NORTH FAYETTE VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Minutes, Regular Meeting of the Retiring North Fayette Valley Community School District Board of Education, Monday, December 15, 2025, in the NFV High School Library, 600 N Pine Street, West Union, IA 52175
NFV Board of Education: Emily Koch, LaCreasha Schultz, Amanda Rodgers, Kirstin
Nelson-Lerch, Richard Klosterman, Kris McGrane, & Kris
Marcks. Superintendent: Joe Griffith; Business Manager:
Kassie Stansbery; Principals: Chris Miller, Travis Elliott &
Lori Westhoff; Curriculum Director: Betsy Nefzger; Special
Education Director: Sara Swensen; Superintendent
Secretary: Stephanie Michael; Media: Sharon Drahn Staff:
Sheila Noska Patron: Lucius Braun
President Koch called the Regular Meeting of the Retiring NFV Board of Education to order at 5:30 pm.
Roll Call of Board members: Klosterman, McGrane, Marcks, Koch, Schultz, & Rodgers. Nelson-Lerch was absent. Klosterman led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The agenda was approved as presented. McGrane/Schultz Motion Carried 6-0
President Koch welcomed and invited comments from the Public.
Motion to approve the consent agenda with the following items:
- Minutes of November 17, 2025, Regular Meeting
- Review/approve invoices (Reviewed by Rich Klosterman)
- Approve Financial Reports
Marcks/Schultz Motion Carried 6-0
OLD BUSINESS
The board approved the second reading of the 600 series policies with the exception of removing 605.3 until a later date. Klosterman/Marcks Motion carried 6-0
COMMUNICATIONS
Superintendent Griffith thanked the board for their continued work and dedication to the district.
Motion to adjourn at 5:34 pm. Schultz/Klosterman Motion Carried 6-0
_____________________________ ______________________________
Emily Koch, President Kassie Stansbery, Business Manager
Minutes, Organizational Meeting of the North Fayette Valley Community School District Board of Education, Monday, December 15, 2025, in the NFV High School Library, 600 N Pine Street, West Union, IA 52175
NFV Board of Education: Emily Koch, LaCreasha Schultz, Amanda Rodgers, Kirstin
Nelson-Lerch, Richard Klosterman, Kris McGrane, & Kris
Marcks. Superintendent: Joe Griffith; Business Manager:
Kassie Stansbery; Principals: Chris Miller, Travis Elliott &
Lori Westhoff; Curriculum Director: Betsy Nefzger; Special
Education Director: Sara Swensen; Superintendent
Secretary: Stephanie Michael; Media: Sharon Drahn Staff:
Sheila Noska Patron: Lucius Braun
Business Manager Stansbery called the Organizational Meeting of the New NFV Board of Education to order at 5:35pm.
Roll Call of Board members: Koch, Nelson-Lerch, McGrane, Marcks, Schultz, Klosterman, & Rodgers.
The agenda was approved as presented. Klosterman/Schultz Motion Carried 7-0
Business Manager Stansbery welcomed the public and invited comments.
Business Manager Stansbery read the official election results. District 1: LaCreasha Schultz; District 2: Richard Klosterman; District 3: Amanda Rodgers; District 5: Kirstin Nelson-Lerch, each elected to a term of four years. The Oath of Office was administered.
Business Manager Stansbery asked for nominations for Board President. Director Rodgers nominated Director Koch—Director Koch accepted. Director Koch was elected unanimously as Board President. The Oath of Office was administered and President Koch took over as chair of the meeting.
President Koch asked for nominations for Board Vice President. Director Klosterman was nominated by Director Marcks and named Board Vice President. Director Klosterman was elected unanimously as Board Vice President. President Koch administered the Oath of Office.
Kassie Stansbery was appointed as the Board Secretary/Business Manager/Treasurer. President Koch administered the Oath of Office.
Motion to approve the consent agenda with the following items:
- Approve Resignations/Retirements: Gloria Wagner, Jennifer Myers, Connie Benjegerdes, and Carol Stanbrough – All from the Food Service department at the end of 2025-2026 School year
- Approve Transfers: None
- Approve Contract Modifications: None
- Approve New Hires: Kendra Lockard – Paraprofessional
- Approve Volunteer Coaches: Isaiah Stansbery – Large Group and Individual Speech
- Receive and Approve Gifts: Gay and Fran Bowden
Schultz/Marcks Motion carried 7-0
Principal Travis Elliott’s report included an overview of work completed with instructional coaches, with a focus on classroom management, mathematics, social studies, literacy interventions, and student engagement. He also shared information about the LifeSkills Training (LST) program that current fourth-grade students participate in each November, along with updates on upcoming holiday programs and TigerHawk assembly awards.
Principal Westhoff reported that professional development with Matt Townsley and teachers on standards-based grading will be rescheduled due to the snow day. She shared that eighth-grade students have begun developing their four-year high school plans and concluded her report by highlighting student successes in band and winter sports.
