Creston Community School District
Board of Directors Meeting
November 20, 2025
Regular Board Meeting
The Board of Directors of the Creston Community School District met on Thursday, November 20, 2025. The meeting was held in the AEA Conference Room at 257 Swan Street, as well as virtually, starting at 5:31 p.m. Don Gee, Board President, presided, and the following answered the roll call: Don Gee, Dr. Amanda Mohr, Dr. Brad James, Galen Zumbach, and Sharon Snodgrass. Administrators present: Deron Stender, Bill Messerole, Callie Anderson, Taylor Royster, Trish Carson, and Billie Jo Greene.
The president asked the members and audience to face the flag for the Pledge of Allegiance.
The board meeting was unable to be recorded due to technical issues.
A representative from the Creston News Advertiser was present.
Zumbach moved, and Mohr seconded, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
There was no public forum participation.
Zumbach moved, and Snodgrass seconded, to approve consent agenda items: Motion carried 5-0.
- Minutes of October 20, 2025
- Financial Reports
- Bills
- Contracts, Resignations, agreements
- Resignations
- Rebecca Morris- Paraprofessional
- Ashley Wantland- Custodian
- Abbi Hood- Kindergarten Teacher (end of the school year 2025-26)
- Contracts
- Trystyn Darnold- Bus Driver
- Britney Walton- Paraprofessional
- Agreements
- Iowa AEA E-Rate Consulting
- DSM Dance Party DJs
- Green Hill AEA Election Ballot-Board selected Connie Maxson
- Resignations
- Volunteers
- Jodi Hitz - Activities
- Fundraiser additions as presented.
Communication and reports
- Student and Staff Recognition- Several students earned notable conference, district, and state-level honors this season. In volleyball, Kadley Bailey and Jaycee Hanson received Honorable Mention recognition on the Hawkeye 10 All-Conference team, and both were also selected to participate in the KMA Land All-Star Volleyball Series under Head Coach Naomi Sharp. In football, multiple athletes were named to the Class 3A District 6 All-District Team, including First Team selections Jace Purdum, Gunner Martwick, Tanner Ray, Tom Mikkelsen, and Seth Gordon; Second Team honorees Jackson Pettegrew, Rhett Driskell, Garrick Clausen, Coltyr Frey, and Casen Scarberry; and Honorable Mention recipients Davin Wallace, Blake Hayes, Chasse Downing, Gabe Kaufman, and Lane Travis. Additionally, Caitlin Austin and Chaylee Needham both earned Division I ratings and finished in the top 10 in Solo Color Guard, qualifying them to perform at the state championships in December. Congratulations to all students and coaches for proudly representing our schools.
- Middle School Principal Downing’s Report - Absent and written report was available.
- High School Principal Messerole’s Report - An update on academic performance and conference membership changes. Rank order data from last spring’s ISASP shows the school earned a rating of Commendable but was moved to Acceptable due to insufficient growth in the number of students reaching proficiency, despite math students with IEPs outperforming the state average in growth. Additional details are included in the Director of Student Services report. An update on the Hawkeye 10 Conference noted that Lewis Central, Shenandoah, and Red Oak will exit the conference after the 2025–2026 activity year, while Carroll High School has been approved to join beginning in 2026–2027. The conference will continue with nine strong and viable member schools moving forward.
- Director of District Service Ms. Carson - The district provided an update on Special Education, curriculum and instruction, assessments, and student support programs. Special Education staff continue to work closely with AEA representatives, Jennifer Haidsiak-Riggle and Lindsay Wetzal, with each building holding dedicated collaboration time focused on IEP learning and preparation for enhanced paraprofessional training planned for early 2026. In curriculum and instruction, the district is gathering information on current resources to ensure alignment with Iowa State Standards, beginning the K–12 ELA curriculum review cycle, piloting new elementary materials, and organizing teams’ Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum documentation. Instructional teams are also collecting data on practices related to Gradual Release of Responsibility, student engagement, and learning targets. Assessment updates include the use of FastBridge, local district assessments, and ISASP results for grades K–8, along with NWEA MAP Growth and ISASP for grades 9–12. The Talented and Gifted handbook and program review have been completed, with TAG services led by Danielle Flores. The English Learner team has finalized and approved the district’s Lau Plan, clarifying standards and services for students. Additionally, the district’s homeless liaison continues to utilize McKinney-Vento resources to support families in need.
- Business Manager Greene’s Report - Financial review and certified enrollment updated, 2026-2027 school budget timeline.
