Board Agenda-2025.09.15

CRESTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board of Directors Regular Meeting

September 15, 2025 – Meeting 5:30 p.m.

AEA boardroom at 257 Swan St, Creston

 

The vision of the Creston Community School District is to provide the foundation for students to become lifelong learners and positive, confident, and compassionate citizens.

Per Iowa Code Section 21.4(1)(b) the school board shall meet and conduct the regular board meeting electronically when it is impossible or impractical. Please call this toll-free number 1-434-623-2922 to access the board meeting to participate in the public hearing. Please click on this link or visit this address meet.google.com/uix-bbyc-bcm  to access the board meeting.

  1. The public is welcome to join remotely and observe school board meetings. Remote access information is provided above.
  2. To help facilitate the Public Forum, participants must contact the Board Secretary by noon on the day of the board meeting. The Iowa Association of School Boards advises school board members to listen to constituents and refrain from commenting during public forums. The practice of the district is for board members to listen and to direct the administration to follow up with the participant(s).
  3. Form of needed information.
    1. Participants shall provide their names and address.
    2. Participants shall indicate the agenda item they wish to address.
    3. Participants shall indicate which administrator they have addressed their concerns with.
    4. Participants are asked to limit their time to three minutes.
    5. Please see Policy 213, Public Participation in Board Meetings, for more information.
  4. Board meetings are recorded and available to the public on the district website for one month.
  5. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. If you have any questions, please contact Board Secretary Billie Jo Greene at 641-782-7028 bgreene@crestonschools.org

Join by phone

‪(US) +1 434-623-2922 PIN: ‪654 208 084#

 

Agenda

  1. Call to Order by _______________ Time: ___________

The President will call the meeting to order using the gavel if necessary. The President will request those with communication devices to either turn them off or place them on silent mode. This may be a good time to introduce any special guests. A binder labeled Public Copy of Board Materials containing board meeting materials is available for public review at the table at the side of the room. Meeting agendas are available for the public at the table at the side of the room. Meeting agendas, materials, and minutes are also available on the district web page.

  1. Pledge of Allegiance

The president will ask the members and audience to face the flag for the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Galen Zumbach,

Board President

 

Dr. Amanda Mohr,

Vice President

 

Don Gee

 

Dr. Brad James

 

Sharon Snodgrass

 

Deron Stender,

Superintendent

 

Billie Jo Greene,

School Business Official

 

Bill Messerole,

High School Principal

 

Scott Driskell. AP/Activities Director

 

Lesa Downing          5-8 Principal

 

Callie Anderson, PK-4 Principal

 

 
  1. Approval of Agenda

Motion by: _____, Seconded by: ________, Those Voting: ____ Aye, ____ Nay

  1. Public Forum

The President will ask the Board Secretary if any requests for public comment have been received. The Board will listen to public comments and in accordance with district policy 213, will direct questions to the Superintendent or the appropriate staff.

  1. Consent Items

The President will request a motion to accept the Consent Agenda as presented or amended. With a motion and a second, the President will call for a vote.

    1. Minutes of August 18, 2025
    2. Financial Reports
      1. All Funds Financials
    3. Bills
      1. All Funds Report
    4. Agreements, Contracts, Resignations, & Terminations
      1. Resignations, Terminations, Contracts
      2. Top Notch Fireworks Agreement
      3. Viking Fire Protection
    5. Volunteers

Motion by: _____, Seconded by: ________, Those Voting: ____ Aye, ____ Nay

  1. Communications and Reports
    1. Middle School Principal’s Report
    2. High School Principal’s Report
    3. Business Manager’s Report
    4. Superintendent’s Report
    5. Early Childhood Facility Planning
      1. Tentative Timeline - Budget (updated 4.18.25)
      2. Project Spending
      3. Change Orders updated Change order #4
    6. Board Discussion
  2. New Business
    1. Consider approving a contract amendment for DLR Group construction administrative services for the Early Childhood Center Project.

ACTION:   The additional services arise directly from the General Contractor’s failure to achieve completion of the project within the deadlines established in the Contract Documents, or within any revised dates mutually agreed upon during regularly scheduled progress meetings.

Pursuant to the Contract, Substantial Completion was required on or before August 1, 2025, with Final Completion of all work required within sixty (60) days thereafter (October 30, 2025). To date, the Substantial Completion milestone has not been met, and consequently, the Final Completion date will also be exceeded.w

Accordingly, the District is taking the necessary steps to preserve and assert its rights, including the pursuit of reimbursement for additional costs and damages incurred as a result of these project delays. Please contact Mr. Stender with any questions.

