Creston Community School District
Board of Directors Meeting
Regular Board Meeting
August 18, 2025
The Board of Directors of the Creston Community School District met on Monday, August 18, 2025. The meeting was held in the AEA Conference Room at 257 Swan Street, as well as virtually, starting at 5:30 p.m. Don Gee, Board President, presided, and the following answered the roll call: Don Gee, Galen Zumbach, Dr. Amanda Mohr, Dr. Brad James virtually, and Sharon Snodgrass. Administrators present: Deron Stender, Callie Anderson, and Billie Jo Greene.
A representative from the Creston News Advertiser and KSIB was present.
The vice president asked the members and audience to face the flag for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Zumbach moved, and Mohr seconded, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
Zumbach moved, and Mohr seconded, to approve consent agenda items: Motion carried 5-0.
- Minutes of July 21, 2025
- Financial Reports
- Bills
- Contracts, Resignations, Agreements
- Resignations
- Cole Crawford- 7th Grade Assistant Football Coach & 8th Grade Girls Basketball Coach
- Lindsay Adamson- Paraprofessional
- Russell Orr- Bus Driver
- Sara Keeler- HS Assistant Girls Wrestling Coach
- Addison Shay- Accounts Payable- Pending Board Approval of Voluntary Transfer
- Teri Keeler- IT- Pending Board Approval of Voluntary Transfer
- Sara Lane- Middle School Student Council Sponsor
- William Ralston- Assistant Girls Soccer Coach
- Edward Jones- Custodian
- Contracts
- Caleb Maxwell- Elementary/Middle School Paraprofessional
- Stephanie Baucom- Middle School Paraprofessional
- Arianna Gomez- Assistant Girls Soccer Coach
- Sarah Guthrie- Assistant Girls Tennis Coach
- Preston Fleharty- 7th Grade Assistant Football Coach
- Hallie Powers- Jr. Class Sponsor
- Deren Fry- Bus Driver
- Pamela Shady- Bus Paraprofessional
- Voluntary Transfer
- Addison Shay- Human Resources (July 1, 2026)
- Teri Keeler- Accounts Payable (July 1, 2026)
- 2025-2026 complementary activity passes
- 2025-2026 Out-of-State Trip
- Transportation Agreement with Orient Macksburg Community School District
- Resignations
- Superintendent Stenders' request to attend the Superintendent Symposium
- Waiver for Eligibility for Activities
- Amend the Student and Parent Handbook
- Fundraisers as presented
- Donations: Panther Pride Program: BUNN, Community 1st Credit Union, Creston Veterinary Clinic, Greater Regional Health, Hartsock Insurance, Heartland Tire & Auto Center, Iowa State Savings Bank, Lions Club, Mark & Mary O’Riley, Napa, Northwest Bank, Project C Dance Company, Southwestern Community College, Subway. Panther Pride Staff and Promotional T-Shirts: Iowa State Savings Bank. New Staff Luncheon: Northwest Bank. District Staff & Student Promotions: Hartsock Insurance.
Communication and reports
- Student recognition was given for the Hawkeye 10 All-Conference Teams, with several athletes honored. In softball, Ava Adamson was named Unanimous 1st Team, Taryn Fredrickson and Avery Staver earned 1st Team, Jersey Foote and Evy Marlin were 2nd Team, and Jaycee Hanson received Honorable Mention. The softball team also captured the Hawkeye 10 Championship with a perfect 20-0 record. Additional honors included Taryn Fredrickson being named to the All-KMAland Softball Team; Ava Adamson (2nd Team) and Taryn Fredrickson (3rd Team) receiving Iowa Girls Coaches Association All-State 4A recognition; and Ava Adamson being selected to the All-District Team 4A Southwest. In baseball, Parker Varner and Tom Mikkelsen earned 1st Team, with Tanner Ray named Honorable Mention. Varner was also selected 1st Team Class 3A Southwest Iowa All-District, Mikkelsen 2nd Team, and Varner was named to the IA Baseball All-State 3rd Team. Additionally, Madison (Frain) Peterson, Class of 2012, was inducted into the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union Hall of Fame.
- Business Manager Greene’s Report - The monthly financial reports. The End of Fiscal Year process was reviewed, with CAR, Special Education, and Transportation reports due by September 15. A reminder that the School Board Election will take place in FY26, with candidate packets available. The IASB Convention is scheduled for November 19–21 in Des Moines.
- Superintendent Stender’s Report - Preparations for the new school year are underway with preschool and kindergarten beginning in temporary classrooms at the elementary school. Kindergarten will start August 25 with a two-week “Soft Start to School” focused on routines, community building, and hands-on exploration, followed by a transition week, September 8–12, to move into new classrooms. A Kindergarten Open House is planned for September 11, with classes resuming September 15, while preschool will also begin September 15, following construction delays, with a Preschool Open House scheduled the same evening. Updates include $184,655.77 in processed change orders with a contingency balance of $553,644.23, the completion of central office hiring, and active work on the RSAI legislative platform. The district is fully staffed, with new teacher orientation completed, and will launch back-to-school workshops on August 18. Panther Pride Sponsors were recognized for their contributions, and the superintendent shared that they have been invited to participate in the national Superintendent Symposium in October, with expenses covered by AASA, pending board approval.
- Early Childhood Facility Planning - Tentative Timeline, budget, and project spending.
Zumbach moved, and Snodgrass seconded, to approve the resolution for the FY26 distribution of state funds designated as salary supplements for education support personnel. Motion carried 5-0.
Zumbach moved, and Mohr seconded, to approve the purchase of AEDs from LifeGuard MD for $53,300.00. Motion carried 5-0.
Mohr moved, and Zumbach seconded, to approve the authorization of the superintendent to approve or deny open enrollment requests. Motion carried 5-0.
Zumbach moved, and Mohr seconded to approve the 2nd reading of Policy Primer 33.4. Motion carried 5-0.
Zumbach moved, and Mohr seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 6:14 p.m. Motion carried 5-0.
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President Secretary
Future meetings in the AEA boardroom at 257 Swan St, Creston, unless otherwise noted:
- Monday, September 15, 2025, 5:30 p.m., Regular Board Meeting
- Monday, October 20, 2025, 5:30 p.m., Regular Board Meeting
