HUSD board hears update on school enrollment and engagement

Indian Wells Elementary School (IWES) Principal Andrea Tomlin also presented, announcing a total enrollment of 336 students. Tomlin stated their goal for the new year will continue to be increasing academic growth by increasing statewide assessment passing to 50% or more. “We definitely have not reached that yet. However, we are increasing the percent passing, and it’s just been a gradual growth over the years,” stated Tomlin.

The Holbrook Junior High School (HJHS) report showed an overall enrollment of 325 students. Principal Cheri Grau added that their goal for the new year will be fine tuning the implementation of the program Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), with a focus on certain subgroups in the school. “Now we’re really focusing on our students with disabilities and our English language learning students to help provide additional opportunities for them so they can see as much progress and as much growth that they’re capable of seeing.”

Holbrook High School (HHS) Principal Clete Hargrave reported the school’s enrollment totaled 671 students and stated the school’s goal is to have a 90% graduation rate and focus on their five year graduation rate, which is for students who need an additional year to finish high school.

Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich provided an outline on the use of the Maintenance and Operations Override and accepted public comment concerning override funding, as the override will be included on the November ballot, to which there was none. Over the past 40 years the district has had public support for the override, which needs to be approved by the voters every five years. Koerperich noted that the override can be requested as high as 15% but the district has kept it at 10% since 1989.

The funds are used to pay maintenance and operations for approximately $1.5 million a year. According to Koerperich, “We have about 1,700 students, so about $894 per year and $4.96 a day to educate our kids with just this override, 62 cents an hour.”

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.

In other business, the board:

* Approved the School Year (SY) 2024-25 Prop 301 Performance Pay Plan. The Prop 301 performance pay plan has been approved by over 70% of the eligible participants.

* Approved ESSER III Recruit and Retain Stipends from ESSER III funding pending Arizona Department of Education (ADE) approval. The stipends include full-time salaried and support staff employees as of September 20, 2024.

* Approved the Club Administrative Procedure, which outlines guidelines for establishing school clubs, after-school clubs and community clubs.

* Approved a revised Class Size Quality vs Quantity Pay Differential stipend procedure. The revision updates the policy to include class size differential stipends for special education caseloads for mild to moderate intellectual disability caseloads.

* Approved the update to the First Year Extra Duty Certified Faculty Placement Schedule for Fiscal Year (FY) 25 to include Head Golf under Category B for the placement schedule as presented.

* Approved the H5 Coalition Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the HUSD and Northern Arizona University’s Arizona (NAU) Institute for Education and the Economy (AIEE). The memorandum of understanding engages HHS as partner in a coalition to improve high school outcomes through the study of redesigning high schools to accomplish H5: high school to higher education, high wages, high demand and high-skill careers. As part of the coalition, HHS will be able to participate with other high schools around the state to explore innovative ways to redesign high schools.

* Approved a MOU between HHS and Education Forward Arizona, an Arizona nonprofit corporation, and supported by the Helios Education Foundation for the College Knowing and Going College Readiness Program to be implemented at Holbrook High School.

* Approved Indian Education Director Bernice Gover, President Tiana Begay and Nora John for out of state travel to attend the National Johnson O’Malley Association Conference in Durant, Okla. Sept. 9-11.

* Approved the list of authorized check signers and student activities treasurer who may sign checks from the various checking accounts used by the district for activities treasurer for SY 24-25.

* Approved The Family Learning Company as a sole source provider for the Family Literacy Program to be used at HUSD.

* Approved the first reading of Policy ACA Sexual Harassment and ACAA Title IX Sexual Harassment. The policy revision updates the policy to include the reference to the Title IX Education Amendment of 1972 and some technical changes to working in the policy.

* Approved the support staff resignation of Brianna Allison, Special Olympics coach.

* Approved the support staff termination of Wilma Padilla, food service worker.

* Approved the support staff employment of Rachel Benally, transportation bus driver increase pay to step 10 for experience; Ashley Begay, Adriano Bitahey and Lily Slade, all food service student workers; Megan Haney, IWES substitute custodian; LaDonna Jacket, Hulet/daycare substitute worker; AnaPaula LeSuer, Hulet/daycare assistant; Skyla McCabe, facility services substitute custodian; Kirby Myers, transportation NAVIT driver and white bus driver; Tony Manriquez, transportation student monitor; Danielle Robertson, transportation bus monitor and custodian; Debbie Salabye, maintenance increase to 4.5 hours per week; Calandra Thomas, food service substitute worker; Gloria Todachinnie, district accounts payable / revolving fund clerk; Tonya Vrbas, district payroll and leave benefits clerk; Darlene Yazzie, transportation bus driver; and Elsie Yazzie, transportation bus monitor.

* Approved the certified employment of Andrea Luna and Julie Smith, both district substitute teachers.

