Creston Community School District
Board of Directors Meeting
April 15, 2024
Special Board Meeting
The Board of Directors of the Creston Community School district met on Monday, April 15, 2024. The meeting was held in the Boardroom at 801 N. Elm as well as virtually, starting at 4:31 p.m. Galen Zumbach President presided, and the following answered roll call: Galen Zumbach, Don Gee, Sharon Snodgrass, Dr. Brad James (virtually) and Dr. Amanda Mohr.
Administrators present Deron Stender, Lesa Downing, and Billie Jo Greene.
Gee moved, and Mohr seconded, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
Gee moved, Mohr seconded, and the Board a held closed session to recommend the expulsion of a student as provided by Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(e) and to review or discuss records that are required by law to be kept confidential as provided by Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(a). Motion carried Roll Call 5-0. Went into a closed session at 4:32 a.m.
The board held an executive session to review or discuss records that are required by law to be kept confidential as provided by Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(a). From 5:21 p.m. to 5:58 p.m.
Gee moved, and Snodgrass seconded to come out of the closed session at 5:58 p.m. Motion carried 5-0.
Don moved, and Mohr seconded, that the Board approved the Superintendent’s modified recommendation that the student who was the subject of the disciplinary hearing be expelled from the Creston Community School District through January 13, 2025, and that written findings and conclusions consistent with the Board’s deliberation be prepared, signed by the Board president, and mailed by the Board Secretary to the student and family. Motion carried Roll Call 5-0.
Gee moved, and Snodgrass seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 6:00 p.m. Motion carried 5-0.
______________________________ ______________________________
President Secretary
Board of Directors Second Public Hearing for Certified Budget
The Board of Directors of the Creston Community School district met on Monday, April 15, 2024. The special board meeting was held in the Boardroom at 801 N. Elm, starting at 6:08 p.m. Galen Zumbach, President presided, and the following answered roll call: Don Gee, Dr. Brad James (virtually), Sharon Snodgrass, Dr. Amanda Mohr, and Galen Zumbach. Administrators present; Deron Stender, Billie Jo Greene, Bill Messerole, and Lesa Downing.
The president asked the members and audience to face the flag and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Gee moved, and Snodgrass seconded, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
The second public hearing for the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget commenced at 6:08 p.m. with an open invitation to the community. During the hearing, no oral or written objections were received regarding the proposed budget. The hearing closed at 6:11 p.m.
Gee moved, and Snodgrass seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 6:11 p.m. Motion carried 5-0.
______________________________ ______________________________
President Secretary
Regular Board Meeting
The Board of Directors of the Creston Community School district met on Monday, April 15, 2024. The meeting was held in the Boardroom at 801 N. Elm as well as virtually, starting at 6:15 p.m. Galen Zumbach President presided, and the following answered roll call: Galen Zumbach, Don Gee, Sharon Snodgrass, Dr. Brad James (virtually) and Dr. Amanda Mohr. Administrators present; Deron Stender, Billie Jo Greene, Bill Messerole, and Lesa Downing.
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 agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
There was no public forum participation.
Gee moved, and James seconded, to approve consent agenda items: Motion carried 5-0.
- Minutes of March 18, 2024 and March 25, 2024
- Financial Reports
- Bills
- Contracts, Resignations, agreements
- Resignations
- Taycey Harper- Behavioral Interventionist
- Jane Shantz- (Reduction In Force end of 23-24)
- Courtney Phelps - 9th Head Volleyball Coach
- Shelbi Snyder - Para
- Amber Kearney- Para
- Sharon Carr- Para
- Kieara Clair - Para
- Cassidy Mullen-Sutton - Para (updated)
- Shay Baker - Para (updated)
- Ann Barnett - 1st Grade Teacher (23-24 school year) (updated)
- Contracts
- Hallie Laning- HS Industrial Technology Teacher (24-25 school year)
- Ben Walker - MS Math Teacher (24-25 school year)
- Phoenix Thompson - Elementary Special Ed Teacher (24-25 school year)
- Gracie Hagle - HS Assistant Softball Coach
- Gavin Shawler - 7th and 8th Assistant Boys Baseball Coach
- Judy Gunter - Para
- Voluntary Transfer
- Drew Dornack - HS Math Teacher
- Agreements
- TMS Red Rover Agreement
- Matura Headstart Lease Agreement
- University of Iowa (Mental Health Training Paraeducator grant)
- Riverside Technologies, Inc.
