By Linda Kor The Holbrook Unified School District met last week to learn about the results of a variety of surveys that were presented to parents and students regarding the last school year. The principals presented parental surveys from the parent/teacher conferences in the fall and spring as well as surveys from students at exiting grade levels, which are the fifth and sixth grade students at Indian Wells, and the eighth graders and 12th graders at Holbrook Junior High and Holbrook High School. Kevin Fosburgh, principal at Hulet Elementary School reported for both Hulet and Park Elementary. He said the survey turnout was less than normal as they were virtual. There were 181 parents responding to the survey and some of the highlights include that almost 80% of the respondents with children attending Park Elementary School rated the program highly effective. “They also talked about how their students were struggling at the beginning of the year but then they started to rise to the occasion. There were a lot of comments that spoke to our intervention programs such as our SPED (special education) teachers and reading specialists and the things that they’re doing to help our unique learners excel,” stated Fosburgh. Regarding internet and electronics in the home, at the elementary level, overwhelmingly the students had access to electronic communication and hotspots. The fifth grade had a large online group and the exit survey had 59% participation. More than half of the participants strongly agreed that they felt prepared to move on to the next grade level at the junior high. Hulet Elementary School implements the Positive Behavior Interventions & Support (PBIS) system and according to the survey, 80% said the school did a good job teaching the students what the school rules are, which are Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe and Be Kind. At Holbrook Junior High School, Principal Cheri Grau stated that 137 students responded to the survey. Of the 80 responses, 68.8% felt the school was highly effective last fall. Student response showed 80% had good internet access, 21% said they had limited access and two said they did not have access. In the spring less students said they had access to the internet but the reasons were not listed. Students noted overall that the biggest success of the year was being able to maintain their grades. As far as feeling prepared for the transition into high school, 52% said maybe and 42% said yes and the remainder percentage said no. At the high school, Principal Dr. Jeri McKinnon reported only 36 parents took the survey but added that this is pretty true from previous years. Of those, 61% rated the education program highly effective but in general the comments were very negative this year. Citing some of the comments McKinnon said, “One parent felt like we never fully addressed their concerns, praise for math and science, English really needs to step it up, NAVIT program is really affected. All of this is shared with teachers so that we can improve in these areas.” The parent survey also showed 80.6% had internet access, 16% had limited and 70% had access to hotspots. When asked what their aspirations were for their children after graduation, 72% said college and 8.3% to attend vocational school. “In reality, we need to change that mindset somewhat because 72% of our kids are not going to be college bound. We really need to start recruiting for our careers, or our CTE (Career and Technical Education) programs,” said McKinnon. “That’s what’s going to be most successful for our kids. As one parent commented, because her son had gone through the NAVIT (Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology) program, he is now excited to go to college and he can work and help himself self-support his college,” explained McKinnon. From the students, McKinnon said there were also a lot of negative comments but believes it wasn’t due to lack of internet but primarily to lack of self-management. “We noticed as the year went on, they got better at it. We had some kids fail first semester and came back and passed second semester. I had a stack of grade sheets on my desk where they made up the first semester,” she said, adding that students were not familiar with the virtual format and that at one time the school had 500 students on a virtual format. On the senior survey, there were only 15 respondents. Of those, 53.3% either strongly agreed or agreed that the quality of instruction was good. There were 26.7% who were neutral. Regarding whether seniors felt satisfied with the level of counseling support and guidance, 14.3% strongly agreed, 40% agreed, with 40% neutral. For more details on complete survey results, contact the individual schools. In another presentations, District Business Manager Casey Hancock presented the board with information pertaining to the district’s impact aid and Projects Coordinator Julie Fields spoke to board regarding an action research project, which