* Approved extra duty for Arviso Gishie, HHS AIA sports official; Ashley Attakai, HJHS assistant volleyball coach; Beth Baloo, HJHS head cross country coach; Saraphania Benally, Stephanie Bridegam, Sierra Browning, Cheri Grau, Clete Hargrave, Charles Haussman, Rasheed Hollins, Noah Johnson, Galen Knight, Patty Singer, Karalyn Reidhead, Andrea Tomlin and Nichole Tow, all as SPED liaisons; Stephanie Brosius, Callie Jensen, Shannon Knight, Ashley Smith, Jeffrey Robinson and Nicole Warner, all for HHS after school tutorial; Michael Burks, HHS broadcasting sponsor; Meghan Carbonneau and Shannon Knight, both HHS summer FAFSA work; Cheryl Carlson, HHS senior class sponsor; Joel Daniels and Jerald Nez, both HHS AISES co-sponsor; Victoria Dawson and Benson Wallace, both HHS curriculum development, trainings and department meetings; Chris Ervin, HHS white fleet driver; Hannah Gabaldon, Park substitute teacher half days up to 19 days for SY 24-25; Kyle Gardner, HHS swing thing sponsor, auditorium manager and drama club sponsor; Bernice Gover and Anne Lang, both district Title IX coordinator; Ramie Hatch, HHS department head math and after school tutorial; Callie Jensen, HHS freshman class sponsor; Alicia Jimenez, HJHS assistant cross country coach; Shannon Knight, HHS sophomore class sponsor, SPED intervention assistance team (IAT) lead and after school tutorial; Aaren LaRose, white fleet driver; Jeremy Madison, HHS roadrunner nest, department head CTE; Sarah Meeks, HHS fusion director, band director, department head electives and after school tutorial; Ashley Mitchell, HHS department head science and after school tutorial; Dan Mitchell, HHS department head social studies and national honor society sponsor; Sophia Nells, IWES cross country assistant coach; Arletta Nez, HHS white fleet driver; Jerald Nez, HHS white fleet driver and after school tutorial; Michael Nilsson, HHS yearbook sponsor; Greg Perkins, HHS white fleet driver; Cayla Serna, HHS key club sponsor; Melicia Thompson, HHS student council sponsor and department head English; and Dawn Tomlinson, HHS junior class sponsor.

* Approved volunteers Tony Aguilera, Francis Ambrose, Jose Quezada and Randall Begay, all HHS White Fleet driver; Ryan Baldonado, HHS baseball head coach and spirit line chaperone; Colleen Hubbard, HHS Volleyball Line Judge; Talaina Ko and Lyndzi Brawley, both HHS Grow Arizona driver; Alshina Nez, HHS game help; and Victor Padilla and Farrel Yazzie, both HHS/HJHS wrestling coach.

* Approved professional leave for Karen Estridge and Laura Layden, both Arizona Rural Schools Association (ARSA) conference; Gabriel Nells, two athletic directors meetings; Sylvia Jackson, Navajo education forum; Shelly Nez, Leadership 100 & Counselors and Social Workers (CSW) training, cost to the district is $459; Charles Haussman, NAVIT/CTE directors meeting; Jacob Baker and Jesus Luna-Almendariz, both trust leadership in training, cost to the district is $408; Meghan Carbonneau, first Aid, CPR, AED instructor training, cost to the district is $350 and use of a district vehicle; Jason Foutz and Jeremy Madison, both Skills USA advisor leadership conference, cost to the district is $575 each and use of a district vehicle; Anika Francis, coaches clinic; Andrea Tomlin and Deb Koerperich, self-efficiency conference, cost to the district is $116 and use of a school vehicle; and Jason Foutz, AZ CTE Scope & Sequence, cost to the district is $64 and the use of a district vehicle.

* Approved expense and revolving vouchers totaling nearly $1.3 million.

* Approved payroll and expense vouchers totaling nearly $1.3 million.

* Approved personnel pay for Gladys Butaslac, new teacher pay $3,250; Anne Lang, professional development, $500; Cayla Serna and Benson Wallace, HHS curriculum development, $840 each; HUSD first quarter class size differential pay, $18,408; August White Bus driver stipend $320; and August bus driver incentive, $780.

* Approved requests by Bernice Gover for crowdsourcing for Navajo language flashcard and activity books, expected to earn $988; Class of 2026 for hot chocolate sales and “crush” sales, expected to earn $300 each; Class of 2026, sweatshirt sales, expected to earn $1,000; HJHS student council, testing grams, expected to earn $250; HJHS student council, SY 24-25 concessions, expected to earn $1,000; HJHS student council, Halloween grams, expected to earn $60; and HJHS student council, valentine grams, expected to earn $250.

* Approved donations from Arizona State University First Lego League (FLL) Masterpiece grant #2 for $345 to HJHS; The Peter R. Marsh Foundation Music Grant for $1,250 to HJHS to buy music and script for spring musical; and The Flagstaff Bone and Joint PLLC Center for $10 to the HJHS athletic program.

* Approved Policy JFB & JFB-R Open Enrollment, Policy BBBA Board Member Qualifications, GCF Professional Staff Hiring, GBK Staff Grievances, GDF Support Staff Hiring, IHA Basic Instructional Program, IJNDB Use of Technology Resources in Instruction, IKF Graduation Requirements JHD Exclusions and Exemptions from School Attendance and JII Student Concerns, Complaints and Grievances all for final adoption.

* Approved consent agenda items and expense vouchers in items A, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, B, C, 1, 2, 3, D, E, F, and G. Detailed information for all District expenditures may be obtained by contacting the School District business office located at 1000 North 8th Avenue, P.O. Box 640, Holbrook, Ariz., 86025. Phone 1-928-524-6144.