During last week’s Winslow Unified School District Governing Board meeting, it was explained that the board utilized a procurement consulting firm, Sunny Path Associates, LLC, for assistance with the process for the solicitation of bids for a new coach bus. The purpose was to contract with a qualified company to provide a new 55-58 passenger coach bus for the district. Notification was sent to 10 potential bidders and advertised in The Tribune. Only one bid from Best Bus Sales was received and evaluated by Business Manager Casey Hancock and Transportation Supervisor Tony Mora. After reviewing the bid, the board approved the purchase in the amount of $412,125, for a 2025 bus which includes a wrap. This is the second bus purchased by the district.
This is the second recent bus purchase by the district that was a 2024 bus without a wrap which was purchased earlier for approximately $392,000.
It noted by the board that September Staff of the Month included classified staff member Marcus Armijo, certified staff Lynne Sawyer, administrator Ricky Greer and substitute Teri Bumgarner, all of which contributed to the success of starting off the school year.
Superintendent Connie Gover thanked Steve Henling and Casey Hancock for their work on the grant award of $500,000 from School Violence Protection Program (SVPP) for new cameras for the district.
It was also noted that the district had several teachers awarded $500 from APS Supply My Classroom.
In other business, the board:
* Approved ratification list No. 937 in the amount of nearly $1.5 million.
* Authorized acceptance of donations including a $100 donation from the Winslow Rotary Club to the district’s international teachers for the purchase of two boxes of books ($5 each) at the Friends of the Library book sale; and a donation of $801 from softball parents to Winslow Junior High School.
* Approved the appointment of classified staff including Trinity Knox, Winslow High School paraprofessional; and Danny Borque, custodian.
* Approved the classified staff resignation of Taylor Decker, custodian, effective Sept. 17.
* Approved extracurricular/extra duty pay for a request from Athletic Director Ricky Greer to use an unfilled WJHS football coaching position for a WJHS wrestling coach.
* Approved student activity fundraiser requests including WHS Art Club to sell stickers, tattoos, AZ Tea, custom notebooks; WHS Class of 2026 for a Powder Puff football game, Chick Fil A meal sale; WHS Class of 2027 to sell candy cane grams, cotton candy, graduation leis; WHS cross country to work at Ganado meet, shirt sales; WHS girls soccer to sell car decals, game day swag; WHS Growling Productions to sell printed material; WHS Indian Club, Pow Wow admission and vendors, piccadilly and snow cone sales; and WHS S-Club, Valentines dance and concession, ice cream sundae sales.
* Approved the consent agenda.
* Approved calendars for 25/26 and 26/27 school years.
A special meeting was held on Oct. 7, for the purpose of approving the annual financial report, as it is due by October 15, and Hancock will be out of the office at that time.
