HUSD board receives Impact Aid report

“Typically, in a perfect world, we would get 50% of state aid, 25% on local taxes on homes and 25% taxes on local businesses. But in the case of our students, because we’ve got such a large district that expands relatively deep into the tribal lands, then we are missing that, that top 50%,” explained Pugh, referencing the income from local taxes. Impact Aid is meant to counteract that lack of local tax funding.

According to Pugh’s presentation, federally impacted students have declined over the past few years. In fiscal year (FY) 2022 there were 878 students, 922 students in FY 2023, and 884 for the current FY, which is for 2024. The decline in numbers could be that more families are moving into Holbrook, as well as a teacher shortage at Indian Wells Elementary School (IWES) preschool which prevents more students from attending.

Pugh also explained that although funds are running a little behind, the amount received for FY 2023 should be around $2.5 million. “We don’t have a number for what will be 2024 yet because they haven’t figured those numbers yet.”

Most Impact Aid funds apply to Maintenance and Operation (M & O) expenses and are used to benefit all students. Districts are authorized to allocate money towards their greatest needs, such as instructional materials, salaries, transportation, technology, utilities or capital needs.

Holbrook Unified School District Indian Education Coordinator Janelle Chee, who is also the district’s Title VI coordinator, also gave a report on the Johnson-O’Malley (JOM)/Title VI program.

The initial JOM 2022-2023 funds were originally $124,691, but a modification was made and an additional $15,738 was provided, totaling the allocation to $140,429. These funds are being used to pay for partial salaries, Navajo-based classes, an English credit recovery class and additional instructional and activity supplies.

Chee explained the number of Native American students in K-12 grades is what generates JOM funds for the following year. “Our Native American student count was 1,281 students. We certified 1,113 students; these are students who have a Certificate of Indian Blood. And then we had 168 students who either are not enrolled or did not turn in a Certificate of Indian Blood.”

Total allocation from Title VI funding, which is also aimed to promote Native students, came in at $234,928. These funds also help pay for Navajo-based learning, employee salaries, and credit recovery. Chee explained that numbers were down due to the pandemic which prevented parents from coming into schools and filling out 506 forms, which is an Indian Student Eligibility Certification form. “The big change with Title IV this year is that they are going to allow the 506 forms to be online,” stated Chee, “So with the 506 form going online, I’m hoping that our count next year will increase some.”

The board opened the meeting to public comments from the Indian community according to Policy IHBJ, which there were none. The board also received an annual status report based on public school performance measurements to each Indian Nation with tribal lands located within district boundaries and governed by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE).

Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich pointed out resources available on the HUSD website. Under the “Explore” tab, parents can select “Departments” and find an “Indian Education” page that goes into more depth on the Impact Aid program as well as the JOM Program, Indian Policies and Procedures, the Indian Education Committee meetings and student data. “I just want to point out that our graduation rate in 2022 was 85%, the state Native American graduation rate was 63%. And I think that’s something that speaks well to what we do and the systems that we have in place,” added Koerperich.

Also, in other business, the board:

* Approved the Number the Starts Reading Reconsidered curriculum after a 60-day review.

* Reviewed the current impact aid program India Policies and Procedures (IPP).

* Authorized acceptance of the P.A.L.S. Daycare AZ Child Care Stabilization Workforce grant from the Arizona Department of Economic Security for workforce development. The P.A.L.S. Daycare has allocated the budgeted amount of $58,500 for workforce development.

*Approved the annual review of administrative procedure for Post-Retirement Employment Options (PREO), which outline post-retirement benefits for certified and support staff members.

* Approved the updated Policy IKF Graduation Requirements for first reading. The policy revision updates the policy to include new statutory requirements that outlines the graduating class of 2025 will be required to pass a civics test with 60% proficiency and the class of 2026 will be required to pass a civics test with 70% proficiency.

* Approved the terms and conditions for BRG-DSGN-01147 for a roof replacement at Indian Wells Elementary School, BRG-DSGN-01125 for drainage design at Holbrook High School (HHS) and BRG-DSGN-01126 for weatherization at HHS.

* Approved out of state travel for Kevin Fosburgh, Andrea Tomlin and Rasheed Hollins to attend the Oregon Career Fair during April 10-12. Expenses will be paid through Title II attracting and retaining high quality staff.

