/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The Winslow Unified School District Governing Board met last week in a regular meeting and a scheduled work session. On the work session agenda was a discussion on the bus routes in the district and subsequently, the school schedule implemented this year.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Superintendent Cyndie Mattox said, “We know there were issues with our transportation system. There usually are, but it seems like it was worse this year. The one thing that seems to be missing is the use of our Transfinder software and we plan to use that more efficiently. It is an intense program that we need some training on.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The software is built to help school districts with their routing maps and where to put bus stops. “We bought that with the full intent to keep using it but then we had some turnover in the transportation department. We know that there are some things that need to be done with the bus routes.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
One of the issues that needs to be addressed, according to board member Joey Hartnett, is the amount of time students are spending on the bus. “We can’t have kids on non-airconditioned buses for more than 45 minutes. I know we have a bus driver shortage, but there has to be some way that we can shorten that time. That is the biggest complaint I get from parents.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Mattox said, “We had hoped that the staggering of start and release schedules would mitigate that and we are seeing that it hasn’t. We will be discussing that after fall break and may return to the previous schedule.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Board President Sharon Greenwood said, “I just would like to have the transportation rules published so that parents and students can see what their responsibilities are, and everyone knows what is going on.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The work session also included a conversation about money collected at sporting events. Greenwood mentioned the need for a point of sale system to keep track of the funds. Hartnett said, “This is public money, we need to make sure it is disbursed correctly and counted correctly. We need a two-person system to make sure that everyone is accountable. This would apply to ticket sales as well as concessions. We want to protect our employees and provide transparency to the public.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
Winslow High School Athletic Director Courtney Hendrix said, “I have done some research on point of sale (POS) systems and have found that there is a monthly fee associated with POS service but they pro-rate it based on our usage. So, in July when we don’t use it at all, we won’t be charged for that month. It is also based on how many tills we have. I would like to start with two tills, one for concessions one for entrance fees. To start, I found a company that will get us going for $1,200. If we get going now, we could have this implemented by winter sports.”
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The board took no action, as it was a work session discussion, the issue will appear on a future board meeting agenda.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The board discussed the process of hiring a new superintendent as well. Mattox will be retiring after the 2019-20 school year. The decision was made to utilize services provided by the Arizona School Board Association as they have done in the past. Those services include advertising the position and preliminary interviews. The job description and posting will be available publicly beginning Oct. 1 with discussion to appear on each meeting agenda until that date.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
In the regular meeting, the governing board:
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
* Approved the hiring of Janie Sandoval as a substitute teacher.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
* Approved extra duty stipends for Tyler Allen, band director at Winslow High School; Christine Chenowith, choir director; Elizabeth Grimes, Speech and Debate coach; and Brian Larsen, robotics coach.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
* Approved the transfer of Janine Barton from a classroom aide to the computer lab at WHS.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
* Approved out of state travel for WHS counselors Cecelia Lenz, Theresa Del Mar and Penny Brimhall to attend a conference at Fort Lewis College on Sept. 19-20. Fort Lewis College will provide funding for the trip.
/wp:paragraph
wp:paragraph
The next meeting of the Winslow Unified School District Governing Board will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, in the board room located at 800 N. Apache Ave.
/wp:paragraph
