District looks to trim costs

The Creston Community School District is digging deep to cut costs in a way that won’t affect jobs, but administrators said they might have to make some hard decisions.

During Monday’s school board meeting, superintendent Deron Stender shared how the district administration was combing over the budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2025. Due to a loss of 55.39 students and estimated operating and union pay increases, the district is looking at almost $1 million in new costs.

One suggested way to cut extra costs was the movement of money normally spent by the Teacher Leadership Program (TLC). About $600,000 would be taken from the TLC program and moved to the general fund.

“I would say it’s one of the best in the state. It’s a program we have kept and protected and held to support the work that we do,” Stender said. “A lot of the work with performance, our instructional services and support, will be impacted by that. But if we do nothing and don’t make any changes with our TLC program, then that $983,000 equates unfortunately to people.”

Stender said every $100,000 covers about one licensed staff or two to three classified staff. Getting rid of the TLC program could save between six and 18 jobs. Those working in the TLC program would be moved to other positions in the district.

Though this idea would take care of the largest chunk of the money, $383,000 is still unaccounted. Other ideas include moving funds from the Teacher Quality and Professional Development program and cost savings regarding maintenance once the Elm Street Early Childhood Center is closed.

“We’re continuing to work on this every week. When we meet, we probably spend two to three hours looking at the budget contingencies,” Stender said. “Unfortunately, at the end of the day, there’s going to be positions that we’re reducing staff across the district.”

When reducing staff, the district will look at seniority and licensure.

“Anybody who doesn’t have a license will likely be brought in as a recommendation for a reduction,” Stender said. “Then we’ll take anyone that has a license and we’ll place them involuntarily into those positions, it’s up to them to decide if they want to accept that position or not.”

The district has until April 30 to finalize their budget decisions. More cost-cutting options will be brought to the school board meeting in January. On Jan. 3, administration will review the information and process with teachers and staff.

“We know we have to make some hard decision and while we make those hard decisions, we also want to be very respectful of our staff members so that everyone has the ability to make informed decisions for what’s best for them,” Stender said.

In other school board news…

Board president Don Gee and vice president Galen Zumbach were appointed to the Creston Education Association and AFSCME Local 3467 negotiation teams, along with CCSD business manager Billie Jo Greene, Stender and district HR manager Taylor Royster.

The school board approved the December 2024 list of contracts and resignations:

Contracts: Deb George, cook; Jon Thomson, IT Director.

Resignations: Megan Shinn, para; Brylea Woollums, para; Gail Vandenberg, para; Keri Lemon, cook; Kelsi Carlisle, kindergarten teacher; Jon Thomson, teacher; Phoenix Thompson, teacher (end of 24-25 school year).