Creston Community School District
Board of Directors Meeting
November 20, 2023
Regular Board Meeting
The Board of Directors of the Creston Community School district met on Monday, November 20, 2023. The meeting was held in the Boardroom at 801 N. Elm as well as virtually, starting at 6:01 p.m. Don Gee President presided, and the following answered roll call: Don Gee, Dr. Brad James, Galen Zumbach, Sharon Snodgrass joined virtually, and Dr. Amanda Mohr. Administrators present; Deron Stender, Billie Jo Greene, Cassey Tanner, and Callie Anderson.
The president asked the members and audience to face the flag for the Pledge of Allegiance.
A representative from the Creston News Advertiser and KSIB was present.
The meeting was broadcast virtually and no recording is available this month.
Zumbach moved, and Mohr seconded, to approve the amended agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
There was no public forum participation.
Zumbach moved, and James seconded, to approve consent agenda items: Motion carried 5-0.
- Minutes of October 16, 2023
- Financial Reports
- Bills
- Contracts, Resignations, agreements
- Resignations
- Kayla McDonald - Para
- Teri Keeler - Assistant Softball Coach
- Contracts
- Colleen Beatty - Para
- Brandi Wichhart - Para
- Taron Needham - Para
- Hannah Fry - Para
- Cindy Smith - Para
- Katie Davidson - Transportation
- Diana Millslagle - Cook
- Tiffany Hoffman - Cook
- Ron Pendegraft - Head HS Bowling Coach
- Danielle Dickinson Thaden - Assistant Individual Sp
- Retirements
- Lori Mann - Teacher (end of 23-24 school year)
- Agreements
- Engagement Letter with Piper Sandler & Co.
- Lenox-East Union Girls’ Wrestling Agreement
- Resignations
- Donations
- Creston Basketball Association - $1500 gym sound system
- UCDA-Farm to Fork Committee- FBLA $100 Farm to Fork event
- Creston Walmart-Panther Pride Preschool $100 pumpkins for Preschool Fall Family Fun Night
- Volunteers
- Elizabeth Eslinger-Field Trips
- Timothy Massey - Classroom helper
Communication and reports
- Student and Staff Recognition- District 6 All-District Football Team-1st Team Offense: QB- Cael Turner Unanimous, RB- Brennan Hayes- Unanimous, WR- Brandon Briley- Unanimous, OL- Quinten Fuller- Unanimous, OL- Jagger Luther, Kicker- Brennan Hayes. 1st Team Defense: DL- Max Chapman- Unanimous, LB- Austin Evans, DB- Dylan Calvin- Unanimous, DB- McCoy Haines- Unanimous. 2nd team Offense: OL- Tucker Rohrig. 2nd Team Defense: LB- Will Bolinger, DB- Dylan Starlin. Honorable Mention: Josh Schaeffer, Weston Trapp, Jackson Kerr, Jack Walter. Hawkeye 10 All-Conference Volleyball-Honorable Mention: Jaycee Hanson.
- Early Childhood Center Principal Anderson’s Report - Curriculum, Assessment data, Professional Development, Special Education student count data, English Learner student data, Title I budget and Family Night, Fresh Fruit and Vegetables program, and parent-teacher conferences totals,
- Elementary Principal Tanner’s Report - Parent-teacher conferences, elementary playground completion, building goals and professional development and MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports)
- Business Manager Greene’s Report - Financial review and certified enrollment updated, Credit Bureau Service of Iowa report, CFPM October report, Stop School Violence Grant denied, 2024-2025 school budget timeline change from prior years.
- Superintendent Stender’s Report -DLR ECC facility planning update, Earn and Learn initiative, and Safety & Innovation Summit.
Zumbach moved, and Mohr seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 6:57 p.m. Motion carried 5-0.