RECOMMENDATION:   Approve contract amendment with DLR Group for the additional administrative service for the Early Childhood Center Project.

Motion by: _____, Seconded by: ________, Those Voting: ____ Aye, ____ Nay

    1. Consider approving the resolution to consider continued participation in the Instructional Support Levy (ISL).

      ACTION:  The district's ISL is set to expire June 30, 2027. The school board has the authority to continue to support ISL for a period of five years as necessary and in the best interest of the District and its residents and students. The proposed renewal will run from July 1, 2027, to June 30, 2032. This link provides detailed information on the ISL:  IASB Instructional Support Program.  Please contact Mr. Stender with any questions. 
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the resolution, directing and authorizing the Board Secretary to give notice of a public hearing on participation in the ISL to be held in the AEA Boardroom, 257 Swan Street, Creston, Iowa, on October 20, 2025, at 5:30 P.M. 
Motion by: _____, Seconded by: ________, Those Voting: ____ Aye, ____ Nay

    1. Consider Approving Allowable Growth and Supplemental Aid for Special Education
      ACTION:       As a standard practice, the administration requests that the Board consider approving the district’s application for additional allowable growth and supplemental aid.

In addition to managing the general operating fund, school districts are required to monitor special education revenues and expenditures and report them annually to the Department of Education. While districts are permitted to spend more than they receive in special education funding, any excess expenses must be covered with general fund dollars.

When a district reports a deficit in its special education balance, the state allows districts to apply to recover that spending authority. The School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) reviews these applications and considers approval at its annual meeting in December.

The administration recommends Board approval of the district’s request for Modified Allowable Growth and Supplemental Aid to cover the FY25 special education deficit of $805,956.68. This reflects an increase of $443,012.69 from the prior year.

 

After analyzing the data, the increase is largely due to two factors beyond the district’s control:

  1. Increased personnel costs related to the new state minimum teacher compensation levels of $47,500 (entry) and $60,000 (12 years).
     
  2. Higher tuition costs for services provided outside the district, which also increased as a result of higher personnel expenses statewide.

Please contact Mr. Stender with any questions.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve request for Modified Allowable Growth and Supplemental Aid for the FY25 special education deficit of $805,956.68.
Motion by: _____, Seconded by: ________, Those Voting: ____ Aye, ____ Nay

    1. Consider approving the Operational Sharing Agreements with the City of Creston
      ACTION:  The district has worked with the City of Creston to consider opportunities for shared services. We already share the School Resource Officer, and I would have asked the city to consider expanding this partnership to include Operations and Maintenance. This position is also eligible for Operational Sharing and would generate $31,932 in additional state revenue for the district. These funds are applied directly toward the total compensation for each position, helping to offset costs while maintaining services. The benefits are clear:
      • No cost to the City to continue the partnership
      • No added work or responsibility for City staff because of the existing partnership
        1. grounds maintenance (i.e., mowing, patching, sweeping, etc.)
        2. snow removal support
        3. shared resources and equipment
      • Strengthens collaboration between the City and the school district
      • Provides much-needed financial support for our schools
      • Enhances our shared commitment to serving the community

This arrangement could take effect as early as this school year, allowing the district to leverage the state funding immediately. Please contact Mr. Stender with any questions. 
RECOMMENDATION: Approve operational sharing agreement with the City of Creston for operations and maintenance. 

Motion by: _____, Seconded by: ________, Those Voting: ____ Aye, ____ Nay

    1. Consider rescheduling the Monday, November 17 board meeting to Thursday, November 20, 2025.
      ACTION:         To accommodate my absence and presentation at the AI Super Conference and provide the county time to certify the school board election, I request that the November school board meeting be moved from Monday, November 17, to Thursday, November 20, at 5:30 p.m.   Please contact Mr. Stender if you have any questions.

RECOMMENDATION:  Approve rescheduling the Monday, November 17 board meeting to Thursday, November 20 at 5:30.
Motion by: _____, Seconded by: ________, Those Voting: ____ Aye, ____ Nay

  1. Adjournment: Time: _____ pm.
    Motion by: _____, Seconded by: ________, Those Voting: ____ Aye, ____ Nay

Future meetings in the Creston boardroom at 257 Swan St, Creston, unless otherwise noted:

  • Monday, October 20, 2025, 5:30 p.m., Regular Board Meeting
  • Monday, November 20, 2025, 5:30 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, proposed date change.
  • Monday, December 15, 2025, 5:30 p.m., Regular Board Meeting