By Linda Kor During a meeting of the Holbrook Unified School District Governing board last week, the board approved a contract with WestEd, a nonprofit organization that is a research, development and service agency that works to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children. Information provided by Hulet and Park elementary schools Principal Kevin Fosburgh states that one of the key initiatives of WestEd is Academic Parent Teacher Teams (APTT), which is a model of family engagement that is grounded in the notion that schools can thrive when families and teachers work together, as genuine partners to maximize student learning inside and outside of school. The model is research-based and aligns grade-level learning concepts, student performance data, and family-teacher communication and collaboration. At the core of the APTT process are two types of teacher-family meetings, each facilitated by a classroom. The first is a team meeting. Teachers facilitate three 75-minute team meetings each year, each consisting of the teacher meeting with the families of all of the teachers’ students. The team meetings give families opportunities to learn and contribute in a collaborative environment. Important grade-level information and effective home practices are learned and exchanged. Once per year, for each student, the teacher holds a 30-minute individual session with the student and the student’s family to provide individualized personal support. Individual sessions offer opportunities for families and teachers to deepen their relationship as partners, discuss each student’s progress at home and at school, and collaboratively create a course of action to support student growth and improvement. According to Fosburgh, Park and Hulet elementary schools are excited to provide this progressive way to engage families in their child’s learning and to make authentic connections and supports for families. The program cost of $45,000 will be paid using Elementary and Secondary School Relief Funds as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. That cost includes an initial two-day professional development for administrators and teachers. WestED will then send a trainer out to support teacher planning with each grade-level team three times a year prior to the team meetings. During the APTT meetings, they will conduct classroom observations three times per year. They will also facilitate a debrief session and plan for involvement with the school leadership team three days a year as well as support the principal in conducting a family focus group at the end of the school year. In other business, the board: * Approved the school year 2021-22 Open Enrollment Insurance Program. * Approved the updated network administration job description and a contract for Ryan Fraley. * Approved the updated data controller job description and addendum, the revised Computer Specialist I job description and addendum, and an additional Computer Specialist I position for the district. * Approved the behavior specialist job description and the eSports extra duty job description. * Approved the renewal of the client service agreement with Educational Services Incorporated for the 2021-2022 school year. * Approved Apptegy Thrillshare as a sole source vendor to allow district to update websites, push notifications, text messaging and social media platforms. * Approve the broadcasting club at HHS as a new club and as a tax credit and student activity program. The broadcasting club will prepare media content, publications and videography for HHS. * Approved Monica Liddle to student teach at HHS in the fall of SY 2021-22. * Approved the support staff employment of Velma Winslow, food services substitute worker; and Jesse Knight, student grounds/custodian. * Approved the support staff resignation of Debora Powers, Hulet Preschool aide; Mary Candelaria, HHS registrar; and Alicia Burnard, Holbrook Junior High School attendance/A-Team. * Approved the retirement of Sally O’Dell, district office/purchasing, (retire/return to work); and Leroy Black, Indian Wells Elementary School bus driver. * Approved the certified employment for SY 2021-22 of Mary Mondragon, transfer from Park Elementary kindergarten to Hulet Preschool; Brianna Allison, transfer from Park Elementary kindergarten to HJHS special education; Linda McMahon, transfer from HJHS special education to HHS special education; Luis Alvarez, transfer from IWES reading specialist to IWES fifth grade teacher; Bernice Gover, transfer from IWES fifth grade teacher to IWES reading specialist; Aira Austria, HHS English teacher; Mari Smithson, transfer from Hulet Elementary fifth grade teacher to Hulet Elementary fourth grade teacher; David Smith, transfer from HJHS industrial arts to HHS construction; and Peggy Reid, transfer to Park Elementary kindergarten from Hulet Elementary second grade. * Approved the certified staff resignation of Lou Ann McLaws, HHS assistant volleyball coach; Lisa Billie, Hulet Elementary fourth grade; Carey Kester, HHS special education; Tim Yazzie, HHS math; Cynthia Wilhelm, IWES special education; Sam Niver, HHS English; and Karissa Calamity, IWES first grade teacher. * Approved the certified staff retirement of Dr. Charles Haussman, HHS vice principal (retirement/return to work); Jennifer Ceccarelli, Hulet Preschool; Adrian Tubbs, HHS autos/construction; Shirley Yazzie, HHS math; and Frank Stacey, HHS science. * Approved extra duty for Lisa Larson, Hulet Preschool CPR certification training; Dawna Bitsoiem, IWES First Things First stipend; Lelia Demuth, HHS game help, tickets; Aaren LaRose, HHS game help, scorekeeper; Cary Simpson, Stephanie Brosius, Ben Copollo, Ramie Hatch, Callie Jensen, Jerald Nez, Sam Niver, Ina Overson, Melicia Thompson and David Wallace, each for HHS tutorial; Mary Mondragon, Hulet Preschool special education CPR training; Jennifer Ceccarelli, Julia Fairbanks, McKayla Korkosz, Sharon James, Tina James, Becky Naranjo, Tiffany Slade, Lori Reynolds, each for Hulet Daycare CPR training; Angie DelCollo, HHS assistant Spiritline coach; Kassandra Grabowski, HHS head Spiritline coach; Laura Layden, Park Elementary mentoring; Debbie Koerperich and Suzanne Powell, both for IWES mentoring; Saraphania Benally, Dee Dunaway, Stephanie Peters, Jessica Hubbard and Chantelle Taylor, each for Hulet Elementary mentoring; Karen Estridge, Beth Plumb and Brandi Butler, each for HJHS mentoring; and Cary Simpson, HHS mentoring. * Approved professional leave for Cary Simpson, Lindah Straw, Ivah Sample, Josh Raisor, Alshina Nez, Gishie Arviso, The Learning Bus, Indian Wells, April 9, for tutoring; and Jerald Nez, Ina Overson and Callie Jensen, The Learning Bus, Indian Wells, April 10, for tutoring. * Approved expense and revolving fund vouchers totaling $402,134, and payroll and expense vouchers totaling $737,921. * Approved a fundraiser, Roadrunner Rumble 7 on 7 and Big Man Challenge for HHS football for estimated earnings of $2,500.
