power to provide a precision planter and using a Skyscout Drone program with Landus Cooperative, for a grant total of $50,000. He requested that the Board consider those items at their December meeting.

Then the canvass of votes was reviewed, before the two retiring board members were recognized, including Bonnie Slibaugh and Michelle Fields.

Next, the Organizational Meeting took place, where the three board members that won the election were sworn-in, and those included Katie Nelson and Megan Holz, along with Cindi Daubendiek, who was re-elected. Then, after nominations were considered for Board President and Vice President, Daubendiek was approved to continue to serve as the president and Tim Riphagen as vice president. 

Additionally, the Board approved to continue to have its monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of the month at 5:15pm in the District Boardroom, as well as approving the board committee assignments as presented. The Board also approved two student driving permits, with Koen Thompson and Murphy Schwander; seven fundraiser requests as presented, the newly updated special education service delivery plan, and an updated 28E agreement with the city of Scranton for the bus stop and a monitor. Superintendent Brett Abbotts said the previous agreement had been continued, but expired in 2010.

The Board additionally approved not offering an early retirement incentive, but allowing for certified and classified staff, as well as administrators the ability to cash in un-used sick days when retiring. They also approved two School Budget Review Committee requests for $154,488 for 18 students who had open enrolled out of the district and were not previously counted for the certified enrollment last school year and $11,792 for English Language Learners weighted beyond five years. Finally, the Board approved two equipment purchases for industrial technology with an automatic lathe machine and milling machine for an amount not to exceed $41,000, which would be funded through the Perkins Fund and Physical Plant and Equipment Levy fund.