The Holbrook Unified School District (HUSD) No. 3 Governing Board met for a regular meeting last Tuesday, during which the board received an action research presentation by teacher Kyle Gardner on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it is impacting the education system.
“The reality is, it’s not the future, it’s the now,” stated Gardner, “So the need for students to understand AI going into the workforce is immediate.”
A survey conducted by Gardner showed that 50-55% of staff is already using AI tools in their work for things such as lesson planning, grading and differentiation, but are reluctant to use it on the student level. “Some of the concerns teachers expressed was obviously academic integrity. Is this cheating? Are our kids just using chat GPT to write their papers for them?” Gardner also addressed other issues that arise when discussing AI utilization, but the consensus reached was teachers want it to be used in effective and proper ways.
After extensive research, Gardner concluded AI is most impactful as an assistance tool. “One of the other tough things is the research says that teachers are going to have to change how they teach. It’s going to be a major, major adjustment, because we can’t ask the same questions anymore. We have to focus on critical thinking,” Gardner explained.
Gardner stated for optimal AI use, teachers will need clear guidelines, practical hands-on training and personal development, dedicated time to explore and plan, as well as resource and technical support. Another note made by Gardner was the importance of giving teachers the allowance to dictate how AI is used in their classes. He presented his guiding principle when using AI in his classrooms, which he created in collaboration with AI. “I believe AI can empower both teachers and students to save time, explore ideas and amplify creativity. I will use AI ethically with transparency and intention, and I will teach my students how to use it thoughtfully, not just skillful in my classroom. AI is a tool, not a shortcut, not a crutch and definitely not the teacher.”
Gardner stated the importance of policy and guidelines to ensure its best use, to be vital. Despite the unknowns that come with AI, Gardner expressed excitement for this change. “We’re pioneers. We literally are the pioneers of what the future of education is going to look like.”
Holbrook Junior High School (HJHS) Principal Cheri Grau also shared the results of her research on Tier I instructional techniques for special education students. Grau found after that studying accommodation effectiveness that the generic blanket accommodations that are used for all special needs students in Individual Education Program (IEP) are not fully successful. “What I found is its really dependent on what the students’ individual needs are.”
After explaining her research, Grau stated that accommodations work best if they’re applicable to the learning, with a focus on why it is being done rather than what is being done. She emphasized the importance of incorporating each student’s individual needs, as well as input from the students themselves. “Ask them what helps them learn best and empowering them. Students should have a voice in their learning, including in what ways help them learn, understand and helping students to understand their own personal learning needs.” Grau concluded with hopes that this research continues, and while she doesn’t have all the answers, it’s important to continue the work in order to ensure student success.
Human Resources Director Anne Lang also presented on her action research regarding employee wellness incentive plans, which concluded that staff responded positively to more wellness centered events and content.
These research projects are conducted by teachers and staff in order to improve teaching strategies, methods and overall learning outcomes. “We look for problems that exist within our school system and things that we want to move forward in our school system, and then we spend the year studying them,” explained Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich.
Indian Wells Elementary School (IWES) Principal Bernice Gover was unable to attend the meeting. Her action research presentation on culturally responsive assessment of indigenous schools was postponed until the next meeting in June.
The board also received an update on the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. HUSD Business Manager Lauren Maestas explained the budget changes, which included revisions to Average Daily Membership counts, maintenance and operations carryforward, district additional assistance, one-time free and reduced lunch funding and unrestricted capital. The board opened the meeting to take public comments on budget revisions for Fiscal Year 2025 final adoption, to which no one submitted public comment. Afterward the board approvedthe HUSD Fiscal Year 2025 budget final revision.
In other business, the board:
* Approved a 60-day review of Frog Street as an early childhood curriculum at Indian Wells Elementary School (IWES) and Park Elementary School. Frog Street is a preschool-based early childhood curriculum aimed at kindergarten readiness that will be used both in current preschool programs and summer transition programs for incoming kindergarten students.
* Approved the list of authorized check signers and Margarita Mike as a student activities treasurer.
* Approved the annual intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT) and HUSD. The IGA outlines HUSD’s agreement with NAVIT in relationship to the programs and courses taught at Holbrook High School.
