Creston Community School District administrators will have more responsibilities in the 2017-18 school year.
The added responsibilities come as a result of the reduction in force of Kevin Teno’s position as director of education services. The reduction in force of Teno’s administrative position was part of a budget reduction of $700,000 from the FY2017 and FY2018 budgets.
CCSD Superintendent Steve McDermott explained the new responsibilities during the June CCSD Board of Directors meeting.
“These are more in light of what’s been moved because of the reduction in the administrative position,” McDermott said. “A lot of these come back on the administrative team. There’s some natural evolution that goes on with some of these things.”
Among the most noticeable changes, according to McDermott, are the responsibilities of Callie Anderson and Scott Driskell.
Previously, Anderson was principal of junior kindergarten through first grade and Driskell was principal of second through fifth grade.
For the upcoming school year, Anderson will be curriculum director and principal of junior kindergarten through kindergarten. Driskell will be principal of first through fifth grade.
“A lot of the decision making involved skills and abilities and experiences of some of these folks, things they’ve done in the past at other districts or here,” McDermott said. “Callie has always been a curriculum specialist for us. She’s been good with those materials. There’s just different things that were natural fits for people. It’s about matching your talent and abilities to responsibilities and duties, things that have to be done.”
Anderson will also oversee the Title I program, Iowa and Smarter Balance tests, English Language Learners program and will be the equity coordinator. Driskell will handle special education staffings and incidents.
Brad Baker, middle school principal, will oversee elementary/middle school level two and three special education staffings and incidents.
Bill Messerole remains high school principal and will oversee grades 9-12 special education staffings and incidents, as well as being principal of High Lakes. Jeff Bevins, activities director and assistant high school principal, will oversee at-risk and drop-out prevention.
Business Manager Billie Jo Greene will oversee administrative assistants and safety and security systems.
“Safety and security, we all have a part of that,” McDermott said. “But actually, Billie Jo has really ramrodded that and has done major oversight with cameras coming in, the phone system coming in and the security doors. She’s done a lot of work there.”
McDermott will oversee special education, something he has experience with in other districts.
McDermott said one of the challenges with adding responsibilities is making sure administrators are not just managing to get through the day, but continuing to provide leadership.
“We still have to have some vision moving forward,” he said.
McDermott does not foresee any major changes or disruptions to the day-to-day activities of students or parents as a result of these changes.
The transition should be made smoother with the help of the school district’s support staff.
“You also have to remember, we have some real strong support staff members and assistants in our offices that make this fly, too,” McDermott said. “There are secretaries and assistants that are also a part of this change.”