The Joseph City Unified School District Governing Board convened last Tuesday, during which they received a report from Superintendent Bryan Fields on projects planned at the district. He began by explaining that the Joseph City High School (JCHS) gym bleachers replacement has been pushed back to the summer. “We are posting positions for temporary labor workers for us to use on this project and other similar projects that we have that we may want to do in-house.”
He also noted that repairs are being made to the track field at Joseph City High School. Fields noted, “To redo it is estimated at over $500,000.” He noted that one option to offset the cost would be to reduce it to a six-lane track rather than a seven-lane track and perhaps use ground cinders. “They think if we repair this year, we can host meets this year; we have one junior high meet and one high school meet. But next year the AD (athletic director) is thinking we should pass on hosting any meets if our track isn’t completely repaired,” stated Fields, adding that it would be a lot of money for that program but that he would bring it back before the board for future discussion.
The report also noted the JCHS construction class will be starting a project to build a score-keeping booth by the softball field, which will require a permit and go through the appropriate process with the county.
“We are putting a small parking area by the east part of the junior high/high school campus. This parking area will serve softball, baseball and other activities that use the east fields of the campus,” Fields explained in his report. The parking area will be more convenient for spectators and serve and include a pathway for emergency vehicles to access the fields is included in the project. More details will be provided in future meetings.
The report also addressed that the district will be working with Navajo County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) to host a training for district staff on April 21 to introduce Raptor Alert. Raptor Alert will allow staff to directly communicate with NCSO in the event of an emergency and to improve response time.
The board held its first public hearing for the draft plan to modify the instructional days to allow for remote and assignment-based learning for students, known as Instructional Time Model (ITM), prior to the regular meeting. ITM allows students to complete assignments and projects to be completed at home with provided resources and materials. The modifications are not substantial, with alteration to dates and attendance terminology. No members of the community spoke during the hearing. A copy of the draft ITM may be viewed at the Joseph City School District Office and online.
The board was also provided the cash handling policies and procedures as well as the financial summary and a financial report for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) federal grants.
For the next agenda, the board requested information on options to pay off the district’s solar panels.
Also, in other business, the board:
* Approved expense vouchers from Feb. 1-28, totaling $716,198.
* Ratified cheerleaders to sell funnel cakes, expected to earn $1,000 beginning March 25.
* Approved elementary students to send emails requesting book donations from family and friends through the Books Are Fun online platform.
* Approved Quality First – First Things First Grant participation. This is a program funded by the Arizona Department of Education to assist preschools with costs related to licensing, training and operating expenses, with available incentives ranging from $5,500 – $80,000 per year.
* Approved Renewal of intergovernmental agreement with special education services provider Navajo County Education Service Agency for 2023-24.
* Approved the disposal of unused surplus furniture, equipment, vehicles and other items.
* Approved the hiring of Lyndzi Brawley, pool manager; Kory Castellano, dyslexia specialist; Jennifer Fischer, volunteer; and Paige Murray, first grade teacher.
* Approved the resignation of Veronica Nelson, substitute teacher; and Tim Taranto, fifth grade teacher.
* Approved the renewal of Tyson Smith, mechanic/maintenance.
* Approved superintendent’s performance payment. This is a bi-annual release of 5% of the Superintendent’s contract based on standards set by the Governing Board for evaluation of the Superintendent.
