By China Cassidy On Tuesday, Nov. 10, the Holbrook Unified School District Governing Board announced that there will be special tutoring and weekend opportunities for high school students beginning, Nov. 23 and 24, which will take place on the new mobile learning bus. To ensure that the students succeed in their academic goals following a rocky start to the 2020-21 school year, the board approved the extra duty position that will allow certified staff to aide in those goals by offering Saturday school or special tutoring to students having trouble with their grades. Over the course of the first quarter when school initially started online for all students at HUSD, many students struggled with their grades. Parents pleaded with the district at public meetings to reinstate in-person learning because of the academic hindrance it was causing for their children. Since returning to in person learning, the district wanted to provide as many opportunities for the students to improve and maintain their grades. The instruction and tutoring will take place in a standard size school bus that has been remodeled to accommodate students and staff. The unit offers plenty of leg and walking space so that safe social distancing can be practiced. The mobile unit is equipped with desks, seats and plenty of study room for staff and students. After the district organizes the schedule, the mobile unit will begin making stops at designated areas to assist those needing help. “We would use our Mobile Learning Bus to go to communities and do tutorials and help kids catch up on their schoolwork,” offered Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich. The job description for the tutorial staff requires that instructors have a bachelor’s degree as well as an Arizona Teacher Certification. Koerperich offered, “It applies to certified teachers to help kids through tutorials.” Koerperich offered, “It is another way we are reaching out to students. We want to start with seniors, then HS students, then IWES (Indian Wells Elementary School) students that are doing online learning but are struggling in this area.” Tutorial staff will also be communicating with other teachers and the parents to ensure that the goals are being met and monitor progress.” For more information on the new mobile learning bus, contact the school district at (928) 524-6225. In other business, the board: * Authorized Board President Olivia Jaquez to sign the new terms and conditions of the building renewal grants including the Hulet Elementary School heating and cooling assessment and HJHS quad assessment. * Approved an updated Student Placement Agreement for the Northern Arizona University Student Placement for student teachers. * Authorized Paul Demuth as a qualified evaluator for the 2020-2021 school year following the completion of the Arizona School Administrator Qualified Evaluator level one training * Approved the credit card administrative procedure, which outlines proper procedures for credit card use. * Approved a recommendation to provide a class size differential pay stipend and a bus driver perfect attendance stipend. * Approved the Special Services Consortium Physical Therapy Addendum. The physical therapy addendum will allow HUSD to provide physical therapy for students as required by their individualized education plan. * Approved the support staff employment of Wayne Silvers as a transportation assistant mechanic. * Approved the support staff resignation of Henry Jackson, facilities worker and Michael Barela, bus driver. * Approved the Certified employment of Tiana Begay as a Park Elementary School first grade emergency substitute. * Approved the resignation of Rick Hurst, HHS math specialist. *Approved extra duty for Beth Plumb, Gishie Arviso, Shannon Knight, Jackie Saxton, Steven Carbonneau and Arletta Nez, each as HHS game help; Sylvia Jackson, HHS Ancillary Department Head, Greg Perkins, HHS head girls basketball coach; Frank Stacey, HHS assistant girls basketball coach; Delmar Johnson, HHS head boys basketball; Jeremy Madison, HHS assistant boys basketball; Victor Paz, HHS freshman boys basketball; Steven Carbonneau, HHS assistant wrestling; Jackie Saxton and Shannon Knight, both as ticket takers; Ramie Hatch, HHS math department head; Gishie Arviso, Holbrook Junior High School (HJHS) sports official; Aaren LaRose, HJHS head volleyball coach; Estefana Chavez, HJHS Title I tutoring; Leslie Baldonado, HJHS sports official; and Monica Sanchez, Park Elementary School year one mentor. *Approved volunteers Tess Baldonado, HHS line judge volleyball; Jose Luna, HHS Spiritline; Alaya Darling, HHS head cheer coach; Chelsea Hager, HHS assistant cheer coach; Artie Yazzie, HHS freshmen girls basketball; Alisha John Aberle, HHS assistant girls basketball; Olivia Richins, HJHS assistant volleyball; and Shane McGraw, HJHS wrestling coach. * Approved professional leave for Joel Daniels, Snowflake, Career and Technical Education Instructional Best Practices, Oct. 27-28; Casey Hancock, Phoenix, School Business Management Class, Nov. 6-7, at an estimated cost of $293.07; Daniel Mitchell and Barry Lambson, Phoenix, Esports Demo, Nov. 16; and Charles Haussman, Winslow, Business Leadership Summit, Nov. 6. * Approved expense and revolving fund vouchers totaling $492,782. * Approved payroll and expense vouchers totaling $1,350,920. * Approved personnel pay for transportation perfect attendance totaling $1,950; and professional development for Roni Orton, Luis Alvarez, Deb Koerperich and Laura Layden totaling $2000. * Approved a fundraiser for HHS girls basketball to do online popcorn sales. Estimated earnings will be $4000. * Acknowledged gifts and donations from Navajo County Government for cloth masks; Diary of a Wimpy Teacher donation to Mrs. Gardner, class set of dry erase pouches, class set of chalk, class set of bubbles, a balance ball, two large index card file boxes and two small index card file tabs, air-dry modeling clay for grades third through sixth to participate in a “self-care through art” project from Winslow Indian Health to Indian Wells; $500 for classroom supplies to Byron Bateman at HJHS from the Arizona Public Service (APS) Teacher Award; and a $5,000 donation from APS to the HHS. * Adopted Policy KFA Public Conduct on School Property. The policy revision updates the policy to include that “no person shall possess or engage in the use of medical marijuana on district property” as was recommended in the Oct. 6 meeting. * Adopted policy revision to Policy IHA Basic Instructional Program, which updates the policy to include the correct statute A.R.S. 319 when the previous version stated A.R.S. 139. * Adopted a revision of Policy KB Parental Involvement in Education to include the requirement to provide access to the Arizona Department of Education statutory handbook of parental rights on the district website following the recommendation to do so on Oct. 6. *Adopted a policy revision that outlines that information obtained about an employee or applicant for employment by the district in the performance of a background investigation, including any records indicating that a current or former employee of a school or school district was disciplined for violating policies of the School District Governing Board pursuant to A.R.S. 15-531 may be retained by the district and may be provided to any school district or other public school that is performing a background investigation. * Adopted the revision of Governing Board Policy GCG-R Part-time and Substitute Professional Staff Employment, which includes updating the long-term substitute rate to $170 per day as approved by the Board in September. * Adopted a revision to Policy JLCD-R Medicines/Administering Medicines to Students, which includes new guidelines pertaining to the administration of medicines by school personnel as recommended by the Arizona School Board Associations.
