HUSD begins the process of redistricting its wards

HUSD is one of two districts in the state that are governed by wards instead of an open election. In addressing the history of the governing board, Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich explained that in the 1990s a federal court ruling followed a complaint in the late 1980s, that HUSD, based off of a district encompassing 1,500-square miles, did not have the one-person, one-vote representation.

“We’re at the stage now, where the claim was filed back in the late ‘80s, there was a federal court decision and the court did mandate the adherence to the one-person, one-vote rule, which basically says that everybody has the right to have a vote casted based off of the populations that are within the jurisdiction that is casting votes.” He went on to say that the redistricting efforts initiated back the 1990s were for a 10-year span to 2000, which was the original outcome of the court and should have been reassessed for each decade census. “From 2000 to 2010, there was not a redistricting, for whatever reason that never occurred. From 2010 to 2020, there was never a redistricting as well,” he explained. “Now we’re in the 2020 (census) and we’re in 2025 and we’re addressing the issue as it currently stands.”

Koerperich explained that the district is analyzing the population shifts, which have been significant. This process includes informational meetings with the governing board, chapter officials and communities at public hearings and prioritizing for fair representation of Native Americans in the wards. This will follow with a recommendation to draw new wards for HUSD.

Koerperich added that compared to the 1980s, technology has evolved extensively allowing for better accuracy in determining populations, allowing for a more accurate representation.

Current board members include Claudia Jackson for Ward 1; Linda Yazzie Ward 2; Dr. Craig Stuart, Ward 4; and Debbie Shumway, Ward 5. There is no representative for Ward 3 at this time.

As it has been aligned since the 1990s, Ward 1 includes Dilkon, Teesto, Indian Wells and a portion of Greasewood. Ward 2 includes a portion of Greasewood, Petrified Forest, Sun Valley and east of Perkins Valley. Ward 3 includes Holbrook north of Buffalo Street, Spurlock Hill, the Heward Addition and the Lisitsky Park area. Ward 4 includes the central and eastern portions of Holbrook. Ward 5 includes the area of south Holbrook, McLaws Road and Woodruff, with specific borders marked for each.

The proposed wards would change, based on the 2020 census county of the population over 18, with Ward 1 (with 98% indigenous population) to include Whitecone. Ward 2 (with a 70% indigenous population, 14% white population and 8% Latino population) to include eastern Indian Wells, Greasewood, the northeastern portion of Holbrook and Perkins Valley. Ward 3 (with a 78% indigenous population, 11% white population and 6% Latino population) would include west Indian Wells and Dilkon, and south into Holbrook and Perkins Valley. Ward 4 (with a 33% white population, 26% indigenous population, and 25% Latino population) would be most of Holbrook. Ward 5 (with a 38% white population, 26% Native American population and 20% Latino population) would be the areas south of Holbrook. This changes the wards from two having a population of 65% or more indigenous population to three wards.

One of the reasons noted by Koerperich that this circumstance was not addressed sooner is that the board has not had to go to an election for a board member since the ruling was made in 1990. “I would say that if along the way someone said, ‘I’m going to run for Ward 2’ and somebody else is going to run for Ward 2, that might have sparked this conversation.”

To run for a board position for a ward, the individual would have to be over the age of 18, have resided in the school district for at least one year, not be employed by the district and be a registered voter living within the specific ward boundary.

Elmer Clark, who is the Teesto Chapter president addressed the board and stated that he believes families from Teesto, which he explained as an unorganized territory, falls through the cracks although he wasn’t certain as to the number of students attending either Holbrook or Winslow schools. He also stated his support for the redistricting. Koerperich responded by saying he had spoken with the Navajo County Superintendent of Schools on the issue and believed that would need to be initiated by the chapter but that he would visit with Clark and include the superintendent of schools to discuss the matter further.

Executive Director for the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission Leonard Gorman, who has been working with the district on the redistricting planning, also spoke. He apologized to the Navajo people for how long the redistricting has been neglected and is working to rectify it. “My office has become experts in the area of redistricting. The design that we submitted ensures that Native Americans on the Navajo Nation have the ability to elect the candidates of their choice.” Gorman also suggested a special election be held in 2025 to elect board members for the newly redrawn districts.

Alfred Clark stated that he would like to apologize to the non-Native speakers who attended a work session regarding redistricting that was held with the presentation being spoken in Navajo, and hoped in the future it would be both in Navajo and English.

Linda Nelson, who is the Indian Wells Chapter secretary/treasurer, stated her community in Indian Wells supports the redistricting as well and it is long overdue. “It’s going to help us all, and it will also help our children,” she said, adding it shows children it’s important to stand up for yourself and make a positive impact.

