East Union prepares for new year

AFTON - With the 2024-25 school year in session starting on Friday, the East Union school board made a few decisions to prepare during their regular meeting on Tuesday.

With attendance policies being a popular topic for the district, School-Based Interventionist Valerie White gave an introduction to the board about how she will integrate into chronically absent federal regulations placed on districts across the state.

Previously, after joining the district July 2023, White helped students who were frequently absent by coordinating after-school instruction between students and teachers. She also served as the liaison for the juvenile court, monitoring the nine students on probation during the 2023-24 school year.

White outlined a major goal in her presentation of how she helps students succeed is by being ”one more caring adult for all our Eagles.”

The School-Based Interventionist will assist with notifying the county attorney of students who fall under the chronically absent guidelines, along with being a part of school communication with parents for creating plans to avoid repeated unexcused absences.

Both Elementary Principal Joan Gordon and Secondary Principal Jason Riley gave reports to the board about the professional development and acclimation of teachers to the new year.

In other East Union school board news...

The decision to purchase a van with a lift for wheelchairs during last month’s meeting was rescinded as the van the board was optioning for was not ADA-compliant. A new van which was ADA-compliant with a cost of $61,055 was recommended for approval, with the board approving the purchase.

Superintendent Tim Keuhl said this van could potentially not be purchased even after approval depending on how viable it would be with the student body. Keuhl said the purchase depends on if the two students who would use the van to get to school would stay in the district. If either student leaves, transport of the other would be done with a bus with a wheelchair lift.

Activity gate prices will receive an increase for adults this year, with prices increasing from $5 to $7 for high school events and rising from $3 to $5 for junior high events. Student prices of $5 and $3 for high school and junior high events respectively remain unchanged, with the board citing the need for student participation.

“All the other schools in the Pride of Iowa Conference have gone to these prices,” said Keuhl. ”While I understand it with the increasing cost of officials, I personally hate it. However, I don’t have a manageable way to handle it without raising our as well.”

Repairs to the elementary school’s HVAC system has been approved with a proposal from Baker Group at $72,667. The issues with controlling the systems has led to situations where unit pumps would operate independently, causing them to overheat. The proposal will help bring the systems back online as well as provide remote viewing and control of the system.

Technology systems for the infant toddler center were also approved. Systems for ethernet drops ($20,539 for the base bid and an $1,764 rack option) AV ($12,855 base bid with a $3,745 5-year service agreement) and camera systems ($68,195 base bid with a $3,935 intercom option) were approved.

A page system was considered but not recommended for approval at the time of the meeting. These systems are used in the main school building. An update to the building’s renovations pinned an opening in November.

The final handbook was approved, with the Coach and Parent Handbook receiving no changes from last year. The handbook outlines expectations East Union sets for coaches, athletes, and families.

With the four-day school week coming in to view, athletic practice times were adjusted to accommodate the schedule, with Wednesday practices beginning and ending 30 minutes later, with all practices ending at 6:30 p.m.

A discussion was tabled for September’s meeting regarding the scheduling of junior high sports during the winter season. With the introduction of girls’ wrestling to East Union’s slate, the board considered a “split season” schedule that would allow athletes to play in both basketball and wrestling competitions.

The approach would require all basketball events to be scheduled before the Christmas break, and the wrestling season beginning in January. The discussion was tabled to map out specifically how this schedule would work, especially with how it would conflict with statewide event schedules.

Board President Adam Tallmon attended by phone call.