East Union prepares for summer school and beyond

AFTON - With school coming to a close last week, East Union looks toward the future of the school with the seasonal routine of elementary summer school and maintenance to the gym floor.

East Union’s summer school program lasts from June 3 to 27, with an anticipated group of 32 elementary students expected for this summer.

School days are set for Monday through Thursday, giving students who qualify a preview of what a four-day school week could look like. The board voted 3-2 for the calendar change in April for the 2024-25 school year.

A fleet of four substitute bus drivers were hired to help transport students to their classes for the summer, along with two special education drivers.

These decisions are routine for the district with the scheduling of summer school, and will use the limited time available during the summer to help prepare both students and staff for the next school year.

In addition, East Union over the week approved multiple maintenance pieces for the gym and gym equipment. The gym floor for East Union will be receiving a makeover after the board approved a bid to repaint and stain the floor. The basketball court will be painted blue to match East Union colors and volleyball lines will be painted in white.

New wrestling mats will be purchased for the sports programs at East Union. The purchase of $11,679.24 is being split between the district and the Booster Club.

In other East Union school board news...

Six resignations were acknowledged, including two high school volleyball coaches (Coach Carmalee Woods and Assistant Coach Rakenzy Pryor), elementary teacher Laura Guhse, elementary paraprofesional Kim Gladfielder and Secondary Principal Bill Meiners.

Meiners had worked in education for 11 years. He cites burnout and the shifting landscape of education as factors in his decision. Assistant ECC Director Suzy Hardisty also resigned from her position to move to her previous role as a full-time ECC teacher. The assistant director position will be succeeded to Lindsay Eklund.

The hiring of coaching staff for girls’ wrestling was also approved, with Joesephine Wearmouth taking the reigns. She will also serve as a head coach for boys high school track.

East Union girls’ wrestling was created after the dissolving of East Union’s part in the Highway 34 agreement, which combined Creston, Lenox, and East Union girls wrestling into one program. Wearmouth’s hiring is the first step for the new program.

Other new hires include secondary teacher Shayla Findlay, secondary business teacher DJ Christensen, elementary teacher Heather Comstock and paraprofessional Layla Lopez.

Discussions around the student Good Conduct Policy will be continued during the June school board meeting. May’s session involved discussion on what the board would want the policy to look like and change during June’s session.