East Union makes new purchases for next year

AFTON - July 1 marked the beginning of a new fiscal year for East Union, and with the first school board meeting of the year came a bundle of new purchases.

Monday’s regular school board meeting gave the approval of three new vans for the East Union fleet. Two of these are 12 passenger vans to be used for the primary use as activities transportation as well as special education transportation. The other is a van with a rear lift, used for transporting students with a wheelchair.

The 12 passenger vans to be used for activities will help eliminate costs that would be used when using a large bus. For activities with a smaller participant size, the new vans will help cut costs on fuel and driver costs, allowing coaches and sponsors to drive the vehicles. The district predicted drivers will need to receive a chauffeur’s license.

The van with a rear lift will be used to transport students with wheelchairs to school. The district predicts at least two current students will be accommodated with the new vehicle.

In June’s school board meeting, the district approved the disposal of an old truck they had used for plowing snow, swapping to a new truck. Monday’s board meeting brought approval to fit the truck with a new wing plow from TEC and a salt/sand spreader. The new winged plow will clear faster, with the spreader reducing corrosion, extending the lifetime of equipment and giving faster application.

Four old vehicles will be disposed as obsolete, including a car, two busses and a van.

New cheer uniforms were also up for replacement. The board approved all that was presented, including uniform pieces and poms, except for cheer backpacks, which the board considered unnecessary and pricey. Families paying for expensive equipment were the main concern, with the board wanting to avoid a scenario where a student couldn’t try out for cheer because of personal finances.

The school’s cafeteria will be receiving a makeover with the approval of new cafeteria tables. Six new tables introduced to the cafeteria.

In other East Union school board news...

New Interim Secondary Principal Jason Riley gave his first report to the board, sharing concerns about recent legislation regarding student absenteeism and showing student growth data from a middle-school intervention program he helped implement during his time as a curriculum director.

Riley also shared the news that almost all teaching positions have now been filled at East Union. A shuffling of roles among teachers with the introduction of new middle-school level science and math teachers now allow East Union to offer higher level courses that they were unable to provide over the last two years, which they provided using online classes.

Elementary Principal Joan Gordon extended thanks to Riley for helping with handbook changes to accommodate incoming legislature about chronic absenteeism.

Girls’ wrestling at East Union will allow wrestlers from Murray to participate in East Union’s program following the approval of Murray’s board tonight during their regular board meeting. The arrangement is in place for the boys’ wrestling program.

East Union girls’ wrestling was previously shared with Creston and Lenox through the Highway 34 agreement. East Union had chose to leave the agreement and create a program within the district, this year would be the first for female wrestlers to compete under the East Union name.

Employee handbooks were updated with new language regarding pay, schedules and vacation. A change to EU Coach and Parent Handbook for expectations around athletic programs was tabled for a future discussion.

The board accepted a bid from Agriland Farm Service to install and provide two 500 gallon tanks for fuel in the school building. Agriland FS will also provide fuel for the school.

Jamie Buffington was absent from Monday’s meeting.