Cellphone ban official in East Union handbook

AFTON - East Union students will have to put their phones away, at least during class.

Cellphones are officially banned at East Union during instructional time, with students recommended to leave their personal electronic devices in their lockers during the school day.

This decision, among other student handbook changes, was outlined and approved during this month’s board of directors meeting Monday. Both the elementary and secondary handbooks have been updated and approved.

These changes are part of a statewide ban on personal electronic devices, such as cellphones, smartwatches and laptops not provided by the school. The state has offered districts example policies to either completely ban them during instructional time or provide a space for students to store them.

East Union’s policy is universal across both the elementary and secondary schools. Elementary students will have an area in their class to keep their devices. Lockers will be provided to each secondary student, with an option to opt-out of a full lock available.

Elementary Principal Joan Gordon noted how she had changed her opinion on cellphones at her school over time. She said it’s important to give students access to their devices when they could potentially need them.

“Some years ago, I did not allow [cellphones] in my building. Too much trouble with the elementary kids,” Gordon said. “Then, it became apparent that we had quite a number of kids that were biking and walking to and from school, and that concerned me. I never ever wanted a child to be unsafe if something terrible happened to and from school.”

Besides the cell phone-related additions, and a few regular annual changes such as updating the staff list, lunch prices and supply list, other changes were made to student policy.

Following changes at the East Union Early Childhood Center, changes to the cost of programming will come. These adjustments aren’t final and will be approved in a future meeting to be added to the handbook.

Attendance and tardiness received an update. Unexcused tardy periods will give clearer punishments to students. A 30-minute detention will be given after three tardy periods and an hour detention at six. Subsequent detentions will give notice to the building administrator who will decide punishments up to an in-school suspension.

A requirement for students to present a note from their parents to return to the school after the day has started was removed, mostly due to the rule being unenforced and outdated.

A clearer definition of physical abuse was added to violations of the Good Conduct Code, adding “fighting” to a violation. Previously, this only included assault, which could be argued as needing to be convicted to serve as a violation.

Graduation requirements received a change, with the previous requirement of 54 credit hours being increased to 58.

Juniors will earn privileges to leave the school building for lunch a quarter into the year, and by the end of the first semester can leave the school during open periods. This is a change from the full privilege being awarded to all juniors at the start of the year.

Reasoning for this change was given to change the privilege as a reward for good academics. The school noted junior year is often the year with the largest workload for students.

In other East Union news...

Operational sharing with Murray and Diagonal school districts, Green Hills AEA and Iowa Juvenile Courts was approved to continue, with the following arrangements approved for 2026:

Superintendent, 50/50, Murray; school business official, 60/40, Diagonal; transportation director, 70/30, Murray; maintenance director, 80/20, Murray; social worker, 40/60, Green Hills; food service director, 80/20, Murray; school-based interventionist, 50/50, Iowa Juvenile Courts; ELL teacher, Murray; Spanish teacher, Murray.

Due to the amount shared between East Union and Murray, an idea for a shared meeting was floated to discuss the two district’s partnerships, although none was scheduled during Monday’s meeting.

East Union’s school calendar could change following a public hearing at next month’s meeting on Monday, July 21. The updated schedule would add two Mondays to the school calendar and end the school year before Memorial Day. These Mondays would be on Nov. 24 and Dec. 1 and make the last day of school May 22.

This year marks the end of two terms on the board held by Adam Tallmon and Jamie Buffington. The election for the two seats will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Nomination filing opens on Aug. 26, and ends on Sept. 19.

The remaining $1,096 of Class of 2025 funds will be transferred to the activity account. The yearbook and boys track activity accounts will receive the funds to eliminate negative balances.

Student fees will remain the same for the 2026 school year. Registration fee will continue at $50, student activity pass at $60, family activity pass at $250 and driver’s education fee at $375.

To offer an active Future Business Leaders of America chapter, East Union will compensate business teacher DJ Christensen as a sponsor for the chapter.

Board members Tallmon and Buffington were absent from Monday’s meeting.

The following contracts and resignations were approved:

Contracts: Tiffany Hoffman, ELA secondary teacher, one-year contract; James Hardy, secondary leadership team; Shayla Findley, secondary leadership team; Clarita Nelson, food service/cook; Aureyanna Reagan, ITC food service.

Resignations: Cindy Norma, elementary TAG teacher; Samantha Proffitt, elementary para.