Stew-Stras Board Acts on Administrator, Coaching Positions

Stewardson-Strasburg school board members finalized their administrator plans for the next few years at Wednesday's meeting.

Superintendent Justin Deters is departing the district at the end of the school year to go to work in the Regional Education office. The school board has decided that current high school principal and athletic director Cody McCollum will become superintendent. McCollum has some licensing to complete, though, to finalize his taking over the position. 

The Board hired Kenny Schwengel as interim superintendent for the coming school year. Schwengel handled Stew-Stras superintendent duties in the past. Meanwhile, McCollum will serve as high school principal and athletic director for the coming school year, as assistant superintendent for the 2026-27 school year, and as superintendent beginning with the 2027-28 school year.

The Stew-Stras board also gave grade school principal Penny Hill a contract for the coming three school years.

The Board also accepted Shane Smith's resignation as varsity boys basketball coach, hired Annie Smith as high school cross country coach, hired Jason Pruemer as high school baseball "B" coach, hired Toby Worman as junior high assistant basetball coach, hired Clayton Brandt as junior high baseball "B" coach, hired Natalie Hayes as junior high head track coach, and hired Hanna Niemerg as junior high assistant track coach.

Stew-Stras board members approved Heritage Builders for renovations to the west entrance of the school complex for $21,940 utilizing health/life safety funds. Also approved was hiring Ballenger Concrete for work to extend the front parking lot at a cost of $35,500. 

The Board also approved the fee schedule and the school calendar for the coming school year, and set May 18th as the end of year date with junior high promotion at 1:30 and high school graduation at 3:00. Deters also updated board members on the sewer project and the bus barn project.