Board approves ELC playground equipment, modest consumable fees and several personnel actions

The Eastern Green Schools board approved multiple routine and programmatic items for the 2026-27 school year, including Early Learning Center playground equipment, modest consumable fees, small meal-price increases and a series of personnel actions.

Playground and ELC: The board approved equipment-only upgrades for two separate ELC playgrounds (pre-K and infant/toddler areas) to meet state requirements for age separation. Staff said fencing and concrete work are not part of this equipment vote and will follow. "Both playgrounds will get full upgrades of brand new equipment and structure pieces that are age appropriate along with the fencing," a presenter said. The preschool playground will also receive donated educational signage from Play Pros. The district plans a September install before cold weather, using poured-in-place rubber surfacing for resiliency and a warranty the staff said was preferable to artificial turf.

Fees and food service: Staff discussed a proposed modest consumable-fee structure to cover course materials, saying most families would see $20 to $50 total in the highest-case scenarios and that families qualifying for federal free-or-reduced-price status would be exempt. "We will work with people, set up payment plans if they need," a staff member said. The board also approved food-service pricing for 2026-27: student breakfast remains free; student paid lunch will increase to $3.35 (a 10cent rise), adult breakfast to $3.00 (50cent rise) and adult lunch to $5.00 (15cent rise); some a la carte items will increase by 10cents. Staff said district prices remain below the state suggested level.

Personnel and extracurriculars: The board accepted several resignations (multiple ELC and elementary instructional assistants and a high-school girls softball coach) and approved numerous hires and ECA (extracurricular activity) positions, including volunteer and paid assistant coaches for high school and middle school programs. Appointments and hires were presented with necessary background-check and substitute requirements for ELC staffing; the Greene County Foundation grant was cited as helping pay for training. The board approved these personnel items by voice vote, typically unanimous (5-0).

Votes at a glance: The board recorded and approved agenda items including the transportation handbook, consumable fees policy, food-service prices and multiple hires/resignations; almost all actions reported in open session passed by unanimous voice vote (5-0).

Next steps: staff will post details and schedules on the district website, coordinate concrete/fencing work for the playgrounds and continue using grant funds for training and substitute staffing.