By L. Parsons The Winslow Unified School District Governing Board met last week and discussed the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) newly released guidelines for school children and COVID protocols in educational institutions. Those guidelines included the reduction in physical distance from six feet to three and the option for schools to remove any physical dividers they placed in their classrooms. The Arizona Department of Education also released a statement declaring they will still require mask usage in public and charter schools. Despite the change in CDC guidelines and in accordance with ADE, Despite the change in recommendations, WUSD Interim Superintendent Connie Gover said there will be no change at the district. “We discussed this as a leadership team and we decided that we will leave the protocols in place through the end of the school year, then we will come back in the summer and revisit it to determine what to do next.” That decision is shared with the Arizona Department of Education Winslow schools all require students, staff and teachers to wear face coverings in common areas of the buildings and physical distancing is enforced at each school site. The principals of both Washington Elementary School and Winslow Junior High School said that enrollment for in-person instruction this quarter has increased. Junior high Principal Deb Lopez said she has students returning for the fourth quarter that are far behind the standards set and students who have far exceeded the same standards. “(COVID) has been really eye opening in showing us how kids learn and operate. I think we will be taking some of these lessons in to the future with us,” she stated. In the absence of member Marilee Ervin, the governing board approved an award of contract to JBS Contracting in the amount of $1.6 million. The company will take on a roofing replacement project at Winslow High School this summer. Funds for the improvements will come from the School Facilities Board, a state government agency managing funds for repairs to Arizona schools. The vote of the governing board is in anticipation of the SFB approving the spending as well. In other business, the governing board: * Approved the ratification of vouchers in a routine procedure that allows the board to submit vouchers to the county superintendent between meetings. * Approved the hiring of Amanda Leonard as Washington Elementary School principal; Amy Smith and Michelle Jacot as academic coaches; Alyssa Howeth as a Jefferson Elementary School paraprofessional; Scott Corum as a baseball coach; and Darrell Nicola as a volunteer track coach. * Approved the transfer of Betsy Pollard from third grade teacher to Jefferson Elementary School reading specialist. * Approved the resignation of Jessica Dauphinais, Washington Elementary School special education teacher; Kylie Jones, sixth grade teacher; Samantha Kerr, WJHS English teacher; April Martinez, paraprofessional; and Jane Shannon, special education teacher. * Accepted the retirement of Cindy Greer, paraprofessional; Linda Guerrero, Bonnie Brennan secretary; and Sharon Pugh, Jefferson School reading specialist. * Accepted a retirement and return to work request from Debra Stace, sixth grade teacher and Steve Jacott, WHS assistant principal. * Approved the salary placement schedule for the 2021/22 school year in a routine annual procedure. * Approved a 2% increase in compensation to all district employees. * Heard the financial report from February. Business manager Shirley Lomeli stated, “We are still in good standing, the grants we were able to get this year really helped us.” As of last week, 67% of the school year had elapsed and 51.7% of the budget had been spent. The next meeting of the Winslow Unified School District Governing Board will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7 in the district training room, located at 800 N. Apache Ave.
