HJHS decreases waste by 6,782 water bottles

According to Braylee, the student council’s goal was to decrease the amount of plastic usage this year by offering the students an alternative. “Our maintenance department has purchased and installed an additional water filling station in the music building,” said Braylee. She noted that in the three months since installing the station they have saved 2,753 plastic bottles from the A building, 3,769 from the cafeteria and 260 from the music building. “Our goal is to save at least 7,000 water bottles by the end of the school year,” added Braylee.

Eliana also informed the council that they have ordered red Holbrook Roadrunner water bottles for each member of the student body. The water bottles will be issued on the first day of school after returning from spring break. “We hope this will motivate students to refill their water bottles and save thousands of plastic bottles every year,” said Eliana.

Following their presentation, governing board president Olivia Jaquez expressed her enthusiasm for their efforts and asked how they plan to address the likelihood of a novel coronavirus outbreak. “I would just like to say congratulations on saving so many bottles, that’s an awesome job that you guys have done. On another note, what is it that the junior high doing with this whole coronavirus that’s going on?” asked Jaquez.

Eliana responded, saying that nothing is being done as of yet. “We’re making sure that all classrooms have sanitizer. We’re making sure classrooms are clean. Teachers, I know are wiping down desks but nothing too serious yet. If it comes to the point where we need to take action, we will probably do something about it,” said Eliana.

Beth Plumb, who is the student council advisor at the junior high added, “One thing that the student council did promote, and with Mr. Gohl’s help, was they were able to put sanitizing stations above all the sinks in the junior high and in all the bathrooms and in all the classrooms. Everywhere that there is a sink.”

Eliana also announced that the student council is in the process of planning their spring fling. “We will hold Spring Fling, Friday, May 1, and we are planning games, music, concessions and equipment needed,” added Eliana.

Also there to update the board were representatives from the Holbrook High School Student Council Natahsa McLaws, Andres Aguilera, Dominick Damper, Bianca Little and Malachi Daniels.

Recently, the HHS Student Council had the opportunity to join students from all over the state at the Arizona State University Convention. Each student took turns highlighting which part of the event they benefitted from most. Sophomore Dominick recounted his experience and expressed his appreciation for the guest speakers who told stories of struggles and how to overcome them using their own personal experiences.

“While on my trip to state, I had the fortunate opportunity to hear guest speaker Evangeline Parker give her talk. Mrs. Parker happened to be my favorite guest speaker because she talked about the struggles she overcame through hard work and dedication but more so because she shared a message of patriotism and Jesus.”

He shared her explanation of how health issues threatened to hinder her dreams of becoming a singer but through faith and persistence, she overcame the ailments and has since lived out her dreams.

Dominick said, “What made me especially happy was the presence of 3,000 student council members from all over Arizona chanting ‘USA, USA, USA.’ The unity in the room was absolutely amazing and made me proud to be an American.”

Malachi also announced that the HHS Student Council would be hosting their Mr. Roadrunner Pageant on April 30. Anyone seeking more information can contact the High School at (928) 524-6144.

When presented with the school reports, board member Craig Stuart asked why the attendance at the elementary level is dropping. Hulet Elementary School Principal Kevin Fosburgh informed him it was because of cold and flu season.

In other business, the board:

* Approved the fiscal year 2021 first year certified faculty placement schedule, substitute placement schedule, and special assignment positions salary schedule including math, science, special education and Indian Wells Elementary positions.

* Approved the administrator placement schedule; and certified staff extra duty daily, hourly and periodic pay stipends; and special assignment stipend schedule as presented for SY 2020-21.

* Approved a 3.5 percent increase in salary for all certified teachers, administrators and salaried employees for the 2020-2021 school year.

* Approved school year 2020-21 continuing contracts for the 20-21 school year for Dr. Jeff Meeks, Kevin Fosburgh, Dr. Jeri McKinnon, Andrea Tomlin, Dr. Charles Haussman, Jacob Boyle, Barry Lambson, Brenda Mangum, Brian Gohl, Shawn Tow, Janelle Chee and Ray McLaws.