* Approved implementation of the Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) after school program beginning in the 2025-26 school year at IWES. GLOW is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and offers a fully funded mentoring program designed to empower Indigenous girls while being inclusive to all girls in grades 4-12. This no-cost initiative provides weekly after-school clubs featuring a culturally responsive curriculum that strengthens confidence, leadership and advocacy skills while honoring Native perspectives. The program’s proven model, one mentor per 20 girls, has demonstrated success in Indigenous communities and aligns with HUSD’s focus on culturally responsiveness initiatives.
* Approved an updated job description for the clinical services salary placement schedule. The changes reflect a change to the salary and benefits.
* Approved an updated job description for the federal projects manager.
* Approved the clinical services salary placement schedule that includes school nurses with qualifications for registered nurse, Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Masters of Science in Nursing.
* Approved the Winslow Indian Health Care Center memorandum of agreement for health care services with the Holbrook Schools. The agreement allows for virtual and in-person health care presentations, activities and health screenings.
* Approved the 2025-2026 IGA between Vail Unified School District and HUSD for the use of the Beyond Textbooks Program. Beyond Textbooks provides a standards-based scope and sequence for teachers in grades K-12 to assist teachers in teaching the Arizona State Standards.
* Approved the engagement letter with CWDL Auditing Services to conduct the fiscal audit for HUSD in Fiscal Year 2025.
* Approved the renewal of the Arizona Risk Trust and Alliance insurance coverage for School Year (SY) 2025-26. HUSD utilizes the Arizona Risk Trust for liability, car and professional liability; as well as Alliance for worker’s compensation liability.
* Approved the list of summer activities, which will be grant-funded or sponsored by clubs. District liability insurance will cover these events during the summer months.
* Approved policy updates for Policy AA School District Legal Status, ABA Community Involvement in Education, AC & AC-R Nondiscrimination/Equal Opportunity, ACA Sexual Harassment, ACAA Title IX Sex Discrimination, BA School Board Operational Goals, BAA Evaluation of School Board/Board Self-Evaluation, BK School Board Memberships, BJ School Board Legislative Platform, BIE Board Member Insurance/Liability, BB School Board Legal Status, BBA Board Powers and Responsibilities, BBBA Board Member Qualifications, BBBD Board Member Removal From Office, BCA Board Member Ethics, BDA Board Organizational Meeting, BCB Board Member Conflict of Interest, BDD Board-Superintendent Relationship, BDE Board Committees, BDG School Attorney, BE School Board Meetings, BED Meeting Procedures, BEDA Notification of Board Meetings, BEDB Agenda, BEDH Public Participation and News Media Services at Board Meetings for first reading as recommended by the Arizona School Board Association.
* Approved the classified retirement of Caroline Begay, Holbrook Junior High School (HJHS) custodian; and Cristina Aguilera, food services.
* Approved the classified resignation of Lelia Demuth, HHS academic advisor; Lauren Phillips-Rugg, HHS secretary; Justine Scott, food services substitute; and Sheila Yazzie, food service worker.
* Approved the classified employment of Michael Burks, Transition from Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher to C.S. Tech II with network admin; Madison Hatch, food services student worker; Ivah Jeffers-Sample, HHS transfer from resident substitute teacher to special education special needs assistant SY 2025/26; Riley Meek, Hulet and HHS library aide; Tasha Morris, transfer from substitute to cafeteria worker; and Tracey Turley, HHS temporary secretary; with the exception to remove Ryan Calamity, IWES lead facilities worker.
* Approved the certified resignation of Katy Brown, district/HJHS social worker; and Shundeen Salazar, IWES kindergarten teacher.
* Approved the certified employment of Kathleen Begay, Hulet teacher SY 2025/26; Saraphania Benally, District special education academic success coordinator SY 25/26; Abrian Dickson, HHS welding teacher SY 2025/26; Kasey Dill, district substitute teacher SY 2025/26; DeVell Dunaway, Hulet reading specialist SY 2025/26 return to work; Gypsi Gover, IWES transfer from second grade to kindergarten SY 2025/26; Caleb Layden, HHS physical education teacher SY 2025/26; Andrea Luna, Hulet special education teacher SY 2025/26; Heather Morgan, HHS, English teacher SY 2025/26; Nicholas Moyte, HHS Phenix School teacher SY 2025/26; Paige Murray, Park Elementary kindergarten teacher SY 2025/26; Greg Perkins, HHS, athletic director and physical education teacher SY 2025/26; Steve Redmon, IWES elementary teacher SY 2025/26; Ruby Ronquillo, IWES 2nd grade teacher SY 2025/26; and Barbra Williams, Hulet preschool teacher SY 2025/26.