* Approved the school year 2023-2024 school calendar. The calendar includes a five-day traditional calendar with half-days on Friday for Park, Hulet, Holbrook Junior High School (HJHS) and HHS. The calendar meets the requirements for 180 student days and 183 certified teacher days. The four-day calendar for IWES includes 144 student days and 183 certified teacher days.

* Approved the support staff employment of Paul Agramont, HJHS In School Isolation (ISI) monitor; Charlotte Begay, IWES bus monitor; Edward Cooper and Allyson Knight, both student workers in food services; Theresa Fewell, substitute driver in transportation; Alshina Nez, HHS transfer to full time receptionist/registrar; and MaKenzi Ulibarri, HHS Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT) career path advisor.

* Approved the support staff resignations of Kayla Bennet, Park A-Team and health assistant; and Shannon Wilson, HJHS/Hulet library aide.

* Approved support staff retirement of Janelle Chee, Indian education at the district; and Valarie Hatch, district payroll.

* Approved the certified employment of Catrina Garner, district Emergency Safety Intervention (ESI) substitute and IWES part time pre-K special education (SPED) substitute.

* Approved certified resignation of Mike Burks, HHS teacher.

* Approved certified retirement of Cindy Percy, HHS Phenix School teacher; and Mari Smithson, Hulet fourth grade teacher.

* Approved extra duty for Britney Burgan, HHS game help; Sandy Carlisle, Hulet mentor; Zane Morgan, HHS head track coach; Jerald Nez and Loren Silver, both as HJHS sports officials; Dan Orton, HJHS game official; and Beth Plumb, HJHS game help.

* Approved volunteers Alex Baldonado and Louis Baldonado Jr., both HHS baseball; Jerry Barela, HHS assistant golf coach; Holly Christensen, HHS choir chaperone; Kallee Larson and Makenzi Ulibarri, both HHS softball; and Isabella Moyte, HHS spirit line.

* Approved professional leave for Cheryl Carlson, Northland Pioneer College (NPC) dual enrollment training; Charlie Haussman, Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology. (NAVIT) administrators meeting, cost to the district is use of a school vehicle; Erin Pugh, Navapache business managers meeting, cost to the district is use of a school vehicle; Ray McLaws, School Nutrition Association of Arizona (SNAAZ) professional growth conference, cost to the district is $305; Jason Foutz, Scope & Sequence curriculum development; Kevin Fosburgh, Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Recruitment Fair, cost to the district is $269; Charles Haussman, ADE Career and Technical Education (CTE) administrators meeting, cost to the district is $204; Beth Self, Arizona music educators conference, cost to the district is use of a school vehicle; Ryan Fraley and Jasper Tunney, cyber training, cost to the district is use of a school vehicle; Chantel Taylor, Heidi Hunsaker and Beth Self, Arizona Music Educators Association (AMEA), cost to the district is $370; Cayla Serna and Amanda Tsosie, student attendance workshop, cost to the district is $278 each; Cody Cline, TPC training, cost to the district is $1,942; Charles Haussman, NAVIT directors meeting, cost to the district is use of a school vehicle; and Laura Layden, Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) reading/dyslexia training, cost to the district is use of a school vehicle.

* Approved expense and revolving vouchers totaling nearly $1.1 million.

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

* Approved personnel pay for Ericka Hunt, Deseg Day, $500; Debbie Koerperich and Roni Orton, IWES Deseg PD, each $500; Laura Layden, Park Deseg day, $500; Vanessa Morgan, white bus sports trip stipend, $40; Dan Orton, IWES white bus sports trip stipend, $80; Chantell Taylor, HJHS PD, $500; January bus driver incentive, $3,340; HHS staff deseg PD, $15,500; Third quarter class size stipend, $14,124; and Park/Hulet staff PD, $480.

* Approved requests by IWES student council Valentine’s grams and basketball finals concessions, expected to earn $200; HHS Band, candy pre-sale and yumraising, expected to earn $200-$500; Student council Mr. Roadrunner pageant, expected to earn $500-$1,000; Student council Mr. Roadrunner dessert bar, expected to earn $1,000-$2,000; Swing Thing, rummage/bake sale and car wash, expected to earn $1,000; and Band, chips and salsa sale, expected to earn $600.

* Approved donation received from Catholic Charities for 20 backpacks to Park Elementary School.

* Adopted Policy JFABDA & JFABDA-R, Admission of Students In Foster Care.