The Holbrook Unified School District No. 3 Governing Board convened last Tuesday, Oct. 10, with the meeting held at Indian Wells Elementary School (IWES).
Holbrook Unified School District Indian Education Coordinator Janelle Chee, who is also the district’s Title VI coordinator, gave a report on the Indian Education Program, with a focus on the Johnson-O’Malley (JOM) program. The JOM program was created “to meet the special and unique needs of American Indian students attending public schools.”
Chee also explained the long process it takes for the funding to reach the school, beginning in Washington D.C. and going through multiple departments. “It does take a long time for us to get our funding,” Chee stated.
This year the funds of $124,691, are being used to pay for partial salaries, as well as Navajo-based classes. “We support our Navajo language, Navajo history and government lessons at the junior high school and also an English credit recovery at the high school.” Chee explained it also pays for supplies and other student activities throughout the district.
“Our Native American student count for this year is 1,256 students throughout all schools. Our certified student count at this time is 1,095.” Chee explained that certified students are those who have turned in a CIB (Certified Indian Blood) card, which is issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and provides a blood degree by tribe. “Those are the students that generate our funding.” Chee did state that although this is what determines their funding, they do not exclude certain students. “If a class is going on a field trip, and we’re paying for the admission fee for that class, all students are included.”
Funding also helps students attend workshops at the Sparks of Possibilities Conference hosted by SunClan Consulting, which is a three-day event for students in grades 7-12. “We had workshops on life skills, and coping skills. So, a lot of good responses from students attending that conference.”
The board also received the annual report on Impact Aid. Superintendent Dr. Rob Koerperich explained that Impact Aide is a funding source that comes from the federal level for students and families that live on federal land. Due to federal land not being taxed, “the federal government, in lieu of taxes, gives a subsidy for what’s called Impact Aid for those families that are impacted, and those students that are enrolled in your district.”
According to Koerperich’s presentation, federal lands are Native American land, military on-base, military off-base, low-rent housing (non-section eight) and civilians who live and/or work on federal land, such as the Petrified Forest. “Because of the federal land located within our district boundaries, we rely on federally impacted student assistance called Impact Aid to generate revenue to serve our students,” stated Koerperich.
Impact Aid is locally controlled funding and flexible for usage as it applies to any Maintenance and Operation (M & O) expense. These funds may be used to benefit all students, not just federally impacted children. Districts are authorized to allocate money towards its greatest needs which can include instructional materials, salaries, transportation, technology, utilities, or capital needs.
In other business, the board:
* Presented the 2022 Achievement and Participation Report and took public comments from the representatives of Native students according to Policy IHBJ, to which there was none.
* Approved review of Policies IHBJ, IHBJ-R, IHBJ-EA, IHBJ-EB, KGJA and KJG to ensure they meets all minimum standards in continuing to provide adequate levels of Indian community participation throughout the Holbrook School District.
* Reviewed and approved the Impact Aid Program Indian Policies and Procedures (IPP) that are a required measure for Impact Aid compliance.
* Approved the FY22 Annual Financial Report (AFR), including the Food Service Annual Financial Report and Classroom Site Fund Narrative. Per state statute (ARS 15-904), the Annual Financial Report shall be prepared for Governing Board review and submitted to the Arizona Department of Education by Oct. 15. The AFR contains budgeted and actual expenditures for the preceding fiscal year. Additionally, Holbrook Unified School District will provide a link to the ADE website from the district budget website page where this information can be obtained.
* Approved to designate Clete Hargrave as a qualified evaluator for the Holbrook School District. Hargrave has completed qualified evaluator training through the Arizona School Administrators Association.
* Approved an Aggregate Expenditure Limit Override Governing Board Resolution that encourages Governor Doug Ducey and the Arizona Legislature to call a special session to override the aggregate expenditure limit that if not acted upon by March 1, 2023 will require the Holbrook School District to reduce, already allocated funds, by $3 million dollars, which will impact HUSD No. 3 and the communities the district serves.
