By L. Parsons The Winslow Unified School District Governing Board met last week. The meeting was held in the boardroom, however, due to pandemic recommendations, it was also broadcast on the video conferencing platform, Zoom. On the agenda for the meeting was the previously tabled district calendar discussion. Board members and Superintendent Kathryn Zanin engaged in a discussion and subsequent approval of the districtwide calendar that will begin with the 2021-22 school year. The new schedule will have a July start date, a one-week break in October, a week long break at the Thanksgiving holiday, a two-week break in the winter and a one-week break in the spring. When asked to clarify the calendar decision, Superintendent Zanin provided a link to the school website at www.wusd1.org but as of press time it did not yet reflect the new schedule. The website does, however, feature a new COVID dashboard under the resources tab. As discussed in the governing board meeting, the dashboard will reflect each positive case detected in WUSD, the date it was detected and the school site where it was detected. In a follow up letter from Zanin to the families of WUSD dated Nov. 5, she noted, “WUSD administrators identify and communicate positive cases to the proper sites and leadership teams. “Administration and health technicians determine the area that the staff member or student used while on campus and the time frame in which this occurred. The students, families and staff members who are directly impacted are contacted by phone and a letter. All surfaces are properly sanitized and disinfected prior to students and staff returning to the impacted classroom.” The board was also briefed on the partnership with the Navajo County Public Health Department. Director Jeff Lee explained the BanixNow Rapid tests will be distributed to Navajo County schools, including Winslow to help mitigate testing laboratory gridlock. “Each organization will determine how to best use them,” he said. Navajo County Public Health will provide training on the administration of the tests and the county is expecting a total of 35,000 kits that will be administered to people who are asymptomatic. Following Lee’s presentation, the board approved use of the test kits. During the call to the public, Winslow citizen and WUSD employee Steve Henling said, “I had written out a couple of things but it all comes down to one. If people are afraid of the COVID and the spread of COVID, there are opportunities to stay home. If people are okay with the risks, they have the opportunity to send their kids to school.” He continued by explaining that his own children have been attending school because they need the social interaction and opportunity for sports and academics. Winslow Police Chief Ken Arend also presented information to the governing board. He spoke about a software program titled “Catapult- We Tip It.” The software, according to a marketing video shown to the governing board along with Arend’s comments would allow WUSD students to make reports to staff as well as to law enforcement. Arend said, “This will give students an anonymous way to report issues such as bullying or child abuse, or any other issues they may be dealing with at home or at school directly to school staff. The school then partners with the Winslow Police Department and we are informed of anything that may need a response from us.” The governing board took no action and tabled the item due to lack of information on the cost of the software. The governing board convened to an executive session to discuss what was labeled on the agenda as “matters relating to school safety operations or school safety plans or programs.” No discussion or action was taken following the more than hour-long session. In other business, the governing board: * Ratified vouchers in a routine procedure that allows the board to submit vouchers to the County Superintendent between meetings. * Accepted a donation of $5,000 from Arizona Public Service “Supply My School” to Bonnie Brennan Elementary. * Accepted a donation of a $100 gift card from Lakeshore to Jefferson Elementary School Media Technician Carleen Walton. * Accepted the resignation of Anita Green as a substitute teacher. * Approve the termination of Kylee Allen as a Washington Elementary paraprofessional. * Approved extra duty stipends for organizing athletics and activities at Winslow Junior High School for Stephanie Lymer and Gina Williams. * Approved fiscal year school level reporting as required by the Arizona Department of Education. * Authorized Zanin as the signer on the National School Lunch Program Food Program Permanent Service Agreement in a routine procedure. * Authorized Zanin as the signer for the annual Impact Aid Grant application. * Approved a Proposition 301 plan. When asked to clarify what the plan is, Zanin replied, “301 Plan is the Teacher Performance Pay, which they must complete to receive the funding associated with it.” * Adopted a regulation IKA-R grading/assessment system. When asked for clarification on IKA-R, Zanin said, “IKAR is a Governing Board Policy related to grading.” She also provided a web link to the board policies. However, the link did not reflect any changes or information on the specific policy. * Approved the Indian Education Policy and Procedures by the Indian Education Committee in a routine, annual procedure. * Discussed registration for the Arizona School Board Association Conference to be held virtually on Dec. 3 and 4. The next meeting of the WUSD Governing Board will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18, in the board meeting room, located at 800 N. Apache Ave.