- Superintendent Stender’s Report -The district provided an update on the Early Childhood Center construction and property matters. The general contractor expects to turn over Phase B of the center by Thanksgiving break, with full project completion anticipated before winter break. A community open house will be held once the project is complete. An additional change order of $8,182.56 was issued this month, bringing total change orders to $184,655.77 and leaving a contingency fund balance of $547,616.57. Regarding the old ECC facility at 801 N Elm St., the board will consider formal public notice for its sale, following a legal process expected to take four to six months. The district is also preparing for possible demolition of the property, estimated at $650,000, should no purchaser emerge, with the process set to begin in January. Discussions with the City of Creston are underway regarding the transfer of ownership of the playground at this location. The board previously approved the disposal and sale of district property at the July 2025 meeting, and this effort continues, particularly for items at 801 N Elm St. Enrollment data following the October count is being analyzed, with a comprehensive report scheduled for the November 20 board meeting. The SIAC Committee held its first meeting on November 4 and will meet three times this year. Finally, a letter was sent to legislators requesting support for changes to the Educational Savings Account law to provide districts greater flexibility in allocating ESA revenue.
- Enrollment and State Aid Overview. Superintendent reviewed a summary of enrollment data based on the October 1 student count. District enrollment decreased by 44.8 students.
- Early Childhood Facility Planning - Tentative Timeline, budget, and project spending.
- The board recognized Sharon Snodgrass and Galen Zumbach for their exceptional service and lifelong dedication to Creston Community Schools. Sharon contributed 53 years as an educator and board member, and Galen contributed 47 years, representing a combined century of service to public education. Both were honored for their leadership, integrity, and commitment to putting students first. In appreciation of their contributions, a $100 donation will be made to Dollars for Scholars in their honor.
Zumbach moved, and Snodrass seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 6:23 p.m. Motion carried 5-0.
_______________________________________ ________________________________________
President Secretary
Organizational Meeting for 2025-2026
The Board of Directors of the Creston Community School District met on Thursday, November 20, 2025. The meeting was held in the AEA Conference Room at 257 Swan Street, as well as virtually, starting at 6:26 p.m. Billie Jo Greene, Board Secretary, presided, and the following answered the roll call: Don Gee, Dr. Amanda Mohr, Dr. Brad James, Kathy Thorne Ralston, and MaKinze Vonk. Administrators present: Deron Stender, Bill Messerole, Callie Anderson, Taylor Royster, Trish Carson, and Billie Jo Greene.
The board meeting was unable to be recorded due to technical issues.
A representative from the Creston News Advertiser was present.
Mohr moved, and James seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
Gee moved, and James seconded, to approve the certification of the November 4, 2025, school board election with Kathy Thorne Ralston receiving 958 votes, Dr. Amanda Mohr receiving 922 votes, and MaKenzi Vonk receiving 875 votes. Motion carried 5-0.
The Oath of Office was given to the elected board members, Kathy Thorne Ralston, Dr. Amanda Mohr, and MaKenzi Vonk.
James nominated Don Gee for the Office of President. Seconded by Mohr. Motion carried 5-0. The oath of office was administered to Don Gee, the newly elected president.
Board Secretary Greene turned the board meeting over to the newly elected Board President Gee.
James nominated Dr. Amanda Mohr for the Office of Vice President. Seconded by Ralston. Roll call vote motion carried 5-0. The oath of office was administered to Dr. Amanda Mohr newly elected vice president.
Mohr moved, and James seconded, to approve Billie Jo Greene as School Board Secretary and School Board Treasurer through June 2026 and Taylor Royster as School Board Secretary and School Board Treasurer, July 2026 through November 2026. Motion carried 5-0.
Mohr moved, and James, to approve school board meetings to be held on the third Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted in the AEA boardroom at 257 Swan St. Motion carried 5-0.
Mohr moved, and Vonk 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.
Mohr moved, and Ralston seconded to approve the Creston News Advertiser as the district’s official newspaper. Motion carried 5-0.
James moved, and Vonk 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 $20,000,000 and PMA up to $20,000,000 as the financial institutions of the depository. Motion carried 5-0.
Mohr moved, and James seconded, to approve Ahlers & Cooney Law Firm as the District Legal Counsel. Motion carried 5-0.
Mohr moved, and James seconded, to approve director Gee and director Ralston as lead negotiators to negotiate with the Creston Education Association and AFSCME Local 3467. Motion carried 5-0.
Mohr moved, and James seconded, to approve the request for proposals to sell real property locally known as 801 N. Elm Street.. Motion carried 5-0.
Ralston moved, and James 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.
Mohr moved, and James seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 6:38 p.m. Motion carried 5-0.
_______________________________________ ________________________________________
President Secretary
Future meetings in the Creston boardroom at 257 Swan Street, Creston, unless otherwise noted:
- Monday, December 15, 2025, 5:30 p.m., Regular Board Meeting
- Monday, January 19, 2026, 5:30 p.m., Regular Board Meeting
- Monday, February 16, 2026, 5:30 p.m., Regular Board Meeting
