District positions get shuffled

The CCSD School Board approved the termination of four teaching contracts Monday following months of discussions and hard decisions. While the board approved the reduction of four positions last month, the district waited to approve the actual terminations until teaching staff had the time to talk with the district.

Unanimously approved for termination were Sheri Blair, a middle school counselor with a continuing contract, Ben Walker, a middle school math teacher with a probationary contract, Marge Welch, a high school science teacher with a probationary contract, and Antton Zuazu, a high school Spanish teacher with a probationary contract.

CCSD Superintendent Deron Stender said the professionals terminated had done nothing wrong, citing the budget as the only reason.

“These four people are good educators,” Stender said. “This is not something they created; it’s about the financial situation. If we could keep them, we would keep them. We’re doing everything we can to help them find employment and suitable opportunities so they can be successful.”

The four terminations aren’t the only changes being made to staffing in the district. With the resignation of two band teachers, the district is looking at possibly decreasing the amount of band teachers in all the schools.

“It is going to go from a three-position team to a two-position team,” high school band teacher Michael Peters said the next day. “I’ll spend a portion of my day, unclear how much, at the middle school helping with lessons. This would possible eliminate some high school classes.”

It was on this topic numerous parents came to the meeting to speak about in the public forum. Amy Hyneck McFarland said the district’s fine arts program was the reason her family moved to Creston.

“We haven’t gotten into the thick of junior high and high school yet, but the arts have always been very important to our family,” Hyneck McFarland said. “It’s kind of scary that such a young age of new band players are going to be all under the direction of one person and I think that’s a lot. Just helping with piano lessons in our house, it’s exhausting. I can’t imagine one person taking on that big of a responsibility.”

Hyneck McFarland suggested sending out an annual survey to parents and staff to hear more about their opinions, such as the hospital does.

Kathy Thorne Ralston agreed with this idea. Accompanied by other parents, she said families in the district felt strongly about keeping the arts in good standing.

“I guess we feel unheard and what Amy has suggested with the surveys is something we feel like would be very beneficial,” Thorne Ralston said. “Please do not weaken our strength by pulling staff into shared positions between schools because it is more suitable on a spreadsheet or easier than replacing staff. Our fine arts program should remain staffed as it is, replacing one for one.”

While Stender did not directly address these concerns, in his director’s report he stated that not much is changing in the school’s programs, and nothing is disappearing.

The board approved a 2025-26 budget reduction and realignment process for classified staff, as well as the following 10 involuntary transfers:

Maggie Arnold: Media/Service Technology Teacher and CAST Facilitator to HS Science Teacher

Kim Fourez: MS Teacher to Alternative School and Online Facilitator

Joni Gillam: Elementary Instructional Coach to Second Grade Teacher

Karlie Hyde: Elementary Instructional Coach to Kindergarten Teacher

McKynna Newbury: Elementary Teacher to Elementary Special Ed Teacher

Hannah North: Early Childhood Teacher to Elementary Special Ed Teacher

Bryce Schafer: High Lakes Instructor to MS Success Coordinator

Amy Sheeley: Elementary Teacher to JK Kindergarten Teacher

Casey Tanner: HS Instructional Coach to MS Math

Tara Waigand: Elementary Teacher to MS English Language Arts Teacher

In other school board news...

Mike Morris spoke at the public hearing on the district’s proposed 2025-26 budget, thanking the board for keeping the levy down, while also asking they do more.

“My property taxes are much too high. My wife and I are having to save to pay property taxes. We reached the limit and want you to do more,” Morris said. “I can’t complain if I don’t take part, and so I’ve taken part.”

A second public hearing on the proposed budget will be held at the April 21 school board meeting, after which the board will vote to accept or reject the budget.

The district has received official notice that Keystone Equity Group, LLC, does not intend to uphold the purchase agreement regarding ECC land. Because of this breach, the district is terminating the agreement and will receive the $6,492 in earnest money. The district plans to work with UCDA to continue searching for a buyer.

The school board approved the following list of March 2025 resignations, terminations and retirements:

Resignations: Corina Buchanan, para; Angie Ray, para; Darci Campbell, teacher (end of 2024-25 school year); Ryan Linke, teacher (end of 2024-25 school year); Audrey Linke, teacher (end of 2024-25 school year); Tammi Latham, teacher (end of 2024-25 school year).

Terminations: Rodney Case, custodian (as of Feb. 28).

Retirements: Sue Dake, administrative assistant (end of 2024-25 school year); Dan Little, custodian (as of June 30).