included an online survey conducted with parents in the district and had 159 respondents. When asked if the schools communicated during the COVID 19 pandemic, 70% agreed, 20% were neutral and 8% disagreed and some stated they didn’t know. In other business, the board: * Approved the Governing Board statement pertaining to Indian Wells Elementary School operating on a four-day week schedule to be sent to the Arizona Department of Education School Finance Department. * Approval of Governing Board meeting dates for the 2021-2022 school year. * Authorized all governing board members, superintendent, and executive secretary to attend all Arizona School Boards Association sponsored conferences during the 2021-2022 school year. * Approved out of state travel for Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich to attend West Ed Board meetings in October, January, April and July. * Reviewed Dr. Koerperich’s performance pay goals and consideration of performance pay outcomes. * Approved the Special Services Consortium Agreement addendum. The addendum increases the Special Services Consortium Agreement with Navajo County to provide services at the district. The Holbrook School District is requesting to increase physical therapist days by 26 additional days due to caseload. This will be an increase of $17,030. * Approved the SY 21-22 HHS handbook addendum items. The handbook addendum includes classroom use of cell phone guidelines and an addition of a parking lot policy that requires all drivers using the high school parking lot to possess a valid Arizona driver’s license. * Approved an award Request for Proposal to Arizona Psychological Services for SY 21-22 with the option to renew annually. The Holbrook School District solicited bids for counseling service for Indian Wells Elementary School and Holbrook Junior High School. The request for proposal is completed with one respondent, Arizona Psychological Services. The RFP is renewable each year up to five years. * Approved Superintendent Koerperich to issue a bid for air quality devices to the lowest responsive bidder aligned to the invitation. * Approved the support staff employment of Horacio Luna, Computer Specialist I; Velma Winslow, Debbie McKee, Patricia Moore, Theresa Fewell, Shivanna Jake and Maxine Tsosie, each as cafeteria substitute workers; Teri Tafoya, retiree work for insurance, cafeteria substitute worker; Amanda Terry – Park/Hulet elementary schools temporary summer A-Team; Ernest Ross, Jonathon Jensen, Jennifer Ruskin and Theresa Fewell, each for transportation driver training class; and Jacquelyn Saxton, transfer from clerical assistant to secretary to superintendent. * Approved the support staff retirement of Patsy Barela, Hulet daycare assistant. And the resignations of Christopher White, HJHS high needs paraprofessional; and Reanna Chee, Hulet Elementary School high needs paraprofessional. * Approved the certified employment of Dan Nielson, Virginia Lindsey and Connie McPherson, as retirees working for insurance; and Noel Reimer, IWES fourth grade teacher. * Approved the certified staff resignation of Ben Coppolo, HHS head chess coach; Elizabeth Davis, Park Elementary School first grade teacher; and Judy Soto, contract expiration. * Approved extra duty for Sarah Meeks, Kyle Gardner, Steve Carbonneau, Lelia Demuth, Michael Burks and Dwayne Hawk, each for HHS summer enrichment; Carmelita Long, Sarah Chee and Erika Sam, each as Summer School paraprofessionals; Walter Ray McLaws, Fresh Fruits & Vegetables; Julia Fairbanks and Amanda Remos, each for pre-kindergarten special education summer Child Find; Stephanie Bridegam, IWES special education extended school year; Cindy McDaniel, Stephanie Peters, each for Hulet Elementary School STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) garden Elementary and Secondary Emergency relief Summer School; and Jessica Paz, HHS assistant girls basketball coach. * Approved volunteers Leslie Baldonado, HHS volleyball; and Jose Quezada, HHS assistant soccer coach. * Approved professional leave for Dr. Koerperich, Dr. Jeri McKinnon, Kevin Fosburgh, Andrea Tomlin, Cheri Grau – Flagstaff, Arizona School Administrators Summer Conference June 1- Aug. 21, at an estimated cost of $1,525, plus use of a district vehicle; and Shawn Tow and Casey Hancock, Flagstaff, Vendor Show, Bus Technology, June 23, at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle. * Approved expense and revolving fund vouchers totaling $630,154, and payroll and expense vouchers totaling $2,301,683. * Approved personnel pay for Elizabeth Self, Park -Elementary School Arizona Music Educators Association professional development, $500; annual leave buy-back for 15 employees, $21,500.85; and HHS dual enrollment, $5,945. * Approved fundraisers for the Spiritline for a bake sale for estimated earnings of $325, a car wash for estimated earnings of $400, T-shirt sales for estimated earnings of $400 and a cornhole tournament for estimated earnings of $500.
