During the Holbrook Unified School District No. 3 Governing Board meeting last Tuesday, Jan. 11, Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich explained the agreement that the district is proposing with Triad Wireless.

Dr. Koerperich stated that HUSD is part of the Arizona Rural Schools Association, which was allocated $1.5 million from the Arizona Department of Education to bring broadband internet into rural settings. “We were one of five schools to be chosen to participate in this under the auspices of the Rural Schools Association,” he added, with a little under half a million dollars being allocated to the Holbrook community.

Dr. Koerperich also clarified that this is not the school district delivering internet services, but Triad Wireless as a separate entity that is using a tower that is already on district property. “This isn’t us as a school district delivering internet services to our community. We can’t do that.”

This service will provide internet to 50 homes that the district has identified as including students without internet. Koerperich explained that the cost for the Educational Package will be $10 a month. “They can upgrade it for I think $55 a month for the Family Package for a broader scope of internet in their home.”

Koerperich also expressed optimism for growth in the future, “We’re hoping we are able to expand from there and hopefully get to Woodruff, Sun Valley and the Navajo Nation once we get this established because that is the goal.”

The Triad Wireless request included the use of facilities, specifically the tech center for server space and the tower at the district office to install devices to reach the homes. The board approved site lease agreement with Triad Wireless for the Final Mile Project, which should begin in a few weeks.

In other business, the board:

* Reviewed and approved the current community use of school facilities policy.

* Approved Professional/Support Staff Orientation and Training policy revision for first reading. The policy revision outlines the requirement that school districts may not require an employee to engage in and shall not use public monies for training, orientation, or therapy that presents blame or judgement on the basis of race, ethnicity or sex.

* Approved the English Language Learner assessment and programs administrative procedure that outlines procedures for assessing English language learners and programs for students identified as English language learners.

* Approved GoZen for a 60-day review for Hulet and Park Elementary Schools. This is a review of the social and emotional learning online subscription program GoZen. This online social and emotional learning program will be used with individual students in grades K-5.

* Approved the support staff employment of Felice Salazar, Hulet and Park elementary schools’ A-Team.

* Approved the support staff resignations of Amy Banford, Hulet Elementary and special education and Aaren LaRose, Holbrook Junior High School special education.

* Approved the last day of employment for Lhindah Straw, Holbrook High School aide.

* Approved the certified employment of Aaren LaRose, HJHS resident substitute; Monica Liddle, HHS substitute teacher; and Jennifer Smith, Indian Wells Elementary School teacher on assignment, and a reduction in hours from full time to part-time Nathan Adams, HJHS.

* Approved the certified retirement of HHS Principal Jeri McKinnon at the end of the school year.

* Approved extra duty for Cheri Grau, HJHS daytime custodial supervisor; Charles Haussman, HHS daytime custodial supervisor; Aaren LaRose, HHS basketball game worker; Andrea Tomlin, IWES custodial supervisor; Nichole Tow, Park Elementary daytime custodial supervisor; and Rasheed Hollins, Hulet Elementary daytime custodial supervisor.

* Approved volunteers Scott Baker, HJHS sports official; Katy Brown, Park and Hulet elementary schools parent volunteer; Connor Hager, HHS basketball coach/driver; Nicholas Moyte, HHS volunteer wrestling coach; and James Self and Kevin Self, HHS musical volunteers.

* Approved professional leave for Roni Orton for virtual Foundations in Reading Dyslexia Training; Deb Koerperich for virtual Foundations in Reading Dyslexia Training; Laura Layden, LETRS, Effective Literacy Instructions in Flagstaff , cost to the district is use of school vehicle; Aira Austria and Monica Liddle, ACT Training in Tucson, cost to district is $800; Sylvia Jackson, Diné Bi Olta School Board Association Winter Conference in Albuquerque, cost to district is $550 plus lodging; and Heidi Hunsaker, Arizona Music Education Association Conference in Mesa, cost to district is $320.

* Approved expense and revolving vouchers totaling $628,952.

* Approved payroll and expense vouchers totaling nearly $1.4 million.

* Approved personnel pay for Angie Nava, $1,000 for HJHS 301 stipend, bus driver attendance for Dec. 2021 for $3,820.

* Approved requests by HHS football for prepackaged cinnamon rolls sales fundraiser expected to earn approximately $3,000; Baseball hat/shirt sales fundraiser expected to earn approximately $600; Baseball cheesecake sales fundraiser expected to earn approximately $2,000; and HJHS student council Valentine sales fundraiser expected to earn $180.

* Approved donation to teacher Chantelle Taylor at Hulet Elementary from Donor’s Choose including 1 Oculus Quest 2 128GB 3D virtual reality, 1 Oculus Quest 2 Elite Strap, 1 Oculus Quest 2 Carrying case, 2 Cricut Transfer Sheets, 1 SGHUO 30 pcs Faux Leather Sheets, 1 YRYM HTV Heat Transfer Vinyl, 1 HTVRONT HTV vinyl rolls, heat transfer vinyl and some additional requested resources.

* Approved policy adoptions pertaining to textbook/supplementary materials, and support staff contracts and compensation.