_______________________________________ ________________________________________
President Secretary
Organizational Meeting for 2023-2024
The Board of Directors of the Creston Community School District met on Monday, November 20, 2023. The meeting was held in the boardroom as well as virtually, starting at 6:57 p.m. Billie Jo Greene, Board Secretary, presided, and the following answered roll call: Dr. Brad James, Don Gee, Sharon Snodgrass joined virtually, Dr. Amanda Mohr, and Galen Zumbach. Administrators present; Deron Stender, Billie Jo Greene, Cassey Tanner, and Callie Anderson.
A representative from the Creston News Advertiser and KSIB was present.
Zumbach moved, James seconded, and the agenda was approved as presented. Motion carried 5-0.
Mohr moved, and Zumbach seconded, to approve the certification of the November 7, 2023, school board election with Don Gee receiving 731 votes, and Dr. Brad James receiving 1063 votes. Motion carried 5-0.
The Oath of Office was given to the elected board members Don Gee and Dr. Brad James.
James nominated Galen Zumbach for the Office of President. Seconded by Gee. Roll call vote motion carried 5-0. The oath of office was administered to Galen Zumbach, the newly elected president.
Board Secretary Greene turned the board meeting over to newly elected Board President Zumbach.
Snodgrass nominated Dr. Amanda Mohr for the Office of Vice President. Seconded by Gee. Roll call vote motion carried 5-0. The oath of office was administered to Dr. Amanda Mohr, newly elected vice president.
President James was participating virtually and asked Vice President Zumbach to conduct the meeting.
Gee moved, and James seconded, to approve Billie Jo Greene as School Board Secretary and School Board Treasurer. Motion carried 5-0.
Gee moved, and James seconded, to approve school board meetings to be held on the third Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the boardroom at the Central Office at 801 North Elm St. Motion carried 5-0.
Mohr moved, and Snodgrass seconded, to approve Director Brad James as the Union County Conference Board Representative and Director Don Gee as the Adams County Conference Board Representative. Motion carried 5-0.
Gee moved, and James seconded to approve Creston News Advertiser as the district’s official newspaper. Motion carried 5-0.
Mohr moved, and Gee seconded, to adopt a resolution that Creston Community School District of Creston, IA, in Union County, IA, approve Iowa State Savings Bank as a financial institution to be the depository of Creston Community School District funds in conformance with all applicable provisions of Iowa Code Chapters 452 and 453 (1993) as amended by 1984 Iowa Acts, S.F. 2220. The business manager, board secretary, and board treasurer are hereby authorized to deposit Creston Community School funds at IASB. Naming Iowa State Savings Bank up to $15,000,000 and PMA up to $5,000,000 as the financial institutes of the depository. Motion carried 5-0.
Gee moved, and James seconded, to approve Ahlers & Cooney Law Firm as the District Legal Counsel. Motion carried 5-0.
Gee moved, and Mohr seconded, to approve the first-semester early graduation list pending successful completion of the graduation requirements as set forth by the Board of Education and the state of Iowa. Motion carried 5-0.
James moved, and Gee seconded, to approve the first reading of policy updates in Vol. 32.1 and 503.8. Motion carried 5-0.
James moved, and Gee seconded to approve the Reconsideration Team. Motion carried 5-0.
Gee moved, and Mohr seconded, and the Board held a closed session as provided in section 21.5(1)(a) of the open meeting law to review or discuss records that are required or authorized to be kept confidential. The board reviewed and discussed the Emergency Operation Plan. Motion carried roll call vote 5-0. In closed session time: 7:15 p.m.
Gee moved, and James seconded, and the Board came out of the closed session. Motion carried roll call vote 5-0. Out of closed session time: 7:41 p.m.
Gee moved, and James seconded to approve the 2023-2024 Emergency Management Plan as presented during the closed session. Motion carried 5-0.
Gee moved, and James seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m. Motion carried 5-0.
_______________________________________ ________________________________________
President Secretary
Future meeting in Creston boardroom at 801 N. Elm Street, Creston, unless otherwise noted:
- Monday, December 18, 2023, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting
- Monday, January 15, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting
- Monday, February 19, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting
