The governing board of the Winslow Unified School District met last week. During the meeting, Superintendent Cyndie Mattox gave an update and praised the staff of the district for their support of each other during the Red for Ed movement.

“During that time,” she said, “we knew some of our kids wouldn’t be eating, so we did extend our food service. Our Talon (Technology to Advance Learning Outcomes at Northland) and NAVIT (Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology) programs still ran, with Dr. Hartman covering the computer based classrooms and our busses still took our kids back and forth to NAVIT.”

Winslow teachers and students were out of their classrooms for a total of four days. Despite that, Mattox said, “Children do not have to come back for make up hours or make up time. High school graduation will be on the same day, the next day will run as it has for a hundred years.” Educators, however, will have to make up the four missed days, working until June 6.

On the first day teachers were asked to return to school, 74 percent of Jefferson Elementary School’s teachers took the day to continue their protest at the state capital. “Jefferson had 15 teachers out, 14 certified people filled those spots,” said Mattox.

Jefferson Elementary School Principal Jodie Gardner added, “The high school and junior high just jumped in and came to my rescue by sending me teachers, and then they showed up at bus duty.” Mattox continued, “This leadership team came together like I’ve never seen. It was like clockwork. All of those people coming together to keep kids safe was a good thing.”

Governing Board Vice President Joey Hartnett said, “I would like to thank the teachers and the community that supported or understood the recent Red For Ed movement, I know it inconvenienced many families and at times was painful. Thank you for bringing the lack of funding for education in Arizona to the forefront. Keep up the good fight and let’s get our student’s education back where it belongs.” Board member Al Leonard stated, “If we don’t get what we need, let’s do it again. Hopefully, our voices will be heard and some action will be taken and we will actually see the fruits of the labor.”

The governing board was also given a presentation by Dr. Rob Robertson from the Arizona Science Center. In it, Robertson explained the partnership between the center, Arizona Public Service (APS), and rural school districts. “The Arizona Public Service Foundation has given us several million dollars to continue our work through the next three years.” That work is bringing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to small rural school districts statewide. He continued, “We are part of the learning division of the Arizona Science Center and we have a very robust learning department. We touch about 500,000 students, educators, directors and parents each year.”

The APS rural communities grant allows the center to bring mobile STEM exhibits and interactive learning centers to districts like Winslow Unified School District. The grant also funds teacher training, teacher resources, and educational field trips including transportation for students in kindergarten through high school.

In other business, the board:

* Ratified vouchers in a routine procedure that allows the board to submit vouchers to the Navajo County School Superintendent between meetings.

* Accepted donations in the following amounts: $64 to Bonnie Brennan from Spirit and Pride; $91.60 to Bonnie Brennan from Box Tops for Education; $159.64 to Bonnie Brennan from Sonic Night; $247.07 to Jefferson Elementary School from schoolstore.com; $208.80 to Jefferson Elementary School from Box Tops for Education; $200 to Beth Bordner, Jefferson School Teacher from the Grand Masonic Lodge; and $4.80 to Washington Elementary School from Box Tops for Education.

* Approved an intergovernmental agreement between Winslow Unified School District and Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT) for 2018-2019, this is a routine annual procedure.

* Adopted a change in language to the Governing Board policy allowing instructional minutes as an alternate way to calculate the school year in addition to calculation by days.

* Adopted the revised budget for the 2018-2019 school year. The total budget for the district is $12.5 million, a $85,025 decrease from the previously adopted budget.

* Awarded a bid to VIG Solutions of Texas for computer equipment that includes 500 refurbished laptops for student use.

* Approved the 2018-2019 Proposition 301 plan that assures educators receive pay in a timely manner at the end and beginning of each school year.

The WUSD governing board meets in the district offices located at 800 N. Apache Ave. The schedule and agenda of meetings is located on the district website, www.wusd1.org.