- 2024-2025 Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program Contracts: Trinity Lutheran Preschool, St. Malachy School, Matura Headstart, and SWCC
- Resignations
- Donations
- Anonymous - 1st Grade Students for $700.00; Adam Snodgrass/ISSB - ECC Kindergarten Grade Level for $618.00; For Sleep in Heavenly Peace: Rob and April Evans for $150.00, The Malmanger Family for $150.00, Paisley Rose Boutique for $50.00, Jim Hyde for $400.00, Stalker Auto Group for $150.00, Nate and Clarissa McCollough for $150.00, Luther Solutions for $150.00, Hulett and Sons Auto Salvage for $150.00, Hartsock Insurance Services, Inc. for $150.00, Garden and Associates, LTD. for $150.00, First National Bank for $150.00, Purdum Angus Farms for $400.00, Adams Street Espresso for $50.00, Iowa State Savings Bank for $150.00, Hi-Crest Auto for $150.00, Bob and Chris Walter for $150.00, Boyd Appliance Center, Inc. for $150.00, Hanson Fitness for $50.00, Fareway Meat and Grocery for $150.00, Townline Roundhouse Apartments for $150.00, Coen's Home Furnishings for $150.00, Dena Chapman and Tim Irbeck for $30.00, Union County Abstract for $150.00, Berning, Inc. for $150.00, Balanced Bookkeeping Services for $150.00, BUNN for $400.00, Chris Lane Real Estate and Nancy Loudon, Realtor for $400.00, Cedar Farm for $50.00, Creston Eagles #1398 for $400.00, PCSB Bank for $400.00, In Memory of Sterling Johns, Class of '78 for $400.00. American Family Insurance: Turner & Associates, Inc. for $150.00, Bomgaars for $50.00, Bill and Devon Messerole for $150.00, Emmy Key-Realtor with Our Town Realty for $150.00. Cromwell Sunday School-Negative Lunch Balances for $650.00, Doug and Hannah North-Creston ECC Library for $20.00
- Volunteers
- Brittany Vandevender - Activities; Julianne Wood and Karla Capson - ECC Classroom Helper, Sarah Young - EMS Helper, Activities
Communication and reports
- Creston FBLA took 26 students to Cedar Rapids on March 24-26 to compete in the State Leadership Conference. The students performed well and represented Creston admirably: 1st Place Community Service Project - Quinten Fuller, Ayden Purdum and Dillon Starlin, 1st Place Introduction to FBLA - Baret Lane, 1st Place Social Media Strategies - Olivia Burwell, Khouri Sherrod, and Mia Strunk, 2nd Place Entrepreneurship - Lila Berning and Nate Carroll, 2nd Place Introduction to FBLA - Ayden Purdum, 2nd Place Introduction to Parliamentary Procedures - Lila Berning, 3rd Place Help Desk - Dylan Dornack, 3rd Place Job Interview - Dillon Starlin, 3rd Place NLC T-shirt Design - Libby Henry and Khouri Sherrod, Our Chapter was recognized as a Gold Level Chapter- 1 of 4 in the State
- Teacher Leadership Report - Joni Gillim and Trish Dickenson reviewed the services and support provided to students and staff y.
- Michelle Thatcher shared how iJag supports our students' learning and work experience.
- Middle Principal Downing’s Report - Curriculum, assessments, instruction, culture, MS Counselor, and MS Success update.
- High School Principal Messerole’s Report - commencement May 19, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., IJAG update for FY 25.
- Business Manager Greene’s Report - Historical enrollment projection review and certified budget review.
- Superintendent Stender’s Report -review of the legislature on SSA was set by 2.5%, sets the minimum licensed salary at $47,500 for FY 25 and $50,000 for FY26, and sets licensed salary at $60,000 for 12 years of experience for FY 25 and $62,000 for FY26. sale of public property, 2024-2025 calendar year, solar garden construction has started, and chronic absenteeism with classified staff is being addressed.
- Early Childhood Facility Planning - Tentative Timeline budget, bond timeline, and project spending.
Snodgrass moved, and Mohr seconded, to approve the Budget Guarantee Resolution for FY 25 for the regular program budget as allowed under Iowa Code 257.14. Motion carried 5-0.
Gee moved, and Snodgrass seconded, to approve the 2024-2025 certified budget. Motion carried 5-0.
Sharon moved, and Gee seconded, to approve the setting of a public hearing for May 20, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Central Office Board Room as the date, time, and place for the proposed 2024-2025. Motion carried 5-0.
Gee moved, and Mohr seconded, to approve the setting of a public hearing for May 20, 2024, at 6:10 p.m. in the Central Office Board Room as the date, time, and place for the amendment of the 2023-2024 budget year. Motion carried 5-0.
Gee moved, and Snodgrass seconded, to approve setting a public hearing for May 20, 2024, at 6:20 p.m. in the Central Office Board Room as the date, time, and place for the sale of real estate. Motion carried 5-0.
Mohr moved, and Snodgrass seconded, to approve the summer food program. Motion carried 5-0.
Mohr moved, and Gee seconded, to approve the 2024 graduation list pending the successful completion of the graduation requirements as set forth by the Board of Education. Motion carried 5-0.
Mohr moved, and Gee seconded, to approve the first reading of policy updates in Vol. 32.3. Motion carried 5-0.
Gee moved, and Mohr seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 7:07 p.m. Motion carried 5-0.
_______________________________________ ________________________________________
President Secretary
Future meeting in Creston boardroom at 801 N. Elm Street, Creston, unless otherwise noted:
- Monday, May 20, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting
- Monday, June 17, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting
