Board Report - August 13

Board Reports

Board Members Hear Report on College Remediation Rates

Union students are demonstrating continued improvement in college readiness over a three-year period, said Dr. Kenneth Moore, executive director of Secondary Education (pictured), in an annual update on the state remediation report as required by Oklahoma law.

“It is important to mention that this is lagging data,” said Moore, as it represents Union students graduating in 2024. “By looking in the rearview mirror, we can establish some trend lines as we examine this data.”  

This report examines the 434 Union graduates who enrolled as first-time degree-seeking freshman in Oklahoma public higher education. Of those students, 112 students required some form of developmental educational support (or remediation), resulting in an overall developmental educational rate of 25.8 percent.

Remediation rates by subject area are as follows:

• Mathematics and Reading – 72 students (16.6 percent)
• English – 25 students (5.8 percent)
• Science – 4 students (0.9 percent)

“Nearly three-quarters of our students are college-ready,” said Moore, “and the trend data is also encouraging, as our overall developmental education rates have improved over the last three years.”

In 2022-23, they were at 29.4% percent, compared with 28.6 percent in 2023-24 and 25.8 percent in the latest report. “This is a reduction of 3.6 percentage points over the last two years, indicating increased college readiness,” he said.

Statewide data shows that 28.7 percent of Oklahoma graduates in public colleges require remediation, so Union is approximately 3 percentage points below the statewide average, meaning our students are better prepared.

“Our downward trend in developmental education rates suggests that ongoing college and career readiness initiatives are positively influencing student readiness for post-secondary success,” said Moore.  

Reading Tutoring Program to Benefit Union’s Elementary Sites

The Board of Education approved an agreement with Reading Partners to provide tutors at all of Union’s elementaries for $120,000, using state funds provided through the Strong Readers Act.

Reading Partners will provide a structured, evidenced-based, volunteer tutoring program for our students, explained Executive Director of Elementary Education Theresa Kiger (pictured).  Reading Partners will offer students a one-to-one, 45-minute session twice a week during the 2026-2027 school year.

Reading Partners became part of the Tulsa educational landscape in 2013, when it began placing community volunteers in under-resourced schools to help kids master basic reading skills. Its individualized tutoring model empowers students to succeed in reading and life by engaging community volunteers to provide individualized, personal attention to each student in its program.

The reading tutoring program will be offered to 11 of Union’s elementaries with scholarships provided at no cost to Cedar Ridge families.

In other action, the Board:

• Renewed an agreement for $120,320 with Jamf Pro for a two-year subscription of its mobile device management software to remotely manage 6,000 district iPads, including loading applications, updating system software, locating lost iPads and controlling the functionality of iPads used by students.
• Renewed its agreement with Tulsa Community College to continue offering concurrent education programs, including its EDGE: Earn a Degree, Graduate Early program.
• Approved a five-year agreement with CaseWare International Inc. for use of software to help prepare Union’s annual comprehensive financial report, using bond funds at an estimated cost of $91,080.
• Approved a contract with Career Tech for $101,750 for programs at the 8^th Grade Center, Freshman Academy and the High School.

 

Board Approves Bid For PAC Improvements

Board members accepted a bid of $875,672 from Bronze Oak, LLC., for improvements at the Union Performing Arts Center in the High School, using bond funds as approved by voters.

Dr. Josh Robinson, director of Operations (pictured), said the project will provide for a new orchestra shell and sound panels along the walls of the PAC. The shell is outdated and the work will improve the sound quality of performances at the facility.

In a separate project, the Board approved an agreement for $461,412 with Trane US Inc. for a chiller overhaul at the Union Collegiate Academy at the High School.

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