During last week’s meeting of the Winslow Unified School District’s Governing Board, the district’s commitment to arts education was underscored by the recognition of Denise Estudillo, who received the Distinguished Service Outside of the Profession Award from the Arizona Art Educators Association. This state-level acknowledgment celebrates her efforts in ensuring resources and support for various arts and music programs. Her work has been instrumental in maintaining a vibrant arts environment in the district. Two of the district’s art teachers, Christa Knox and Laura Pontel, spoke about the help Estudillo have given to the arts. Estudillo has been instrumental in finding additional funding to support the arts programs in the district including finding funding for a new kiln at Winslow Junior High School and finding funding for instruments for students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford them.
In her superintendent’s report, Connie Gover also brought attention to the Winslow High School volleyball team’s significant achievement. The team, under the guidance of coach Julie Thomas, was honored with a prestigious sportsmanship award, voted on by 3A coaches and referees. This recognition for their exemplary conduct and spirit on the court is a rare honor and marks a significant achievement for both the team and the school. The volleyball team’s attendance at the next meeting on Dec. 13 is eagerly anticipated, where their achievement will be celebrated in person.
Furthermore, the meeting addressed the adoption of the Arizona Mutual Aid Compact. These compact enables participating political subdivisions and tribal nations to share resources, personnel, and other related services during emergencies, with the assurance of being reimbursed. This agreement is a significant step towards enhancing emergency preparedness and response in the district. The compact’s primary objective is to facilitate rapid, short-term deployment of emergency support, ensuring efficient and effective handling of incidents. The mutual aid agreements are expected to provide a robust mechanism for obtaining emergency assistance, benefiting the district and its community in times of need.
The board also adopted a comprehensive set of Indian Policies and Procedures (IPPs) for the 2023-24 school year as proposed by the Indian Education Committee made up of parents of currently enrolled native American students. Developed through consultations with local tribal officials and parents of American Indian children, these policies are designed to foster an inclusive and responsive educational environment.
A significant aspect of the IPPs is the enhanced dissemination of information. WUSD plans to provide tribes and parents of Indian children with advance notice of relevant applications, evaluations, and program plans. This includes making documents readily available on the WUSD website, presenting them at various meetings, and ensuring accessibility during public hearings.
The district is also keen on actively soliciting feedback. Recognizing the value of community input, WUSD will seek and consider suggestions from parents of Native American children, tribal officials, and the Indian Education Committee in its program planning and implementation.
Another key focus of the IPPs is facilitating meetings and participation. WUSD is set to host meetings and public hearings, including those of the Indian Education Committee, to encourage the views and involvement of parents, tribal officials, and the public. Assessing and ensuring the equal participation of Indian children in these programs and activities is a priority.
To maintain the relevance and effectiveness of these policies, WUSD has instituted an annual review and modification process. The district will assess the extent of Indian children’s participation in its educational programs and make necessary adjustments. Importantly, the Indian Education Committee will play a crucial role in reviewing and suggesting revisions to the IPPs.
In line with its commitment to transparency and responsiveness, the district will annually respond in writing to comments and recommendations made by the Indian Education Committee, tribal officials, or parents of American Indian children. These responses will be disseminated broadly to ensure community awareness and engagement.
Lastly, WUSD has made provisions to supply affected tribes with a copy of the current IPPs annually. This ensures that the tribes are well-informed about the policies and procedures that impact American Indian children in the district.
In other business, the board:
* Approved hiring of emergency substitute, Barbara Lucero.
* Approved the following student fundraisers: Hoop Club selling shirts/sweatshirts, $25-$35; boys and girls basketball offering game concessions, $1-$3; Game Club hosting Mario Kart Tournament, $5-$10; Book Club organizing Christmas dance/concession, $.50-$5; Art Club running school supplies store, $1-$2.
The next meeting of the WUSD school board will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6, in the meeting room, located at 800 N. Apache Ave.
