The Holbrook Unified School District (HUSD) No. 3 Governing Board met for a regular meeting last Tuesday. During the meeting the board approved a memorandum of understanding between the United Way of Northern Arizona and HUSD to provide KinderCamp for in-coming preschool to kindergarten students at Park and Indian Wells Elementary Schools (IWES) during the summer of 2025. KinderCamp is a targeted early intervention school readiness program that designed to help children, ages 4-5, with the foundational, social, and academic skills necessary for a successful transition into kindergarten. Students attending this program receive a basic dental hygiene screening and oral health lessons. Through home visits, parents and care providers are provided with literacy kits and one-on-one training in literacy, and nutritional and healthy lifestyle coaching. The combination of these services creates and ensures a successful and enriching future for its participants.

Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich noted that a board vacancy was not filled in the last election. As a result, a board member will need to be appointed, and the board will convene again once that appointment is made.

In other business, the board:

* Approved Heather Tucker to complete her early childhood practicum at Park Elementary beginning Jan. 13 for 16 weeks. Tucker was interviewed and has the proper IVP fingerprint clearance.

* Approved Ashli Northern to complete a practicum for speech-language pathology assistant hours in the second semester of this school year. Northern was interviewed and has the necessary requirements to begin practicum hours under the direction of Karalyn Reidhead.

* Approved the procedure for construction projects not permitted by local building departments, which outlines compliance requirements for applicable fire codes for state-owned buildings. The procedure will be submitted to the State Fire Marshall for fire permitting for the Holbrook High School (HHS) science classroom remodel.

* Approved the support staff resignation of Delmar Johnson, HHS assistant softball coach; Patricia Moore, Hulet/SPED special needs assistant; and Jacquelyn Saxton, district executive secretary.

* Approved the support staff employment of Yolanda Attakai, Indian Wells Elementary School (IWES) preschool aide; La’Dell Burks, high needs para, 40 hours per week; Sameshia ByJoe, district substitute secretary; Nancy Canada, food service, a transfer from substitute to regular employee; Tasha Morris, food services substitute worker; MaKayla Shendo, HHS custodian student worker; and Tracy Turley, HHS registrar/receptionist.

* Approved the certified resignation of Jose Ortiz, Holbrook Junior High School learning center teacher.

* Approved the certified employment of Abrian Dickson, transfer from IWES maintenance to HHS welding teacher (pending certification); and Patricia Moore, district Educational Services, Inc., substitute teacher.

* Kaylene Bitsilly, Mike Burks, Jerry Joe and Wayne Silvers, all winter break workers; Steven Carbonneau, Gypsi Gover, Sophia Nell and Jasilyn Yazzie, all white fleet bus drivers; Christopher Ervin, HHS head track coach; and Jerald Nez and Marc Yazzie, both HJHS sports official.

* Approved volunteers MacArthur Chee, HJHS assistant basketball coach; Trent Larson, white fleet driver; Cierra Myers and Tyler Myers, both choir chaperones; and Melvin Tsosie, HJHS seventh grade girls basketball.

* Approved professional leave for Gabriel Nells, athletic directors meeting; Loren Silver, Native American grant school; Ray McLaws, School Nutrition Industry Conference professional growth conference, cost to the district is $859, and use of a district vehicle; Cheryl Carlson, Northland Pioneer College dual enrollment; Heidi Hunsaker, Arizona Music Educators Associations (AMEA) training, cost to the district is $766, and use of a district vehicle; Heather Manygoats, youth mental health first aid training, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Laura Layden, winter advocacy workshop; Beth Self, Arizona Music Educator Association training, cost to the district is $441; and Lauren Maestas, the trust risk management summit, cost to the district is $294, and use of a district vehicle.

* Approved expense and revolving vouchers totaling nearly $570,000.

* Approved payroll and expense vouchers totaling nearly $1.7 million.

* Approved personnel pay for Steven Carbonneau, additional girls wrestling events, $450; SPED CPI training, $1,350; December 2024 bus driver incentive, $4,750; December 2024 white fleet driver stipend, $200; and additional personal pay, $15,240.

* Approved requests from HHS softball for beef jerky sales, estimated to earn $11,000; HHS student council for Mr. Roadrunner dodgeball tournament, estimated to earn $500; HHS student council for Mr. Roadrunner dessert bar, estimated to earn $1,400; HHS AISES for raffle ticket sales, estimated to earn $300-$500; HHS AISES, hot cocoa and tea sales, estimated to earn $50-$200; and HHS AISES for valentine lockets, estimated to earn $150-$300.

* Approved AISES club and engineering club.

* Approved Police IHB-R Special Instructional Programs 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 928-524-6144.