In other business, HHS Principal Clete Hargrave presented on the Boomerang Project’s Link Crew program that he hopes to implement in the school, which has been used to improve incoming freshmen students transition from junior high to high school through mentoring by juniors and seniors. “If you look at any data for any district I’ve ever looked at, transition years are very hard on students,” stated Hargrave, adding that a decline in performance is also seen during these times.

Hargrave explained that over 70% of “F” grades at HHS are comprised of the freshmen classes and make up almost half of the behavior referrals as well. “It’s that freshmen year, they’re struggling to know how to behave and where they fit in the school.” Hargrave added that he and several teachers visited Camelback High School in Phoenix to see how the program works and was impressed with the results.

The board then approved out-of-state travel for Cayla Serna, Jamie Justman and Callie Jensen to attend professional development for the Boomerang Project from March 23 through March 26, in Orange, Calif., to learn the program and implement it within the high school. It was noted funding for this would be part of the schools Title I federal funding.

The board also received an Indian Education Program Report from its director Bernice Gover. Indian Education Program offers specialized support services to Native American students. In her midyear review, Gover provided student data collected after the first 40 days of the school year. which showed 1,301 of HUSD’s students who identify as Native American, with 1,004 identifying as Navajo. Other tribes noted were Assiniboine, Gila, Hopi, Iowa, Omaha, Jemez, Laguna, Zuni, Salt River, San Carlos Apache, Sisseton, Tohono O’oodham, White Mountain Apache and Yavapai-Apache.

“For our funding from Johnson-O’Malley for this year, we were allocated $118,330,” stated Gover, “and for Title VI we were allocated $253,496.” These funds go to salaries, programs, field trips and events within the school in which all students can participate in. Gover also reviewed the Navajo language program that is provided at Holbrook High School (HHS) as well as the videos created for Indian Wells Elementary School (IWES) students to take home, so parents can practice speaking in Navajo with them as well. Gover also gave a summary of recent events put on by the committee.

The Indian Education Committee will host a Reading Under the Stars event from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on March 20, at Park Elementary School. All HUSD students and families are welcome. Gover stated the book, The Hungry Caterpillar will be read aloud in English, Spanish and Japanese as a way to share the different languages that community members speak in Holbrook.

The board then received an annual status report based on public school performance measurements to each Indian Nation with tribal lands located within district boundaries and governed by the Arizona Department of Education. During the public comment, Alfred Clark stated he feels the district is doing a good job. Gorman also spoke again, stating he liked the data in the Indian Policies and Procedures packet and the work being done by the Indian Education Committee and JOM.

In other business, the board:

* Approved out of state travel for Holly Perkins to attend the Council for Exceptional Children 2025 Convention and Expo from March 12 to March 15, in Baltimore, Md. Perkins will attend sessions and return to train HUSD staff on conference topics.

* Approved a 60-day review of Frog Street as an early childhood curriculum. Frog Street is a preschool-based early childhood curriculum aimed at kindergarten readiness that will be used both at IWES and Park.

* Approved the 2025 Spring Power of 5 Academic Program for test preparation, graduation support and academic growth at HUSD. The Power of 5 Academic Program will focus on student success in the spring semester on state assessments, graduation rates and other student achievement indicators. The performance pay for completing the Power of 5 Academic Program will be funded through results-based funding.

* Approved Policy KF, KF-RA, KF-EA, KF-RB, KF-EB and KF-EC for first reading. HUSD Policy KF pertains to community use of school facilities. Annually, the board is to approve the fee schedule and usage policy for school facility use. After reviewing the policy, it is recommended to include an updated fee schedule.

* Approved Policy GCF Professional Staff Hiring for first reading. The policy update includes that candidates for professional positions must disclose whether they have pled guilty, pled no contest, been convicted or are awaiting trial.

* Approved support staff resignation of Jonathan Sample, maintenance worker.

* Approved the support staff employment of Debra Gibbons, district substitute secretary; Sonya Johnson, Park Elementary special education high needs paraprofessional; Margarita Mike, executive secretary; Jacquelyn Saxton, district sub secretary/operational trainer part time as needed; Jonathan Sample, transfer from maintenance and transportation to transportation only at 29 hours per week; and Meriana Sullivan, Hulet/SPED pre-k preschool aide.

* Approved the certified resignation of Cheri Grau, Holbrook Junior High Principal.

*Approved the certified retirement of Kristina Taylor, IWES sixth grade teacher.

* Approved the certified employment of Hanna Moore, district substitute teacher.