* Approved the 2020-2021 administrator and salaried employee contracts.

* Approved the Special Services Consortium Agreement for the 2020-2021 school year. The agreement includes six additional days of occupational therapy for students attending HUSD. The additional days are warranted based on additional needs due to new enrollments.

* Approved the school year 2021-22 school calendar; as well as, the four-day calendar for Indian Wells Elementary School.

* Approved a student services job description. The student services position is being recommended as an alternative to a counseling position if a certified and qualified counselor position is not able to be filled.

* Approved Tiana Begay for a student teaching placement for the fall semester of school year 2020-21.

* Approved for final reading policies pertaining to professional staff salary schedules, evaluation of professional staff members and professional/support staff bereavement leave for first reading. The policy updates are minor technical changes that will be applied to the manual update.

* Approved policies pertaining to support staff salary, dual enrollment and student wellness.

* Authorized rescinding and nullifying the current Governing Board Policy Manual and approved retaining selected documents from the predecessor manual adding new and modified documents for a new manual.

* Authorized HUSD to apply for E-Rate funding for the 2020-2021 school year.

* Approved the support staff hiring of Gerrianne Bielefeldt, Hulet daycare assistant; Evangelita Salazar, Indian Wells Elementary School cafeteria worker; Melissa Olson, Holbrook High School attendance; Myrtle Pizell and Monica Trujillo, both as substitute custodians.

* Approved the resignations of Allison Maxwell, Hulet daycare assistant; and Rochelle Nez, bus monitor.

* Approved the retirement of Connie McPherson, Park Elementary School principal; and Lance Phaturos, HHS principal.

* Approved extra duty for Paul Demuth, HHS assistant track; Dr. Jeff Meeks, Special Ed Director increase in days school year 2020-21; Ray McLaws, Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Program, $736; Nora John, Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Program, $669; Aaren LaRose, Holbrook Junior High School basketball official; Arletta Nez, HJHS assistant boys track coach; Hoby Wilhelm, IWES soccer head coach; Barry Lambson, network administrator and tech assessment coordinator (stipends); Jacob Boyle, support services director stipend; Brian Gohl, custodial services (stipend); and Jeff Meeks, student service (stipend).

* Approved volunteers Alaya Darling and Chelsea Hager, HHS winter heads Spiritline; Michael Meeks, HHS band chaperone; Terri Lester, IWES assistant softball; and Ryan Attakai, IWES head softball coach.

* Approved professional leave for Judy Jones, Snowflake, Travel Workshop, March 3, at an estimated cost of $100, plus use of a district vehicle; Shawn Tow, Laughlin, Nev., Arizona Association of School Business Officials, April 1-3, at an estimated cost of $420, plus use of a district vehicle; Laurie Jones and Kaylene Bitsilly, Phoenix, Train the Trainer, May 1, at an estimated cost of a district vehicle; Karalyn Reidhead, Amanda Remos and Patty Singer, Litchfield, Arizona Speech-Language-Hearing Association, April 3-4, at an estimated cost of $2,254, plus use of a district vehicle; Janelle Chee, Window Rock, Indian Education Committee, March 3, at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; Charles Haussman and Lance Phaturos, Snowflake, Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology, March 5, at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; Ray McLaws, Dilcon, USDA Foods school year 2021 catalog requisition training, March 6, at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; and Shawn Tow, Flagstaff, Transportation Administrators of Arizona, June 23-25, at an estimated cost of $919, plus use of a district vehicle.

* Approved expense and revolving fund vouchers totaling $343,447 and payroll and expense vouchers totaling $1.4 million.

* Approved fundraisers including HHS wrestling March through May youth wrestling, with an entry fee of $25 per child for estimated earnings of $700. * Approved a donation of $2,257 from the Holbrook Kiwanis Quiz Nite.