Study Reveals Progress In Status Of AIMS Success At Holbrook Schools

In those grades, the district educates approximately 1,050 students, with Native Americans making up 64 percent of that group; whites, 21 percent; Hispanics, 12 percent; and black and Asian students, approximately three percent.

Of the 976 students taking the 2014 AIMS reading test, 762 passed, which equates to 81 percent, a nine percent increase over the previous year. That is four percent higher than the state average and 12 percent higher than the Navajo County average for the reading assessment.

Of the 989 students taking the 2014 AIMS math test, 590 passed, which equates to a 60 percent passing rate, up by four percent from the previous year. That was three percent below the state average and four percent above the county average.

Of the 392 students taking the 2014 AIMS science test, 192 passed, up 13 percent from the previous year. That rate is nine percent lower than both the state and county averages.

Of the 615 students taking the writing portion of the 2014 AIMS test, 301 passed, up six percent from the previous last year. That rate is three percent lower than the state average and four percent lower than the county.

According to the statistics, the white and black populations scored higher than the Hispanic and Native American populations in all areas, and in the science assessment, the margin was greater.

“White students tended to exceed the standards at a much higher rate and Native American students had a much higher rate of Falls Far Below scores than the other ethnic groups,” noted Koerperich.

Comparative data was presented of AIMS scores for all students tested in grades three through eight and grade 10 against 10 area school districts that are located on the Navajo Nation or are border town school districts. The figures show that Holbrook outperformed all schools except for one, but the schools were not listed by name.

Overall, district students outperformed the state average in every category for four-year graduation rates, with 100 percent of blacks graduating, 93 percent of whites, 81 percent of Native Americans and 77 percent of Hispanics.

In other business Oct. 14, the board:

* Approved policies that ensure the district provides adequate levels of Indian participation.

* Approved the annual financial report.

* Approved out of state travel for Ann Gardner and Robbie Koerperich to attend the School Violence, Safety and Security Conference scheduled Dec. 3-5 in Las Vegas, Nev.

* Approved out of state travel for Amber Dennis to attend the 2014 GEAR UP West Conference scheduled Oct. 26-28 in Seattle, Wash., at a cost of $1,500, which will be reimbursed by the GEAR UP grant.

* Approved a 60-day review period for Common Core Coach and Common Core Support Coach, reading lessons for grades three through six.

* Authorized the district to apply for Erate funding for technology infrastructure upgrades, as well as reimbursement for all telephone and Internet services, for the 2015-16 school year.

* Authorized acceptance of the $1,500 Western Growers Foundation grant for a school garden project at Indian Wells Elementary School.

* Approved Jerald Nez as a student teacher in the Holbrook High School Math Department during the second semester.

* Approved Robbie Kirkaldie for a guidance counselor internship at HHS during the second semester of the 2014-15 school year.

* Approved Rasheed Hollins as a student teacher at Hulet Elementary School during the spring semester of this school year.

* Approved Melissa John as a student teacher in the Park Elementary School Special Education Department during the spring semester of this school year.

* Approved the support staff hiring of Brianna Dick as a IWES substitute custodian; Aaren LaRose, Holbrook Junior High School special needs assistant; Gerrianne Bielefeldt, Hulet Elementary School substitute daycare worker; and Jimmie Lano and Brian Gohl, support staff supervisors.

* Approved the support staff resignations of Melinda Rose as Park School computer aide; Micah McClellan, HHS student cafeteria worker; Suli Kaufusi, computer services technician; Annie Bahe, IWES bus driver; and Jeremy Naranjo, HJHS special needs paraprofessional.

* Approved the certified staff hiring of Gishi Arviso, Debbie Shumway and Florence Trujillo as substitute teachers.

* Approved the certified staff resignation of Spencer Radzanowski as a substitute teacher.