Principal Chris Miller reported on the completion of the first semester, including winter performances in both the arts and athletics. He shared that second-semester schedules are undergoing final revisions and expressed excitement for a strong start to the upcoming semester.
Curriculum Director Betsy Nefzger updated the board on professional development efforts, including LETRS training, implementation of MTSS across all buildings, content team collaboration, and student achievement data review. She also reviewed plans for virtual professional learning to occur during weather-related school cancellations. In addition, the board was informed of the receipt of the McElroy Grant, which will provide equipment to support lab activities focused on alternative energy sources in Mr. Nuss’ classroom.
Special Education Director Sara Swensen shared the current standings on special education teacher caseloads. Alternative methods are in place for the determination of caseloads for preschool as well as the Downtown Academy.
Business Manager Stansbery reported on the food service audit, invoicing related to open enrollment, shared positions, and concurrent enrollment, and ongoing work on finishing the calendar year to prepare for W2s, 1095s, and 1099 forms to go out in January. She also noted continued work on preparation for work on the FY27 budget.
Superintendent Griffith provided an update to the board that included information on next year’s school calendar, the required training for school board members, and the completion of the food service audit.
NEW BUSINESS
The board approved holding regular meetings on the 3rd Monday of each month at 5:30pm. McGrane/Nelson-Lerch Motion carried 7-0
The board approved the list of official depositories. Bank 1st depository limit $6,000,000; Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank depository limit $3,000,000; Farmers Savings Bank depository limit $5,000,000; and Iowa School Joint Investment Trust depository limit $6,000,000. Marcks/Schultz Motion carried 7-0
The Board approved authorizing Business Manager Stansbery and Superintendent Griffith as signatories on district accounts. Klosterman/Schultz Motion Carried 7-0
The Board approved Ahlers and Cooney as legal counsel for 2026. McGrane/Nelson-Lerch Motion Carried 7-0
The board approved The Union as the official newspaper for the district.
Klosterman/Marcks Motion Carried 7-0
The Board appointed President Koch as the Representative of the County Conference Board. McGrane/Klosterman Motion Carried 7-0
The Board appointed Director Nelson-Lerch & Director McGrane to the School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC). Rodgers/Schultz Motion Carried 7-0
The Board appointed Directors Rodgers & Schultz as representatives for the Labor-Management Committee. Klosterman/McGrane Motion Carried 7-0
The Board appointed Directors Schultz, Rodgers, and McGrane as representatives for the Negotiations Committee. Marcks/Nelson-Lerch Motion Carried 7-0
The Board appointed Directors Klosterman, Nelson-Lerch & Marcks as the representatives for the Facilities Committee. McGrane/Schultz Motion Carried 7-0
Approval of District-Level Appointments: Equity Coordinator-Betsy Nefzger; Title IX-Betsy Nefzger; 504 Coordinator-Middle School Principal; Foster Care Point of Contacts-Joe Griffith &Justin Heins; Truancy Officer-Justin Heins; Homeless Liaison-Justin Heins; Migrant Student Point of Contact-Betsy Nefzger. Klosterman/Marcks Motion Carried 7-0
The Board approved the resolution to direct our district to submit the request to the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) in the amount of $128,029 for Modified Supplemental Amount due to uncounted open enrollments during the Fall of 2024. Klosterman/Schulz Motion Carried 7-0
The Board approved the resolution to direct our district to submit the request to the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) in the amount of $13,502 for English Language Learners beyond 5 years. Nelson-Lerch/McGrane Motion Carried 7-0
The Board approved the At-Risk/Drop-Out plan for FY27. Schultz/Marcks Motion Carried 7-0
The Board approved the request to the School Budget Review Committee for a Modified Supplemental Amount in the amount of $417,101 for the 2026-2027 At-Risk/Drop-Out Prevention Program. The spending includes afterschool programming, credit recovery, Bridges Academy, Downtown Academy and Middle School Interventionist, Guidance Counselors, At-Risk Coordinator, K-4 Reading Interventions, Middle School & High School Interventions, and School Social Worker. McGrane/Schultz Motion Carried 7-0
The board approved setting a public hearing regarding adoption of the 2026-2027 school calendar for January 19, 2026 at 5:30pm at the regular board meeting. McGrane/Nelson-Lerch Motion carried 7-0
The board approved the purchase of a new water softener from Northeast Iowa Water for the Valley Campus. Schultz/Klosterman Motion Carried 7-0
The board approved the German Exchange program and dates for fall 2026. Schultz/Rodgers Motion carried 7-0
DISCUSSION
No discussion.
Motion to adjourn at 6:23 pm. Klosterman/Marcks Motion Carried 7-0
______________________________ _____________________________
Emily Koch, President Kassie Stansbery, Business Manager