East Union principals report on test scores, absences

AFTON - East Union’s principals gave reports to the school board during their regular meeting on Monday.

In Elementary Principal Joan Gordon’s report, she presented results from the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) tests and how they compared to the rest of Iowa. ISASP tests grades 3 and up to see proficiency in various subjects.

Third grade students were 2% less proficient in English language arts compared to the state average, but were 2% more proficient than the state average in mathematics.

Fourth grade students were 12% more proficient in English language arts, but were 2% less proficient in mathematics.

Fifth grade received the most praise from Gordon, being 23% more proficient in English language arts, 18% more proficient in mathematics, and 29% more proficient in science. Fifth grade is the only grade which takes the science ISASP assessment in the elementary.

Gordon credited the increased proficiency in science to STEM BEST grants which were used by the elementary classrooms to offer practical activities to give students hands-on experience with some of the subjects.

Secondary Principal Jason Riley was absent from Monday’s meeting, but provided an update to the board. An additional measure was added to the school’s absenteeism policy where a notice would be sent to parents after a student had acquired four absences. This will serve as a warning to parents before support action would need to be taken.

Four absences would measure to about 5% of school days missed, and would be before a student would be considered chronically absent at 7.5 absences or 10% of school days missed. Riley reported “a few” official notices to the county attorney have already been sent for absenteeism, which are initially sent after a student is absent for 10% of school days in the semester.

In other East Union school board news...

The board were given a presentation by members of Denovo Construction Solutions who were looking to implement a five-year plan to update East Union facilities, including the main school buildings and activity fields.

Denovo’s plan revolved around five phases, each giving time to create strategies and implement community input from the community, faculty members and school leadership. Main priorities for Denovo was to promote fiscal responsibility in projects as well as preventing issues from school leadership transistions.

COO of Denovo Brian Crawford said he wanted to prevent “Whack-a-Mole” with problems which would be fixed when they pop up. East Union Superintendent Tim Kuehl said this hit “close to home” with how East Union handles issues in their facilities in a “reactive” way.

The board did not make a decision on accepting Denovo’s proposal.

Two out-of-state field trips were approved. The EU High School Art Club will take a trip to Kansas City from April 25-27, 2025. The MS Art Club will have a trip to Cedar Rapids on May 2, 2025. Funds for both trips will be taken from art club funding and grant funds.

A planned trip to Washington D.C. and New York for East Union Middle School during spring break 2026 received approval for fundraising activities to fund the itinerary. The trip is typically funded by the parents of students.

The board accepted an agreement with Marco to provide and manage district copiers for $2,444.23 per month. The new agreement will save $11,303.02 annually for the district, alongside remedying problems provided by outdated copiers.

East Union will share a librarian with Nodaway Valley, CAM, and Murray. Jeanine Kliefoth is the librarian, who helps monitor and refine library content. She will work in East Union for 15 days of the school year.

Board members Amber Tate and Carol Eckels were absent from Monday’s meeting.

The following resignations and contracts were approved.

Resignations: Jackie Islas, ECC assistant; Kaitlin Pietan, teacher lead team; Kaela Eslinger, JH basketball coach.

Contracts: Ashley Toppin, assistant archery coach; Rachel Vaughan, assistant archery coach; Josh Kendrick, secondary para.