* Approved extra duty for Scott Baker, HHS head softball coach; Julie Berry, Ramie Hatch, Stephanie Brosius, Tobias Herndon, Shannon Knight, Jerald Nez, Michael Nilsson, Jeff Robinson and Dawn Tomlinson, all HHS summer school; Dawna Bitsoie, Terri DeHann, Tim Eddings, Gypsi Gover, Anika Francis, Andrea Williams, Theresa Yazzie, Debbie Koerperich, Theresa Holmes, Marilyn Francisco and Suzanne Powell, all IWES summer school; Ron Eisele, HHS, assistant baseball coach; Karen Estridge and Adicia Paschal, both HJHS summer school; Pat Freeland, Meagan Newton-Pender and Peggy Reid, Park, June KinderCamp; Kara Gardner, Hulet summer school; Ty Hatch, District “White Fleet” driver; Callie Jensen, HHS outdoor club; Melissa John, Park summer school; Caleb Layden, HHS summer weights; Gabriel Nells, IWES sports intramural day; Sarah Meeks, HHS band camp; Daniel Orton, HJHS summer school and sports intramural day; and Ray Patterson, HHS assistant softball coach.
* Approved professional leave for Brittany Antonio, AZ Housing Coalition’s 30th Annual Conference, Phoenix, May 7-8, cost to the district is $477 and use of a district vehicle; Heather Manygoats, AZ Housing Coalition’s 30th Annual Conference, Phoenix, May 7-8, cost to the district is $579; Bernice Gover, Winslow Indian Health Care Center School Health Conference, Flagstaff, May 9, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Ty Hatch, Grand Canyon University cadaver lab tour, Phoenix, May 16, cost to the district is use of district vehicle; Audrey Morris, 2nd Annual School Health Conference, Flagstaff, May 9; Beth Plumb, Navajo County Victim’s Rights Symposium, Snowflake, May 9, cost to the district is use of district vehicle; Audriana Quezada, School Nurses of Arizona School Health Conference, Phoenix, June 11-13, cost to the district is $610 and use of the district vehicle; Erik Salley, AZ Career and Technical Education summer conference, Tucson, July 12-13, cost to the district is $1,063; Andrea Tomlin and Hanna Yazzie, The Front Office – The First Line of Defense, Snowflake, May 28, cost to the district is $46.
* Approved expense and revolving vouchers totaling nearly $700,000.
* Approved payroll and expense vouchers totaling nearly $1.1 million.
* Approved personnel pay for March/April 2025 “White Fleet” driver stipend, $1,840; Teacher of the Year stipends, $1,746; May 16 extra duty pay, $14,552; and May 30 extra duty pay, $608,088.
* Approved tax credit, constitution and formation of HHS Autos Club.
* Approved requests by AISES Club for frozen yogurt sale on May 15, expected to earn $700; HHS boys basketball for basketball tournament on June 6-7, expected to earn $1,530; HHS wrestling for takedown clinic on June 20 or July 11, expected to earn $2,000, proceeds split with presenter; HHS wrestling for wrestling tournament on July 12, expected to earn $2,900; and Special Olympics Club for iced tea and Rice Krispie treat sales before school on May 4, expected to earn $500.
* Approved donations from the Holbrook Lions Club for a $200 check made payable to HJHS for Student of the Year awards; and from Kinder Morgan Natural Gas for 80 cupcakes, four cases of Gatorade and three cases of water for IWES Spring Fling event on April 30.
* Approved final adoptions of Policy GCQE, GCQE-EB, GCQE-EA Retirement of Professional Staff Members; Policy GDQC, GDQC-EA, GDQC-EB Retirement of Support Staff Members; GDD Support Staff Vacations and Holidays; GBEF Staff Use of Digital Communication and Electronic Devices; and GCCA Professional/Support Staff Sick Leave.
* Approved consent agenda items and expense vouchers items. Detailed information for all District expenditures may be obtained by contacting the School District.
