The Holbrook Unified School District (HUSD) No. 3 Governing Board met last Tuesday, during which parents Dayisha Jensen and Felicia Denetso spoke to the board regarding bullying procedures within the schools.

Jensen explained her daughter, who is in kindergarten at Indian Wells Elementary School (IWES), has been the subject of bullying and has seen no recourse action taking place. “She was getting name called, her hair was getting pulled. She was physically assaulted a couple of times, in front of the bus on the playground.” Jensen said her daughter has reached out for help but it seemed nothing was being done as she continued to get calls from her daughter’s teacher about her being bullied, and saw her daughter began to fear returning to school.

Jensen stated she never heard from the school’s principal Andrea Tomlin and had to request time with her herself. “Now I’m being told to fill out a form that my daughter’s being bullied, but it should have happened when she reached out herself and let the teacher know.” Jensen became emotional as she stated she began to let her daughter stay home from school to prevent further harassment and asked the bullying procedures be reviewed and improved, adding that she is not the only parent who has kids that have been bullied. Denetso followed up by stating that October is National Bullying Prevention month, “So this should be a big priority.”

This issue was presented during call to the public so the board is unable to respond to public comments but can schedule to discuss and consider at a later date.

The board received a review of the Annual Financial Report (AFR) from Business Manager Lauren Maestas. The district’s AFR contains budgeted and actual expenditures for the preceding fiscal year which is submitted to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE). Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich explained Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER) and School Facilities Oversight Board (SFOB) funds were huge for the district over the last few years, and while the district still has SFOB funding, ESSER is now gone. “Last year’s AFR is a little bit skewed because of those ESSER funds, and it will normalize back into next year.” The full AFR presentation can be found on the district’s website at www.holbrook.k12.az.us

After the presentation, the board approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Annual Financial Report.

Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT) Superintendent Matt Weber presented information about the district’s current NAVIT programs as well as teacher certification and funding.

Also, in new business, the board:

* Approved an emergency purchase for vehicle repairs and a new engine in the amount of $10,710 from Wilkinson’s Auto and Tire to replace the engine in a 2015 Chevy Suburban. The emergency purchase exceeds the $10,000 bid limit, which would normally require the district to go out for bids unless the board approves to go ahead with the emergency repair. Wilkinson’s Auto and Tire discovered the need for a new engine after disassembling the engine for repairs and realizing it was not salvageable.

* Approved policy updates for first readings for the following policies: BAA Evaluation of the School Board/Board Self-Evaluation, DJE/DJE-R Bidding/Purchasing Procedures, GCFC/GCFC-E Professional Staff Certification and Credentialing Requirements, GDFA/GDFA-E Support staff Qualifications and Requirements, IGA Curriculum Development, IMG/IMG-R Animals in Schools, and JLCD-R Medicines/Administering Medicines to Students.

* Approved updated Arizona School Board Association (ASBA) Bylaws as requested by the ASBA.

* Approved Anne Lange, Human Resources Director, and Sally O’Dell, Purchaser/Bookkeeper, as the second signatory designees to be an authorized signer in the absence of the business manager.

* Approved an updated sole source list for vendors that are sole providers of the products they sell. West Ed and The Family Literacy Company have been added to the list.

* Approved a 60-day review for the Magic Tree House book list to be utilized at IWES for academic purposes.

* Approved a 60-day review of the book Sing Down the Moon by Scott O’Dell as a fourth grade supplemental book for the Wit and Wisdom reading program.

* Approved Kasey Dill for student teaching at Hulet Elementary School from Jan. 6-April 27, 2025.

* Approved the Fiscal Year 2025 Capital Plan to be submitted to the School Facility Board.

* Approved support staff resignation of Rachel Benally, transportation, bus driver; Dennis Fortuna, transportation, substitute bus monitor; Megan Haney, maintenance custodian; Brenda Mangum, district, human resources; and Joshua Tohannie and Hannah Yazzie, both transportation, student worker bus monitors.

