A year in the books: Jackson's East Elementary finishes its first school year

Because of a $16 million bond issue approved by Jackson voters in 2012, a brand-new elementary school caused attendance lines to be redrawn, shifting students and teachers from different schools to what district officials said would be a more logical transportation scenario.

They also touted the additional and much needed classroom space the 105,000-square-foot East Elementary School would provide at its 15-acre campus on North Lacey Street.

For many parents, the school's opening was an exciting time, but also an adjustment.

"We were a little nervous because we had been at South (Elementary) for so long and we loved South, but the transition was wonderful," said Jamie Kiefer, whose two sons, Owen and Evan, began attending East Elementary during the school year that just ended.

Not only were students like them shifted over from South Elementary, but also West Lane and Orchard. Then, other students from the Gordonville area were moved to South.

Austin Culbreath listens to his third-grade teacher, Rhonda Farrow, read a story during class Thursday at East Elementary in Jackson.Glenn Landberg

For the Kiefers, the new routine proved to be an upgrade, since they live much closer to Lacey Street and didn't have to deal with as much traffic in the morning.

Any small worries they might have had about attending a new school were canceled out by the newly built facility, which has bright colors and a simple layout that have helped Kiefer's third- and fifth-graders get used to things quickly, she said.

Principal Jessica Maxwell, who also came over from South Elementary, said she and her new staff -- many from all over the Jackson School District -- worked hard to ensure a smooth transition not only for students and parents, but for teachers, too.

"I think, to me, my biggest focus was just to have a positive environment," she said.

While all the new teachers were ready to follow the curriculum, they also needed to establish common goals and work toward a common vision.

Dru Eller listens to his third-grade teacher, Rhonda Farrow, read a story during class Thursday at East Elementary in Jackson.Glenn Landberg

So, before the school's first year kicked off in August, Maxwell held meetings throughout the summer to help establish those benchmarks and allow everyone to get to know each other better.

They soon agreed the school should operate according to its motto of being respectful, responsible and safe, and its overarching acronym of Everyone Achieving Success Together (EAST).

Those are no small goals with about 400 K-5 students and about 300 more in the school's early-childhood wing.

"That's something that kind of makes us unique. We're the only building (in the district) that holds preschool," Maxwell said.

All of the early childhood students migrated from South Elementary, allowing for the program's additional growth. They are overseen by 11 teachers, and classes are staggered to accommodate their numbers.

Three-year-olds attend in the morning and 4-year-olds come in during the afternoon.

The decision to base the early childhood program at East Elementary came about because it had outgrown its space at South Elementary. Overflow there was being accommodated at rented space in a church across the street, Maxwell said, "and we did that for years."

Aside from everyday challenges, such as establishing a schedule for waxing floors and making sure young students didn't get lost in hallways or on stairs, which no other building in the district has, Maxwell said the school's first year went well.

Although MAP scores are not yet available, 86 percent of East's students are reading on grade level. Disciplinary referrals are lower than she's seen in past roles, at 104 for the year or less than one a day.

Although the school's Parent Teacher Organization had to be built from scratch with intense fundraising, every student had an opportunity to attend at least one field trip during the year, said PTO president Heather Brugman, who also helped raise money for fun mainstays such as play day, milk-and-cookie day and Teacher Appreciation Week.

Next year, Brugman said she plans to get more feedback from teachers to gauge what might help students even more.

ljones@semissourian.com

388-3652

Pertinent address:

455 N. Lacey St., Jackson, Mo.