Creston Community School District
Board of Directors Meeting
December 18, 2023
Regular Board Meeting
The Board of Directors of the Creston Community School district met on Monday, December 18, 2023. The meeting was held in the Boardroom at 801 N. Elm as well as virtually, starting at 6:00 p.m. Galen Zumbach President presided, and the following answered roll call: Galen Zumbach, Dr. Brad James joined virtually, Don Gee, Sharon Snodgrass, and Dr. Amanda Mohr. Administrators present; Deron Stender, Billie Jo Greene, Cassey Tanner, Bill Messerole, Scott Driskell, Lesa Downing, 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 recording is available to the public until the next regular school board meeting at the district website.
Gee moved, and Snodgrass seconded, to approve the amended agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
There was no public forum participation.
Don moved, and Mohr seconded, to approve consent agenda items: Motion carried 5-0.
- Minutes of November 20, 2023
- Financial Reports
- Bills
- Contracts, Resignations, agreements
- Resignations
- Shannon Smith - Business Teacher & FBLA Advisor (end of 23-24 school year)
- Contracts
- Michael Pereira - Para
- Nellie Beaman - Cook
- Sandra Shimer - Cook
- 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
- Lowell Hagle Memorial - $100 softball
- Google; REC Foundation - $1,700 VEX Robotics High School
- Walmart - $1,000 Food Service
- Walmart - $60 1-5 Elementary
- Iowa State Saving Bank - $1,000 -travel for Football playoffs
- Dominos Pizza - NA 2nd grade classroom prize
- Southwestern Distributing, Ken & Carol Sharp, Amy Kralik - $16,500 CAST Dept printers and supplies.
- Volunteers
- Gwen Buck -READS
- Christine Mansour - READS
- Michael Wolfe - READS
- Melinda Abell - Activities and Classroom Helper
- Mario Glaanaskis - Activities
- Christopher Lane - Activities and Classroom Helper
- Sharon Walters - Activities and Classroom Helper
Communication and reports
- DLR Group presented the Early Childhood Center addition schematic design, they will present it to the district staff on January 2, 2024, and a public presentation at 5:00 p.m. The Board will have a workshop on January 16, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
- Student and Staff Recognition- Iowa Print Sports Writers Association All-State Football: 1st Team: Quinten Fuller- Offensive Line, Brennan Hayes- Running Back, Cael Turner- Quarterback, Max Chapman- Defensive Line, Dylan Calvin- Defensive Back. 2nd Team:2nd Team: Brandon Briley- Wide Receiver, McCoy Haines- Defensive Back. 2023 KMALAND 3A/4A/5A Offensive Player of the Year: Brennan Hayes. 2023 KMALAND 3A/4A/5A Defensive Player of the Year: Max Chapman. Academic All-State: Will Bolinger, Brandon Briley, Austin Evans, Quinten Fuller, Brennan Hayes, Jagger Luther, Carson Rieck, Tucker Rohrig, Dillon Starlin, Milo Staver, Cael Turner. IA Football Mr. Football Class 3A: Brennan Hayes.
- Middle School Principal Downing’s Report - Curriculum, Assessment data, Culture and Climate, CCMS communication, and attendance process.
- High School Principal Messerole’s Report - Dropout report, FY 25 college credit offerings on campus,
- Activity Director Driskell Report - Fall Activities numbers and Activity Pass prices discussion.
- Business Manager Greene’s Report - Financial review and certified enrollment updated, Credit Bureau Service of Iowa report, CFPM October report, 2024-2025 school budget timeline change from prior years.
- Superintendent Stender’s Report -DLR ECC facility planning update, informed the board of interest in the purchase green space at the ECC for housing development, college visits for potential staff, Alliant Energy update on solar garden, and teacher shortage report.
- Board discussion to preserve the trees when doing the Early Childhood Center addition.
Mohr moved, and Snodgrass seconded, to approve Director Gee and Director Zumbach as lead negotiators and Director James as the alternate negotiator for the district to negotiate with the Creston Education Association and AFSCME Local 3467. Motion carried 5-0.
Gee moved, and Mohr seconded, to approve the resolution to gross pay for district-directed and approved employees and individuals pursuing certification. Motion carried 5-0.
Gee moved, and Snodgrass seconded, to approve open enrollment modified supplemental allowance of $223,799. Motion carried 5-0.
Mohr moved, and Gee seconded, to approve LEP modified supplemental allowance of $18,018. Motion carried 5-0.
The second reading of Vol. 32.1 and 503.8 policies, no action and moved to January 16, 2024.
Gee moved, and Mohr seconded, to approve Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. as the date and time of the workshop and regular board meeting at 6:00 p.m. Motion carried 5-0.
Gee moved, and Snodgrass seconded, and the Board held a closed session as provided in section 21.5(1)(i) of the open meeting law to review to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session. Motion carried roll call vote 5-0. In closed session time: 8:26 p.m.
Gee moved, and Mohr seconded, and the Board came out of the closed session. Motion carried roll call vote 5-0. Out-of-closed session time: 9:12 p.m.
Gee moved, and James seconded to approve the performance evaluation of Mr. Stender who meets performance expectations and offer an extended contract from July 2024 to June 2027. Snodgrass moved the items to be divided into two action items James Seconded. Motion carried roll call vote 5-0.
Gee moved, and James seconded to approval of Mr. Stender’s meets performance expectations. Motion carried roll call vote 5-0.
Gee moved, and James seconded to approval of Mr. Stender’s offer of an extended contract from July 2024 to June 2027. Motion carried roll call vote 4-1 Snodgrass.
Gee moved, and Mohr seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 9:21 p.m. Motion carried 5-0.
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President Secretary
Future meeting in Creston boardroom at 801 N. Elm Street, Creston, unless otherwise noted:
- Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., staff meeting on the Early Childhood addition; and at 5:00 p.m. public meeting at the High School Auditorium.
- Tuesday, January 16, 2024, 5:00 p.m. workshop followed by Regular Board Meeting
- Monday, February 19, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting
