By L. Parsons The Winslow Unified School District governing board met Sept. 15 with Business Manager Shirley Lomeli providing an annual report on the status of existing bonds and debts experienced by the district. “The first one is our impact aid bond, which we took out in May of 2008. We took out $2.9 million and is due to expire in 2024. Currently, we have a balance of $760,000 plus interest. The bond was for renovation and improvements on school grounds, the artificial turf at the football field and heating and cooling for our school sites.” She noted that a stipulation of the bond issuance was, “We were not allowed to go out and get any more new debt until the bond was paid off.” Lomeli continued, “We also have our maintenance and operations budget override. Which we went to the voters with in November 2019. Voters approved the override and they will be given the opportunity to vote on the same again in 2024. That won’t be an increase in taxes, it would just be a continuation of what we are paying now.” Lomeli also reported for the month of August, stating that 17% of the fiscal year had passed, with 10% of the budget spent. The district remains in stable financial condition. During the superintendent’s report, Superintendent Connie Gover said, “In the month of September, we have had four cases of COVID district-wide. We are doing pretty good. As far as districts in the county go, we are doing well and our numbers are going down. People need to continue to keep their kids home when they are sick, and everyone is being attentive.” In other business, the governing board: * Accepted a donation in the amount of $324 in supplies from DonorsChoice to Karly Curley, third grade teachers and accepted two donations in the amount of $500 from Arizona Public Service Supply My Classroom to Tyler Allen, band and orchestra teacher; and Curtis Gordon, English teacher. * Approved the hiring of Mark Faust II as a maintenance/grounds/custodial floater effective Sept. 13 and Briana Conaster as junior varsity volleyball coach, effective immediately. * Accepted the resignations of Rudy Aragon, district groundskeeper effective Sept. 10; Dean Hildebrand, district bus driver, effective Sept. 7; and Darrin Mitchell, junior varsity volleyball coach, effective immediately. * Approved the following as Winslow Junior High School winter sports coaches: Terri Crocker and Kyra Lyons as volleyball coaches; and Kendall Ybarra Jr. and Bryan Larsen as wrestling coaches. * Approved the following WHS sponsors to receive stipends for the 2021-2022 school year: Daniel Tafoya, Lisa Foster, Natalie Barrios, Lisa Long, Quintin Hayes and Afton Foster. The next meeting of the Winslow Unified School District governing board will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29, in the board meeting room, located at 800 N. Apache Ave.
