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Principals cite mixed report-card results, rising discipline and attendance concerns at Union County schools
Summary
School leaders reported mixed academic gains and declines: Foster Park Elementary showed growth in ELA and math, while Union County High School reported higher graduation rates but falling EOC results in some subjects and rising discipline incidents including THC vape 'dab pens'.
District principals presented school-report-card overviews at the Nov. 24 meeting, highlighting areas of growth and concern across grade levels.
Dr. Fran Adams, principal of Foster Park Elementary, told trustees the school’s report-card index was about 46 and noted gains in English-language arts (ELA) and math—the school recorded its highest percentages in recent years for those subjects and reported notable gains on progress measures. Dr. Adams described targeted interventions, strengthened tier-one instruction and an intervention block called Lift as drivers of improvement, and said the school will continue to focus on reading comprehension and acceleration for students who are already performing at grade level.
At Union County High School, the principal reported a 51 report-card score and said the graduation rate rose to 83.6%, the highest recorded for the school. The principal also said college- and career-ready indicators improved. However, several end-of-course tests declined, with biology falling by roughly 13 percentage points and U.S. history also down, which the principal attributed in part to staffing shortages and test participation patterns (students who drop out can be counted as zeros if they miss the exam).
School leaders described interventions meant to support academic outcomes: additional morning “jacket time” tutoring, targeted remediation and credit-recovery options, scheduled tutoring and attendance-recovery opportunities. The high school also reported discipline challenges: a rise in fights and an increase in incidents involving THC vape devices (referred to in the meeting as “dab pens”). The principal outlined the disciplinary response: suspensions for possession (two days for a first offense; longer suspensions and counseling or recommendation for alternative placement for repeat or THC-related offenses), parent notification and an option to complete five counseling sessions through a vendor (Innovations) to return early from a THC-related suspension.
Why it matters: The report-card data show progress in some areas but persistent gaps and operational challenges—staffing, attendance and student conduct—that the district says require continued attention and resources.
Direct remarks: “We are proud of where we are, but we also know where we can go,” Dr. Adams said. The high-school principal noted that while graduation-rate initiatives have succeeded, the school must still address test-score declines and a growing share of discipline incidents tied to vaping products.
Next steps: Principals asked for continued support for instructional coaches, consistent PLC time and resources for remediation and intervention; board members discussed potential staffing strategies and operational supports to reduce discipline incidents and improve instructional time.
Provenance: Report-card presentations and Q&A took place during the board’s informational agenda and included follow-up questions from trustees.