* Approved the terms and conditions of BRG-CONST-01807 Hulet structural wall, which applies to structural wall repair at Hulet Elementary School through the School Facility Oversight Board (SFOB).
* Approved the terms and conditions of BRG-ASMNT-00803 which applies to the roof assessment for Indian Wells Elementary School through the SFOB.
* Approved the terms and conditions of BRG-PROC-00198 which applies to weatherization at Park Elementary through the SFOB.
*Approved the support staff employment of Kendall Bakurza, transportation-driver training; Lang Bartuff, transportation-bus monitor; Donovan Bonney, HHS/SPED special needs assistant; Patsy Etsitty, transportation-driver/custodian; Allison Maxwell, Park computer/library; Dillon Ohlsen, food services student worker.
* Approved the certified employment of Nathan Adams, Michael Lee and Natasha McLaws, all district substitutes.
* Approved extra duty of Stephanie Brosius, Victoria Dawson, Callie Jensen, Shannon Knight, Ashley Mitchell, Dan Mitchell, Ina Overson, Melicia Thompson and Dawn Tomlinson, all for HHS tutorial; Tim Eddings, Deb Koerperich, Annette Rothman, Kris Taylor, Andrea Tomlin and Theresa Yazzie, all for IWES tutorial; Mandi Chee, IWES game help and tutoring; Rasheed Hollins and Jessica Paz, both Hulet tech cadre; Roni Orton, Hoby Wilhelm and Lori Williams, all for IWES game help.
* Approved volunteers Nathan Adams, HJHS parent helper/aide; and Connor Hager, HHS basketball.
* Approved professional leave for Charles Haussman, Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Career and Technical Education (CTE) directors meeting, cost to the district is $178, ADE CTE Strategic Plan Committee, cost to the district is $192 and NAVIT Local Directors Meeting, cost to the district is use of a school vehicle; Charles Haussman and Jeremy Madison, ADE directors meeting/ACOVA Fall Conference, cost to the district is $1,318; Cheri Grau, AZ Rural Schools Association, cost to the district is $500; Bernice Gover, Dawna Bitsoie, Debbie Koerperich, Andrea Tomlin and Ray Ann Terry, PBIS training, cost to the district is $1,690; Brianna Allison, Assistive Technology Roadshow, no cost to the district; and Lori Williams, Athletic Director’s Meeting, no cost to the district.
* Approved expense and revolving vouchers totaling $397,688.
* Approved payroll and expense vouchers totaling nearly $1.4 million.
* Approved personnel pay for class size stipends, $7,962; Prop 301 performance pay, $156,090; bus driver attraction and retention pay, $3,790; Indian Wells deseg PD, $5,500; Indian Wells PD, $1,200; Gypsi Gover, Athina Lewis and Suzanne Powell, IWES curriculum alignment, $120 each.
* Approved requests by Swing Thing Rada cutlery sales fundraiser, expected to earn approximately $1,200; Swing Thing ice cream social fundraiser, expected to earn $2,000; girls basketball popcorn sales fundraiser, expected to earn $7,000; HHS student council concessions fundraiser, expected to earn $1,000; and HHS clubs and sports concessions fundraiser, expected to earn $1,000-$3,000 per event.
* Approved donation received from the Friends of the Public Library for grade level reading books with a bag for all students at IWES pre K-5th grade.
* Approved adoptions of Policy EE Transportation Services, Policy KI Visitors To Schools, Policy IHAMB & IHAMB-R Family Life Education, Policy IHA Basic Instructional Program, Policy GBGCB Staff Health and Safety, Policy IJL & IJL-R Library Materials Selection and Adoption and IJNC & IJNC-R Resource Centers/Media Centers/School Libraries, Policy IMD School Ceremonies And Observances and Policy IMB Teaching About Controversial/Sensitive Issues
