A successful year for HUSD sets the state for a bright future

This past year the district began working with Northern Arizona University (NAU) and Arizona State University (ASU) on college entrance programs at the high school, with the district being awarded a governor’s award for increased Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications.

HHS also saw the full implementation of Individual Time Model (ITM) Fridays, which is provided for students to come to the campus in order to get caught up in classes where they may be falling behind.

“Education in the 21st century is about focusing on developing ‘how students are smart.’ We know all students have unique talents and abilities,” explained Koerperich. “The reality that success in the 21st century is less reliant on being book smart and more reliant on being skill smart, must drive education systems to rethink ‘smartness.’ HUSD No. 3 will focus on rebranding the way we evaluate ‘smartness’ amongst our student body.”

Another aspect of opening these pathways for students is internet accessibility. The district was able to ensure that all students have access to a computer in school as well as at home. The district was also able to partner with Triad Wireless for the Final Mile Project, which provided internet to approximately 50 homes of students in need of connectivity.

The district also focused on the health and wellness of staff, with increased use of the fitness center, and implemented an HHS bike tech program as well.

Another aspect in which the district succeeded in this past year was finances. The district was able to continue to provide retentions stipends for returning staff of $1,500 from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. They were also able to raise the base salary to $44,000 annually, with retention bonuses and performance pay all while having no increase in insurance.

Staff salary improvements are still in progress, with a 2.5% increase and $1,000 additional performance pay from Maintenance & Operations. Performance pay has helped incentivize success, with Hulet Elementary School and Indian Wells Elementary School receiving B ratings and HJHS as well as HHS receiving C ratings.

Last year was also the start of many projects that are still in progress for HUSD. IWES, Hulet and Park elementary schools have each began implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs, with HJHS beginning SEL as well.

The district also has culture-based programs underway, with teachers from all the schools having participated in NAU DINE/Institute for Native-serving Educators (INE).

The district continues to promote learning spaces by adding classroom furniture and recreating the library spaces. This includes health protocols and systems, such as adding air purification systems in all spaces, protocols for COVID-endemic procedures and outdoor learning spaces.

Another program in progress for the district is working with School Connect on the CAFE model. CAFE stands for Community And Family Engagement, which is a program to bring students, families and community together to help the school system grow.

The district has also began working with local entities to enhance living conditions for their employees, and is holding discussions with Northland Pioneer College (NPC) and community leaders as part of that endeavor.

School beautification is also in progress as the district is creating more turf spaces at the HHS and IWES campuses. The district is also looking at the potential for developing a new school campus for Hulet Elementary.

Construction projects will continue into 2023, such as new roofs at HHS, HJHS, Park and IWES, as well as weatherization projects for HHS, HJHS, Park and Hulet. Hulet is also getting new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. HHS is also receiving new drainage in order to divert water that crosses onto the campus from northern end of the campus over to 8th Avenue.

Although HUSD saw many improvements and successes in the past year, some things were not able to be accomplished. The district was unable to start a culinary arts or sports medicine program and has yet to develop a district-wide mental health program.

Koerperich stated that funding was an important aspect of the district’s improvements. “It is important to recognize that HUSD No. 3 was able to continue to help our unique students develop over the past year through ESSER funding, overall positive retention of high-quality staff and action-oriented progress.”

Koerperich noted that there are many goals planned for the district in the coming year. “HUSD No. 3 will continue to help our unique students develop. This will always be the primary goal for HUSD No. 3. ‘Helping our unique students develop’ means that we will provide as many programs and opportunities as possible through leadership, financial support and commitment to help our unique students succeed.”

Koerperich hopes to achieve this with staff working with students personally, academically and socially. He also wants to provide remediation and acceleration programs for students, such as tutorials, dual/concurrent enrollment, new student programs, emotional learning platforms and summer learning programs.

The district will also be working to continue to advance AVID as a platform for students to develop by establishing HJHS as a demonstration school, ensure sustainably at HHS and analyze the program for the fifth and sixth grades both in Holbrook and in Indian Wells.

Along with the AVID program, HUSD is also going to update and expand its Career and Technical Education (CTE) program and focus on the Early Childhood Program for teacher preparation.

Improvements will also continue to be made in the health and wellness systems within the schools. “We have a solid ‘Healthy Holbrook’ system in place; however, we have been exposed to a new level of health and wellness protocols. As social structures, school systems have always managed health and wellness as part of the overall education system,” explained Koerperich. HUSD will re-establish a Healthy Holbrook committee to analyze health and wellness needs, and also have a mental health coordinator to oversee health assessments.

Another focal point for 2023 is the continuance of college and career readiness systems. This means creating more career development programs and sustaining the ones already in place, such as those provided through Grow Arizona and AVID.

HUSD will establish systems that will analyze post-secondary success, increase proficiency rates on state testing and post-secondary college rates, workforce and career placement.

The district also plans to implement a new benchmarking system that aligns with American Association of School Administers (AASA) and analyze grading procedures as well as graduation requirements.

Koerperich states HUSD will continue to create safe environments for its students and staff. “The evolution of 50 plus year buildings is a continual process of improvements. HUSD No. 3 will continue to upgrade our facilities to create safe and educational environments to help our students and staff succeed.” This includes many projects, such as completing outdoor learning shades and benching systems, completing roof replacements and weatherization, the redesigning of learning spaces and other modernizations.

HUSD will also work on the continual development of staff to make a successful education system. The district plans to continue professional development and increase salaries as much as possible, as well as analyze performance pay for support staff and neutralize insurance costs.

The district is going to analyze systems for career development and continue its Aspiring Leadership Program.

“We want to thank the students, staff, parents and communities the district serves for helping us meet our goals for 2022. We are looking forward to another successful year at HUSD No. 3.”