HUSD seeks to continue override that has been key to student development

The funds are used to pay the bond on the George Gardner Performing Arts Center, and maintenance and operations for approximately $1.5 million a year. According to Koerperich, “The student population is around 1,700 students so that overrides costs approximately $894 per year for each student, or less than $5 per day that we spend on our students locally. If you look at that per hour it’s about a 72-cent per hour student investment.”

He explained that these funds help support smaller class sizes, teacher salaries and retention, hiring new staffing, music and physical education classes, and other student programs.

To point out the return rate on the investment, Koerperich noted the 2023 four-year graduation rate at HHS of over 90%, higher than the state average of 75%. Following the presentation there was no public comment.

The board also heard a presentation by district school principals. Hulet and Park elementary schools principal Kevin Fosburgh informed the board that this year’s kindergarten class is one of the largest since at least two years pre-COVID, with 20-21 students in each kindergarten class. Overall, enrollment at the two schools is 508 students, with 154 at Park and 354 at Hulet, with an overall average of 20 to 22 students per class. Regarding enrollment Fosburgh stated, “This is right where we want to be; nothing is too large and nothing is too small. Our teachers are able to really get in there and help our unique students develop.”

Initiatives include the implementation of a new English language arts program, Wit & Wisdom. Fosburgh noted what was different about this curriculum is that these students are working with actual books of literature, not worksheets or big textbooks.

Indian Wells Principal Andrea Tomlin reported that enrollment at the school is down this year, at about 305 students. This school is also utilizing the Wit & Wisdom curriculum. Tomlin predicted that the school will be dropped to a C grade this year and a preemptive measure she is implementing a school-wide reteach for instructors as well as a new assessment to understand specific needs of students.

Holbrook Junior High School Principal Connie Grau reported that there are currently 316 students at the junior high, which is 36 fewer students than last year. She added that the lower number is fine for the number of staff they have at this time. “Our ratios still range from 25 students to 28 students in a classroom, so we’re at a good size.”

Grau excitedly reported that one of the goals set by the school over the past three years was to become an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Demonstration School. “This last spring, when the AVID center out of San Diego did a case study on Holbrook Junior High and our implementation process (they did an) assessment of our school. They said we are ready to apply for an AVID Demonstration School.”

She also reported that prior to COVID, HJHS was rated as a D school by the Arizona Department of Education. “Last year was our first release and we have moved all the way to a C, we were within a fraction of a B. Well, this year, the Holbrook Junior High School is projected to be six points away from an A. I am excited about that. We are going to continue to promote academics, but also the whole child.”

Holbrook High School Principal Clete Hargrave reported that the district has two new academic advisors, Lelia Demuth and Meghan Carbonneau, and already this year there has been an increase in the number of students taking advantage of after school programs and tutorial.

“We have six new teachers this year and I thought it would be good to point out that three of those teachers are Holbrook graduates.”

The high school’s enrollment is up about 20 students from last year. Hargrave noted that there are a lot of freshmen this year, a bigger enrollment than anticipated. “So when we look at class sizes, overall they’re pretty good but our freshmen classes are pretty full.”

He stated that the enrollment in credit recovery class held in the evening has nearly doubled over last year from seven to 10 students to 10 to 20 students working on credits they had failed previously and are now trying to pass. Dual enrollment has also increased this year.

In other business, the board:

* Approved Splash Publications Social Studies supplemental curriculum for final adoption for Hulet Elementary School.

* Approved Foundations of Personal Finance by Ramsey Education for final adoption for HHS.

* Approved the School Year (SY) 2023-24 Prop 301 Plan. The Prop 301 performance pay plan has been approved by over 70% of the eligible participants.

* Approved the continuation of the Class Size Differential Stipend for SY 23-24.

* Approved the HUSD Bus Driver Attraction and Retention Plan administrative procedure for SY 23-24.

* Approved an administrative procedure that outlines sports official pay for junior high and elementary school athletic events.

* Approved a White Fleet bus driver job description.

* Approved the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Classified Staff Salary Placement Schedule to include the White Fleet bus driver position to be placed on Level 4.

* Approved the list of authorized check signers and student activities treasurers.

* Approved for first reading of Policy GDBA Support Staff Salary. The policy revision outlines that wage advancements for continuing employees are granted only at the beginning of the fiscal year beyond minimum wage advancements and that an employee must work one day more than one-half the year to receive an advancement in wages.

* Approved updated Policy IGD, IJJ and IGA pertaining to curriculum and textbook adoptions. The revision includes any authorized textbook or curriculum meeting must meet the open meeting law requirements as per ARS 15-721 (F) or 15-722 (B).

* Approved Arizona State graduate student, Marlinda Yazzie, a fall internship placement at Indian Wells Elementary School for a pre-K placement to complete 45 hours of practicum work. Yazzie has been interviewed and has fingerprint clearance.

* Approved Dylan Barela a practicum placement from Sept. 5, 2023 through Dec. 1, 2023 to complete his degree in elementary education from Arizona State University. Barela has a fingerprint clearance card and will be working under the direction of Jessica Paz in 4th grade.

* Approved out-of-state travel for the Holbrook Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Club to attend the AISES National Conference from Oct. 19-21. The cost of attendance and travel will be funded through the Johnson O’Malley program.

* Approved a leave of absence for MaKenzi Ulibarri, Holbrook High School Career and Technical Education Tech, from Nov. 9, 2023 through Feb. 5, 2023 with the direction of the superintendent to adjust the leave of absence if necessary.

