Extra money, not extra spending

Due to recent legislation changes, the Creston Community School District will appear to be getting much more money from the state. However, that doesn’t mean they can spend it anywhere they want.

“It looks like we’re getting more money, but we still need to pay for the services that we are receiving, if that makes sense,” CCSD Superintendent Deron Stender said. “They gave us the money to go to the AEAs and to ask how much is this going to cost.”

The new bill, House File 2612, changes the funding regarding school districts and AEAs. Under the new law, 90% of schools’ special education funding will first be allocated to the schools, with the purpose of it going to AEAs. The other 10% would go to the schools to support the general education and media that AEAs currently take care of.

Stender said there is confusion regarding the future of the AEAs, as a number of people have stepped down with the announcement of the new bill. While he’s not worried for the short-term future, Stender said the district needs to be careful as they go forward.

AEAs weren’t the only thing affected by House File 2612. Teachers’ salaries will also be going up around the state.

“The new bill also sets the minimum licensed salary for $47,500 for FY 25. We’re about a little over $3,000 off on that,” Stender said. “That sets for FY 26 $50,000 as the new teacher minimum.”

Teachers with 12 year of experience or more will also be getting new minimums. for fiscal year 25, these teachers will have a minimum salary of $60,000. Fiscal year 26 will increase that minimum to $62,000.

“[The state] tries to give us enough money to help close that gap,” Stender said. The funding system should work out where it doesn’t create a detriment to the district in the short term.”

While the state helps increase teacher salary in the short term, school districts will be responsible for this difference in the coming years. Stender explained that Creston is better prepared than other Iowa schools, as CCSD is “in the top 25% in terms of compensation” in the Hawkeye 10 schools.

Along with these two changes, the bill has increased the state supplemental aid rate by 2.5%, or $191 per student. Schools now receive $7,826 per student.

In other school board news…

The board approved the 2024-2025 budget. This budget includes the Creston levy of $13.70642, which is a decrease of $2.89 per $1,000 of assessed value.

An offer for part of the land upon which the ECC resides has been received. The land on the east side, where Pine Street would go through, has been bid on for $12,000 per acre at five acres. The same buyer plans to buy the rest of the land once the ECC has been vacated. A public hearing on the sale of this land is set for 6:20 p.m. on May 20.

The school board approved the April 2024 list of contracts and resignations.

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; Shay Baker, para; Ann Barnett, 1st grade teacher (23-24 school year).

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 Transfers: Drew Dornack, HS math teacher.