* Approved extra duty for Shawna Bailey, Karen Estridge, Lea Gishie and Aaren LaRose, all Holbrook Junior High School sports help; Dylan Barela, Holbrook High School assistant baseball coach; Abrian Dickson, non- Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) sports official; Patricia Freeland, Park Elementary KinderCamp aide; Jessica John, operational training; Nora John and Hannah Yazzie, both Indian Wells Elementary School game help; Caleb Layden, HHS assistant softball coach and non-AIA sports official; Heather Manygoats, IWES substitute secretary; Deveney McGee, HHS choreography for Swing Thing; Shurell Nardi, Park Elementary special education substitute teacher; Meagan Newton-Pender, KinderCamp coordinator; Dan Orton, HJHS sports official; Peggy Reid, KinderCamp teacher; Monica Sanchez, STEM tutorial teacher; Jacquelyn Saxton, Michaela Saxton and Tonya Vrbas, all operational training; Chantelle Taylor, HJHS spring musical; and Ferral Yazzie, game help.

* Approved volunteers Francis Ambrose, HHS assistant track coach; and Robert Danner, HHS assistant golf coach.

* Approved professional leave for Katy Brown, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Dilkon, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Shelly Nez, Arizona School Counselors Association annual conference, Fort McDowell, cost to the district is $885; Charles Haussman, Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT) directors meeting, Snowflake; Michael Nilsson, Dale Larson, Joel Daniels, Jeremy Madison, Cayla Serna, Cheryl Carlson and Meghan Carbonneau, Career and Technical Education advisory group meeting, Snowflake, cost to the district is substitute teachers and use of district vehicles; Michaela Saxton, student average daily membership and attendance compliance meeting, Snowflake, estimated cost to the district is $220 and the use of a district vehicle; Gabriel Nells, emergency athletic director’s meeting, Dilkon; Ciara Analla, Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling training, Flagstaff, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Clete Hargrave, Ashley Mitchell, Dan Mitchell, Stephanie Brosius, Ramie Hatch, Center for High School Success learning lab, Phoenix, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Meghan Carbonneau and Cheryl Carlson, NAVIT advisory meeting, Snowflake, cost to the district is use of district vehicles and a substitute teacher; Lauren Maestas, Stifel School District bond/override seminar, Phoenix, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Charles Haussman, ACOVA/Arizona Department of Education directors meeting, estimated cost to the district is $725 and use of a district vehicle; Stephanie Bridegam, Be Safe certification, Phoenix, cost to the district is $488 and use of a district vehicle; Nichole Tow, Linda Yazzie, Andrea Tomlin and Bernice Gover, School Connect Summit 2025, Phoenix, estimated cost to the district is $2,067; Ramie Hatch, Northland Pioneer College Early College Appreciation Day, Snowflake, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle and a substitute teacher; Jason Foutz, NAVIT training, Snowflake, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle and a substitute teacher; Charles Haussman, NAVIT local directors meeting Snowflake; and Shawn Tow, Lauren Maestas and Jesus Luna, Arizona School Business Officials Conference, Laughlin, Nev., estimated cost to the district is $2,375 and use of a district vehicle.

* Approved expense and revolving vouchers totaling nearly $861,000.

* Approved payroll and expense vouchers totaling nearly $1.4 million.

* Approved personnel pay for Jeff Meeks, Professional Development (PD) trainer, $300; Jonathan Sample, leave buyout, $303; Nichole Tow, Park/Hulet elementary schools Wit and Wisdom presenter, $500; Patty Clark, PD training, $1,000; SPED CPI PD, $960; HJHS AVID PD, $9,484; Shelly Nez, counselor PD, $1,000; Hulet Teach Like a Champion PD, $442; third quarter class size differential stipends, $16,641; Park/Hulet Wit and Wisdom Deseg Day, $6,050; January bus driver performance pay, $4,240; Jan. 24 extra duty pay, $16,924; and Feb. 7 extra duty pay, $21,999.

* Approved requests from HHS Key Club for caricature pictures, estimated to earn $300; HHS student council for watch party/movie night, estimated to earn $300-$500; HHS golf team for efundraiser, estimated to earn $2,000; HHS outdoor club for Navajo taco sale, estimated to earn $500; junior class for chocolate bar sales, estimated to earn $400; and IWES student council for Valentine grams, estimated to earn $1,080.

* Accepted a donation from Barry Richins for $300 to Park Elementary School to purchase coats and/or shoes for students in need.

* Approved consent agenda items and expense vouchers. Detailed information for all district expenditures may be obtained by contacting the School District business office located at 1000 N. 8th Ave., in Holbrook.