WHS students offer their ideas to governing board members

One group presented the problem of student advocacy, stating that student voices were not being heard or taken seriously. Their solution to the problem was to ask for and gain assurance from members of the governing board and other administrators that student support would be given, and that they would be given the opportunity to act as advocates for themselves, and to behave as young adults.

The next group to present tackled the issue of Winslow youth not having many positive activities to take part in outside of school. The group showed an idea board for a recreation center they believed would help solve the problem. The center in their proposal included basketball courts, a weight room and a game room. It would be open to all ages all hours of the day. The group suggested using the abandoned Bashas’ building on North Park Drive for the center.

Both presentations were well delivered and warmly received by the board members.

Board member Allen Leonard said, “Congratulations to all of you. Public speaking can be tricky, and you all did great. I didn’t see any shaky hands.”

Also presented was a brief overview of instructor Nathan Brady’s Navajo Language course offered at WHS. Brady explained that his students are taught their lineage, how to introduce themselves properly, and their traditions and stories.

He went on to show the demographics at Winslow schools as having a 48 percent rate of Native Americans. Of 2,085 total students in the district, 995 of those are Native American. At WHS, 58 percent identify as Native American.

These numbers are important because it shows the diversity of Winslow schools, and reminds educators and administrators of some of the cultural differences the students face. For example, some students living on the reservation are required to put in hours of hard physical labor before they come to class on a daily basis. Some participate in traditional ceremonies that may take them away from school for days at a time. He explained that it is important to remain sensitive to circumstances that could contribute to learning discrepancies in the classroom.

Brady also thanked the board for the opportunity to present this information, and was thanked in return for his service to students at WHS. Brady will not be returning for the 2017-18 school year.

WHS Principal Justin Hartman declared that Brady will be missed, but that the Navajo Language program will continue at the school.

Information was given by Dr. Hartman regarding a new online learning program entitled, Edgenuity, which would replace the current A+ program used by students. The program would offer a more advanced interface, making it more difficult for students to skip through lessons and assure more learning takes place.

Hartman asked the Governing Board to form a learning and research committee to look in to the adoption of Edgenuity, and to vote to adopt the program at the next meeting.

District Business Manager Shirley Lomeli asked the board to award a contract to Joy Systems Inc., to purchase 800 used computers to be used throughout the district. Five bids were received by the district and Joy Systems came in at the lowest with all specific needs reached at a bid of approximately $125,000.

The board unanimously approved Leonard’s motion to award the contract.

Lomeli also presented the budget report for the month of April as being 84.49 percent of budget spent at 84 percent of the school year completed. These numbers are on track for the year.

Other motions carried were general and special education class sizes; the continuing partnership with the Navajo County Community College District (specifically Northland Pioneer College) to offer dual enrollment classes; personnel changes including the retirement of Navajo Language instructor Nathan Brady; moving the regular meeting of June 15 to 8 p.m. on June 22 to facilitate budget proceedings; and ratifying compensation vouchers by awarding a voucher of $500 as a supplement the first week of August 2017 to teachers, as opposed to late December by suggestion of the teaching staff.

Donations were accepted, including $92.46 to Bonnie Brennan Elementary from Sonic Night, $370.20 to Jefferson Elementary School from Box Tops for Education, $94.31 to Jefferson School from Sonic Night and $3.80 to Washington Elementary School from Box Tops for Education.

To wrap up the meeting, Superintendent Cyndie Mattox reported an accolade received from a national speaker, whose name was not recalled, at a conference, “Winslow has improved the most, and their graduation rate has improved the most.”

She also mentioned plans for furthering community outreach within the district. “We seek to understand,” Mattox said, referring to the goals of all within the district to continue improvement.