* Approved support staff employments of Shawna Bailey, Park special education high needs para; Destany Begay, HJHS special education special needs assistant; Derek Bitsilly Jr., transportation student bus monitor; Cheryl Justman, Park/ special education transfer from high needs para to high needs special education and special needs para; Christian Lerma, food service student worker; Rydan Livingston, facilities student worker; Ben Meeks, facility services student worker increase hours from 19.5 to 29; Shurell Nardi, Park special education increase hours from 35 to 37; Christine Oso, food services substitute worker; Jonathan Sample, transportation CDL training; Tiffany Slade, Hulet/Daycare 40 hour daycare assistant; Harry Spencer, facilities substitute custodian; Joshua Tohannie, transportation student monitor; Syrus Warren, food services student worker; and Tarleen Yazzie, HHS special education high needs para and special education bus monitor.

* Approved the support staff resignation of Pamela Cox, Park/SPED high needs; and Jesus Ponce facilities worker.

* Approved support staff termination of Kristina Sweet, food service student worker.

* Approved certified employment of Susan Hayden, special education special services assessment assistant and AZELLA test administration; Deveney McGee, HHS/HJHS substitute teacher; Ruth Walker, transfer from district substitute to resident substitute Park/Hulet; and Ty Hatch, HHS substitute teacher.

* Approved extra duty for Aira Austria, Melicia Thompson, Andrea Tomlin, Dawn Tomlinson, Wendy Woodward, Cayla Serna, and Stephanie Brosius, all HHS tutoring; Charlotte Begay, IWES preschool screenings; Davina Begay, IWES assistant cross country coach; Erik Carlson and Ramie Hatch, both HHS eighth hour credit recovery; Mandi Chee and Gypsi Gover, both IWES game official and tutoring; Carrie Davis, HHS, special education and transportation special education bus monitor; Terrie DeHaan, Tim Eddings, Debbie Koerperich and Annette Rothman, all IWES Tutoring; Abrian Dickson and Anika Francis, both IWES head cross country coach; Dennis Fortuna, head eSports coach; Kyle Gardner, HJHS sports official; Lea Gishie and Roni Orton, both IWES game official; Stella Gishie, food service lead at Hulet; Tobias Herndon, HJHS game help; Callie Jensen, Shannon Knight and Jerald Nez, all HHS tutoring; Alicia Jimenez, HJHS sixth and seventh grade softball, HJHS student council, white bus driver; Courtney King, IWES head football coach; Jessica Lano, IWES assistant cross country coach; Athina Lewis, IWES student council sponsor, cheer club and game official; Carmalita Long, IWES morning duty; Kristin Manning, HJHS after school chess club; John McDaniel, HJHS/HHS game help; LynnDee McLaws, special education bus monitor; Josh Meeks, Hulet garden club sponsor; Dan Orton, HJHS athletics game help and official; Victor Paz, athletics white fleet driver and game help; Michaela Saxton, game help and tickets; Loren Silver, HJHS white bus driver; Cary Simpson and Benson Wallace, both HHS/ special education Special Olympics coach; Jennifer Smith, Kris Taylor and Jaslyin Tso, all IWES tutoring; Ray Ann Terry, IWES lunch detention teacher and tutoring; Lori Williams, IWES student council sponsor, athletic director, assistant coach volleyball & football and game official; Theresa Yazzie, IWES head volleyball coach and tutoring; and Erika Yellowhair-Sam, IWES preschool screenings.

* Approved volunteers Dennis Fortuna, eSports head coach; Kirk Koury, Park classroom volunteer; Natasha McLaws and April Tsosie, both HHS volleyball coach; Victor Padilla, HHS/HJHS wrestling volunteer; and Vanessa Serna, assistant cheer coach.

* Approved professional leave for Lori Williams, athletic director meeting; Michael Burks and Jason Foutz, Skills USA advisor conference, cost to the district is $579 each; Conner Prestwich, National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) training and Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT) IBP; Dale Larsen, NCCER training, cost to the district is use of a school vehicle; Michael Burks, Skills USA advisor leadership conference, cost to the district is $558; Charles Haussman, NAVIT administrators meeting, cost to the district is use of a school vehicle; Sarah Meeks, NAVIT instructional best practices, cost to the district is use of a school vehicle; Cheryl Carlson, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) advisor boot camp, cost to the district is $542; Ray McLaws, School Nutrition Association of Arizona (SNAAZ), cost to the district is $636 and use of a school vehicle; Lori Williams, athletic directors meeting; Katelyn Willis, Fundations launch, cost to the district is $320; Cheri Grau, Arizona Rural Schools Association (ARSA) annual conference, cost to the district is $300 and use of a school vehicle; and Galen Knight, disciplinary hearing training.

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

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

* Approved personnel pay for Jessica Hubbard and Nicole Moyte, curriculum alignment, $200 each; class size stipend, $15,849; and August bug driver incentive, $4,930.

* Approved requests for Fusion, fanny pack sales, expected to earn $300; Fusion, dessert bar concert, expected to earn $500; and HHS band, Painted Desert Marching Band Festival ticket sales and concessions, expected to earn $500.

* Approved donations received from First Christian Church for $5,000 for CAFÉ projects; The Cherry Bombs for five backpacks with supplies to the high school; Arizona State University (ASU) for the First Lego League Masterpiece Grant No. 2 to HJHS; and Steve Schroeder from Real Time Solutions for a set of boys basketball uniforms valued at $4,162.

* Approved consent agenda items and expense vouchers. Detailed information for all district expenditures may be obtained by contacting the HUSD business office located at 1000 N. 8th Ave., P.O. Box 640, Holbrook, Ariz., 86025. Phone 928-524-6144.