* Approved extra duty for Faith Caffey as an HHS mentor; Bart Bowen, Shirley Yazzie, Derek Eckman and Jeff Strong, HHS Title I after school math tutorials; Delmar Johnson, HHS assistant boys’ soccer coach; John Paul Hunt, IWES sports official; Daniel Orton, IWES game official and professional development presenter; Dan Nielson, Lance Phaturos and Charles Haussman, as HHS professional development presenters; Elizabeth Baloo, HJHS Project Skilz coordinator; Hoby Wilhelm, IWES assistant cross country coach and Afterschool Fitness Club coordinator; Brian Gohl, auditorium technician; Connie McPherson, IWES and Park School professional development facilitator; Cheri Grau, IWES and Park School professional development presenter; Nichole Livingston, Renee Alley and Margarita Newton-Pender, Park School Intervention Assistance Team; Tim Newton-Pender, professional development presenter; Will Voelkerding, IWES English Language Learners tutoring; Dana Hendrix, Brian McMahon and Estefana Chavez, HJHS Title I tutoring; and Bailey Wilhelm, IWES sports official.

* Approved the donation of a $200 Target gift card from the Arizona Dairy Council.

* Approved professional leave for Beth Self to attend the Orff Workshop scheduled Sept. 12 and13 in Tempe at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; Sally O’Dell, Visions User Group Meeting, Sept. 17 in Snowflake at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; Jeff Meeks, Administrators Academy, Oct. 31 in Mesa at an estimated cost of $150 plus use of a district vehicle; Paul Demuth, Arizona Interscholastic Association meeting, Sept. 24 in Phoenix at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; and Jeff Font, Seon Bus Camera Systems, Sept. 17 in Flagstaff at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle.

Also, Daniel Orton, Athletic Directors meeting, Oct. 3 in Winslow at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; Teri Tafoya, Arizona School Boards Association Policy Bridge Training, Oct. 8 in Show Low at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; Robbie Koerperich, Fuel Up to Play 60, Sept. 29 in Tempe at an estimated cost of $54 plus use of a district vehicle; and Donna Campbell, Mike Meeks, Karalyn Reidhead, Carey Kester and Cheryl Carlson, Secondary Transition Mentoring Project/College and Career Readiness Team Training, Oct. 28 and 29 in Phoenix at an estimated cost of $2,674.94 plus use of a district vehicle.

Also, Alfred Clark, Navajo Nation Law and Order, Sept. 29 at Twin Arrows at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; Teresa White, Arizona Department of Education Training on new Career and Technical Education Enrollment System, Oct. 3 in Flagstaff at an estimated cost of $11 plus use of a district vehicle; Cheri Grau, Be Kind Project-Founder Meeting, Oct. 1 in Payson at an estimated cost of $16 plus use of a district vehicle; Alfred Clark, 21st annual Statewide Conference on Ending Homelessness, Oct. 21 and 22 in Phoenix at an estimated cost of $314.61 plus use of a district vehicle; and Connie McPherson, Jeri McKinnon and Mike McClellan, White Mountain Principals Group, Oct. 23 in Lakeside at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle.

* Approved expense and revolving fund vouchers totaling $650,603.20, and payroll and expense vouchers totaling $1,259,821.51. Those totals include expenses forprofessional development for Academic Focus Fitness Gram in the amount of $2,700; Park Elementary and IWES Teach Like a Champion professional development, $25,700; HJHS professional development, $13,000; HHS professional development, $20,928.44; special education Arizona Department of Education training, $543.25; professional growth for certified staff, $19,680; and professional growth for support staff, $5,768.78.

* Approved fundraisers, including October Breast Cancer Awareness Shirt sales by the HHS Spiritline for estimated earnings of $75; ticket sales to the Dec. 13 Winter Formal by the HHS Student Council for estimated earnings of $1,000; Class of 2016 February T-shirt sales for estimated earnings of $400; and Class of 2016 February Sonic card sales for estimated earnings of $1,000.

* Approved final adopted policy revisions recommended by the Arizona School Boards Association relating to board member conflict of interest, the board president’s role in approving agenda items, executive sessions and open meetings, agenda preparation and dissemination, fingerprint clearance requirement for support staff members, fingerprint requirements for noncertificated persons who may provide direct supervision of students; reduction of force of support staff; promotion and retention of students; graduation requirements; admission of nonresident students; student immunization requirements; student fees, fines and charges; and access to public records.