* Approved support staff employment of Isaac Anderson, transportation, bus monitor; Brady Becenti and Devin Kinlicheenie, both food services, student workers; Tim Begay, transportation, driver; Danielle Johnson, transportation NAVIT, sports and bus driver; and Laurie Jones and Tina Nez, both transportation, increased to 40 hours per week.

* Approved certified employment of Abbie Harmon and Kelly Harvey-Brannon, both district substitute teachers; Ty Hatch, salary advancement; and Brittany McGee, district substitute teacher increase pay for regular substitute certification.

* Approved extra duty for Paul Agramont and Sarah Meeks, both HHS “white fleet” drivers; Kendall Bakurza, Elizabeth Baloo, Alicia Jimenez and John McDaniel, all HJHS “white fleet” drivers; Courtney King and Theresa Yazzie, both IWES “white fleet” drivers; Shawna Bailey, Lang Bartruff, Shannon Knight and Caleb Layden, all as HHS game help; Davina Begay, Maria DeHaan, Jessica Lano, Gabriel Nells, Rochelle Nez, Kristina Taylor and Marc Yazzie, all as IWES game help; Davina Begay, Maria DeHaan, Jessica Lano, Gabriel Nells, Kristina Taylor and Marc Yazzie, all IWES sports officials; Tiana Begay and Nora John, Indian education committee members; Meghan Carbonneau, HHS substitute teacher; and Parker Moss, transportation “white fleet” and sports driver.

* Approved volunteers Robert Armijo and Adrian Perkins, both HJHS sports official; Alex Baldonado, HJHS “white fleet” driver; and Colleen Hubbard, HJHS eighth grade head volleyball coach.

* Approved professional leave for Charles Haussman, Arizona Department of Education/Career and Technical Education (CTE) directors meeting, cost to the district is $69 and use of a district vehicle; Anne Lang, Northern Arizona University (NAU) career and grad school fair Fall, cost to the district is $700 and use of a district vehicle; Bernice Gover, Title IX training, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Dan Orton, Arizona Health and Physical Education conference, cost to the district is $469 and the use of a district vehicle; Cheri Grau, Arizona Rural School Administration (ARSA) resilient rural, cost to the district is $450 and use of a district vehicle; Ray McLaws, School Nutrition Industry conference 2025, cost to the district is $2,135 and use of a district vehicle; Sally O’Dell, purchasing bootcamp, cost to the district is $200 and use of a district vehicle; Laura Layden, ARSA; Michaela Saxton, 2025 Fall CTE data training, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Meghan Carbonneau, CPR/first aid/AED instructor training, cost to the district is $350 and use of a district vehicle; Gabriel Nells, Nava-Hopi Area Junior High League varsity football finals; and Lauren Maestas, Federally Impacted Schools Educational Foundation, cost to the district is $1,373.

* Approved expense and revolving vouchers totaling nearly $1.5 million.

* Approved payroll and expense vouchers totaling nearly $1.5 million.

* Approved personnel pay for Lena Begay, August bus driver incentive, $250; Bernice Gover, deseg professional development, $1,000; IWES, class size stipend, $18,408; Hulet/Park, PAX training certified staff, $4,473; Hulet/Park, PAX Training substitutes, $516; Driver incentive Sept. 2024, $4,200; White bus driver stipend Sept. 2024, $680; and support staff professional growth, $6,487.

* Approved requests by Swing Thing for Rada cutlery sale, expected to earn $1,800; Swing Thing for ice cream social, expected to earn $500; Band for Painted Desert Marching Band festival admissions and concessions, expected to earn $700; Spiritline for cheer clinic, expected to earn $1,000; Football for money dolly catalog sales, expected to earn $1,000; and girls’ basketball for money dolly popcorn sales, expected to earn $5,000.

* Approved donation from Arizona Public Service (APS) to Karen Estridge for $500 gift card for classroom supplies as a “Supply My Classroom Grant” winner.

* Approved Policy ACA Sexual Harassment & ACAA Title IX Sex Discrimination 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 N. 8th Ave., P.O. Box 640, Holbrook, Ariz., 86025. Phone 1-928-524-6144.