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Starmont board approves hires, contracts, pay increase and 2025-26 policies
Summary
At its July 14 meeting the Starmont board approved a multi-item consent agenda including personnel hires, volunteer coaches, multiple vendor agreements and contracts, a substitute pay increase to $155/day, handbooks, a safety plan and the district's 2026 legislative priorities.
The Starmont Community School District Board approved routine and administrative items July 14, endorsing personnel recommendations, vendor agreements, policy updates and operational contracts for the 2025-26 school year.
On a unanimous vote the board approved the consent agenda, which included minutes for three prior meetings, monthly financial reports and bills (audited by board member Vicki Althoff). Personnel actions recorded included the hiring of Rachael Stecklein as an instructional coach and acceptance of resignations listed in the consent materials. Volunteer coaches approved were Roger Gifford and Randi Burns for cross country and Ron Thole for football. The board also approved two open enrollments (Allen Thyer from North Fayette CSD and Laiken Stecklein from Oelwein CSD).
The board approved vendor and program agreements: an EMC Insurance renewal for 2025-26, an update to the Berry Tender agreement, a PowerSchool software and support agreement with Grant Wood AEA for $9,309.72, and an agreement with Northeast Iowa Community College to provide college courses to students. A Furniture Showcase bid of $7,856.32 to replace carpet in the elementary choir room was accepted. The board also awarded a fuel bid to Mulgrew Oil, locking diesel at $2.476 per gallon and gasohol at $0.209 per gallon over the DOT rack.
For district operations the board approved the 2025-26 fee schedule, adopted updated student and coaches handbooks (secondary), accepted the elementary handbooks provided by Principal Hesse, and approved the district safety plan. The board raised substitute teacher pay to $155 per day.
The board additionally approved its top four 2026 legislative priorities — Teacher Recruitment & Licensure, Supplemental State Aid, Tax Base and Unfunded Mandates — and appointed Katie Taylor as board secretary/treasurer (Taylor took the oath of office). All motions cited in the minutes passed on 4-0 votes.
The meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.
