The Winslow Unified School District met last week. During the meeting, Superintendent Connie Gover announced that according to the Arizona Department of Education, the district is overall a ‘B’ rated district. Each individual school site improved their letter grade from the last time they were awarded or maintained their previous ranking. The federal Every Student Succeeds Act requires states to measure school performance. State law mandates the A-F letter grade system, which is based on a range of quantitative measures including the AzMERIT test.
At Bonnie Brennan Elementary School, the school for third and fourth grades, an ‘A’ letter grade was received. This was the grade previously held by the school.
Washington Elementary School, with instruction for fifth and sixth grade improved its standing from a ‘D’ to a ‘B.” Principal Amanda Leonard said, “We are very proud of our teachers and our students, and we will keep working toward an ‘A’ rating, as we are currently only nine points away.
Winslow Junior High School and Winslow High School also scored a ‘B.’ Jefferson is not ranked as those schools serve kindergarten through second grades.
In other business, the governing board:
* Recognized employees of the month of August including WJHS media technician Addie James and fourth-grade teacher Taylor Welson; for September, paraprofessional Corri Havlicek and academic coach Marie Putman were recognized; and in October, paraprofessional Janeen Barton and WHS alternative education teacher Joanna Venegas were recognized. Outstanding administrator of the quarter was special education director Nathan Lindaman and the outstanding substitute of the quarter was Misty Benham.
* Ratified vouchers in a routine procedure allowing the board to submit vouchers to the County Superintendent between meetings.
* Appointed Sharissa Gallegos as a paraprofessional.
* Accepted the resignations of WHS science teacher Megan Lymer-Reynoso, district substitute teacher Isabel Britton and part time bus driver Cody Densmore.
* Approved volunteers Loy Engelhardt as spring sports announcer, Wilburt Barton for track, and Brandon Sedillo and Kirk Ramsey for baseball.
* Approved extra duty stipends for band and orchestra director Tyler Allen, and coaches Quentin Hayes, Christopher Garrett, Jordan Payne, Brandon Guzman, Brady Needens, Stacey Berg, Janeen Barton and Andrew LeGate.
* Approved student activity fundraisers including ETeam online sales, sales of formal invitations, a winter wear drive, a beautification project in cooperation with the City of Winslow, the sale of See’s Candies, a pep rally, a spring dance and the sale of shaved ice.
* Approved out of state travel for Federal Programs Director Denise Estudillo to attend the Navajo Nation Johnson O’Malley (JOM) regional meeting in Albuquerque, N.M. Funding for the travel will be covered by JOM; and WHS Honor Society Sponsor Michelle Jones, 12 students and three additional staff members to Anaheim, Calif., for an annual trip for Honor Society seniors. The Honor Society will cover expenses.
* Approved the adoption of the graphic novel Coraline by Neil Gaiman into WJHS supplemental curriculum materials. As required, the book has been on display in the district office for 60 days.
* Approved Superintendent Connie Gover as the authorized signer for the annual impact aid application.
* Approved a purchasing cooperative with Sourcewell for the purchase of lighting for Emil Nasser Stadium utilizing ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) grant funds.
* Approved stipend of $300 per student, per quarter in caseloads greater than 11 students for high needs teachers.
* Approved a retention stipend for staff that were employed from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 with no interruptions. Previously, the governing board approved the stipend in the amount of $2,500. An additional $1,000 per staff member has been approved through ESSER II grant funds. The stipend is scheduled to be paid in December.
* Approved the Action Research Plan, a plan in which school site leaders are tasked with finding actionable ways to improve their schools and the district overall.
* Approved the updated in-person learning plan in accordance with Arizona Department of Education requirements. The district is required to post their plan on the district website, at www.wusd1.org and have it state their ongoing protocols
* Approved the Indian Policies and Procedures in a routine annual procedure.
The next meeting of the Winslow Unified School District Governing Board will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16 in the board meeting room, located at 800 N. Apache Ave.
