CLAYTON RIDGE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

BOARD OF DIRECTORS  REGULAR MEETING & PUBLIC HEARING

March 12, 2026

 

The Clayton Ridge Board of Directors held their regular monthly meeting on March 12, 2026 in the Elementary School Library, Garnavillo.

 

Public Hearing

A public hearing on the 2026-27 school calendar was opened at 5:30 pm.

Superintendent Shane Wahls presented the proposed 2026-27 school year calendar.

There were no additional comments from the public.

The public hearing closed at 5:37 pm.

 

Call to Order/Roll Call

President Jessica Bittner called the meeting to order at 5:38 PM.  Other members in attendance were Sam Brandt, Mike Finnegan, Ellen Johnson, Dan Kregel, and TJ Pierce. Shelly Mommer was absent.

 

Also in attendance were Superintendent Shane Wahls, Principal Laura Bilden, Principal Terri Thompson, Dean of Students Wade Marlow, Director of Special Education / Student Services Hud Johnston, and Board Secretary Logan Taylor.

 

There were 21 staff / other guests in attendance.

 

Approval of Agenda

The agenda was amended to add policies 406.05, 406.06, 407.05 and 501.15 to the first reading for agenda item 6. Motion by Finnegan and second by Kregel to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Reports / Communication

Michelle Petty, Lakota Stubbs, and Margo Friedlein shared Kindergarten Winter testing data.

 

Nicole Degidio presented on a 3D printer project she completed with 5^th grade classes.

 

Amber Koth and Kearstin Hansel shared 5^th grade Winter testing data.

 

Janita Stavroplus and Elly Meyer shared 3^rd grade Winter testing data.

 

Valeria White, Michelle Scott, and Cheri Behrend gave a presentation on the MS/HS English curriculum and various changes.

 

Nick Brown and Joe Sheston gave a presentation on the HS Science curriculum and the Physics Olympics

 

Taylor briefly shared the proposed FY27 tax rate in advance of the public hearing on March 25, 2026.

 

Bilden provided Elementary building updates on LETRS training and testing data.

 

Johnston reported on Elementary attendance and referral data.

 

Thompson shared MS/HS parent teacher conference attendance data and information on the HS Reality Check program.

 

Marlow shared 2025-26 attendance data and compared that to 2024-25 data.

 

Consent Agenda

Motion by Kregel and second by Brandt to approve the minutes from the February 12 regular meeting and February 20 work session; February financial statements; and the listing of invoices. Motion carried unanimously.

 

New Business

1. 2026-27 School Calendar

Motion by Finnegan and second by Johnson to approve the 2026-27 school calendar as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

 

2. Employment

Motion by Pierce and second by Kregel to approve the following resignations and hires:

 

Resignations

• Kyle Sperfslage – Boys Basketball Coach
• Brook Crary – Softball Coach
• Kendra Wilke – Junior High Volleyball Coach

 

Hires

• Brianna Crum – Special Education Teacher
• Nicholas Huff – High School Teacher
• Lindsay Hatcher – Junior High Volleyball Coach
• Anna Rodenberg – Junior High Volleyball Coach
• Casey Zarr – Junior High Girls Basketball Coach
• Lynn Moser – Bus Driver

 

Retirements

• Lynn Moser – Transportation Director
• Deb Hess – Teacher Associate
• Mary Wille – Teacher Associate

 

Transfers

• Casey Goerdt – Assistant Transportation Director to Transportation Director

 

Motion carried unanimously.

 

3. Senior Class Trip

Motion by Finnegan and second by Kregel to approve the overnight senior class trip to Florida. Motion carried unanimously.

 

4. Baseball Sharing Agreement

Motion by Brandt and second by Pierce to approve a 28E Agreement with Central CSD to share baseball for the 2026 season. Motion carried unanimously.

 

5. Open Enrollments

Motion by Finnegan and second by Kregel to deny 4 applications to the Iowa Virtual Academy as their IEP requirements cannot be met at this time. Motion carried unanimously.

 

6. 1st Reading of Policies: 400, 401.01, 401.02, 401.03, 401.04, 401.05, 401.05R1, 401.06, 401.07, 401.08, 401.09, 401.10, 401.11, 401.12, 401.12R1, 401.13, 401.14, 402.01, 402.02, 402.02R1, 402.03, 402.03R1, 402.04, 402.05, 402.06, 406.05, 406.06, 407.05, and 501.15.

A first reading was held of the listed policies.

 

7. 2nd Reading of Policies: 300, 301, 301.01, 301.02, 302.01, 302.02, 302.03, 302.04, 302.05, 302.06, 302.07, 302.08, 303.01, 303.02, 303.03, 303.04, 303.05, 303.06, 303.07, 303.08, 303.09, 304.01, 304.02, 305, 306, 307, 710.01-R(1), and 710.1E2

A second reading was held of the listed policies. Motion by Johnson and second by Pierce to approve the policies as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

 

8. Relay Agreement (Medicaid Billing)

Motion by Finnegan and second by Brandt to approve a three-year contract with Relay (previously Timberline) to complete Medicaid billing for the District. Motion by Finnegan and second by Brandt. Motion carried unanimously.

 

9. 28E Agreement with City of Guttenberg & Resolution

Motion by Brandt and second by Finnegan to approve a 28E agreement and resolution with the City of Guttenberg for a street project in front of the MS/HS building in Guttenberg. Motion carried unanimously.

 

10. Budget Guarantee Resolution

Motion by Kregel and second by Finnegan to adopt the following resolution:

 

RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of CLAYTON RIDGE community school district, will levy property taxes for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the regular program budget adjustment as allowed under section 257.14, Code of Iowa.

 

Motion carried unanimously.

 

Adjournment

Motion by Kregel and second by Johnson to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Meeting Adjourned at 6:40 PM

 

 

 

 

________________________________________

Logan Taylor, Board Secretary

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Jessica Bittner, Board President