The Holbrook Unified School District (HUSD) No. 3 Governing Board met for a regular meeting last Tuesday, during which Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich gave a presentation on school safety plans for School Year 2025-26 (SY 25-26).
“I think there’s things that have happened in America recently that have heightened our awareness in that we definitely need to have proper planning,” stated Dr. Koerperich. Some systems in place listed were emergency operation plans with Navajo County, drills, camera systems, scan badges, school resource officers, emergency notification systems, tabletop scenarios, as well as monthly safety modules and trainings.
Koerperich explained the main emphasis for this upcoming year, “One of the things that we really want to focus on this year is that reunification process.” Reunification process during an emergency includes accounting for students, contacting parents, releasing students to parents and medical and counseling assistance. Koerperich stated this is the untested part of the district’s safety plan. “Fortunately, we haven’t had to use the reunification system, but we want to make sure that we’re on top of that.”
For future steps, the district will work to socialize their safety plans with stakeholders, parents and students. Continuing constant monitoring, enhancing safety systems such as cameras were also listed. Threat assessments for each school in the district were noted as well. “The key to all of this is that we’re working together,” stated Koerperich.
Following the presentation, the board held a public hearing to take comments on the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 26) proposed budget. Following its approval at the previous meeting, a summary of the proposed budget was posted on the Arizona Department of Education website for the required 10 days. No comments were made. The board then approved the FY 26 district budget, with board member Debbie Shumway absent from the meeting.
In other business, the board:
* Approved the sole source vendors for the products and services for FY 26. Sole source vendors are designated on the basis that they are the sole provider of the required materials or services for our school district.
* Approved Human Resources Director Anne Lang and Sally O’Dell, purchasing/bookkeeper, as second signature designees to be authorized signers in the absence of the business manager for FY 25-26.
* Approved the appointment of Margarita Mike as the student accounts treasurer for FY 25-26.
* Approved school safety plans for SY 25-26.
* Approved the SY 25-26 Employee Handbook and Student Activities Handbook.
* Approved an Athletic Handbook that outlines policies, procedures and guidelines for athletic eligibility, coaching guidelines and volunteer guidelines for Holbrook High School, Holbrook Junior High School and Indian Wells Elementary School.
* Approved the substitute scheduler job description and stipend.
* Approved a revised classified salary placement schedule to include a classified employee rate for substitute teaching with the credentials of a valid substitute teaching certificate. This will be for limited positions and will be based on an hourly rate.
* Approved the updated substitute teacher job descriptions.
* Approved a request to hire paraprofessionals and/or health aides throughout the school year as needed, when these positions are required by a student’s Individual Education Plan. This was approved in order to maintain proper staffing due to students entering the special needs program at various times throughout the year.
* Approved Zachary Woody to complete practicum hours at IWES during the fall semester of 2025. Woody has the required fingerprint clearance required for the practicum.
* Approved the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) club for out-of-state travel to Minneapolis, Minn., Oct. 1-4 to the 2025 National AISES Conference. * Held a first reading for the following policies: DA Fiscal Management Goals, DB & DB-R Annual Budget: Schedule, Preparation/Planning, Format and Posting, DBC & DBC-R Budget Planning, Preparation, and Schedule, DBF Budget Process, Adoption and Implementation, DBI Budget Implementation, DBJ Budget Reconciliation and Transfers, DD & DD-E Budget Funding Sources, DDA Funding Sources Outside The School System, DEC Funding From Federal Tax Sources, DFA Revenues And Incomes, DFB Revenues And Incomes, DFD Gate Receipts and Admissions, DFF Income From School Sales And Services, DG Banking Services And Authorized Signatures, DGA Authorized Signatures, DGD Credit Cards, DI Fiscal Accounting and Reporting, DIB Revolving And Auxiliary Funds, DIC Financial Reporting And Statements, DID and DID-R Inventories, DIE & DIE-R Audits/Financial Monitoring, DIE Audit Financial Monitoring, DJ Purchasing Ethics, DJE & DJE-R Bidding/Purchasing Procedures, DJGA & DJGA-R Sales Calls And Demonstrations, DK, DK-EA, DK-EB Payment and Payroll Procedures, and DN School Properties Disposition.
* Approved the revised Governing Board meeting date from Nov. 11 to Nov. 4, in order to not meet on Veterans Day.
* Approved the classified retirement of Sarah Gishie, maintenance, custodian; and Jimmie Lano, transportation, bus driver, with return to work approval.
* Approved the classified employment of Nicole Bahe, maintenance, custodian; Marie Jackson, substitute cafeteria worker; Joshua LeSuerur, summer computer services student worker; Heather Manygoats, summer solar install (eight hours per day for July 1-2 and 14-16); Shyann Nardi, nurse aide (eight hours per day for July 28-29) Audrianna Quezada and Miriam Stacey, both school nurses (eight hours per day for July 28-29).
* Approved extra duty for Leslie Baldonado, Stephanie Brosius and Cheryl Carlson, all HHS 25/26 mentors; Erica Chee, IWES June 2025 KinderCamp; DeVell Dunaway, Rasheed Hollins and Nikki Mondragon, all Hulet Elementary 25/26 mentors; Alicia Jiminez, Karen Estridge, Aaren LaRose and Dan Orton, all HJHS 25/26 mentors; Danelle Garner, Hulet third grade level chair; Heidi Hunsaker, Hulet Elementary Rockin’ Roadrunners director and Park Elementary 25/26 mentor; Kim Jaster, Hulet Elementary fifth grade level chair; Gabriel Nells and Debbie Koerperich, both IWES 25/26 mentors; Laura Layden, Park Elementary 25/26 mentor; Lauren Maestas, District, 25/26 mentor; Nicole Moyte, Hulet second grade level chair; Meagan Newton-Pender, Park kindergarten grade level chair and Park Elementary 25/26 mentor; Jessica Paz, Park/Hulet Elementary, Cadre, fourth grade level chair and Hulet Elementary 25/26 mentor; and Monica Sanchez, Park Elementary first grade level chair.
* Approved volunteers Lyndzi Brawley and Natasha McLaws, HHS Grow Arizona 25/26; and Beth Self, Hulet Rockin’ Roadrunners 25/26.
* Approved professional leave for Britney Burgan, self-assessment/data review monitoring process, July 22, Phoenix, at a cost to the district of use of a district vehicle; Abrian Dickson, Association for Career Technical Education of Arizona summer conference, July 9-17, Tucson; Jerry Joe and Wayne Silvers, both 2025 school fleet mechanics summit, June 27, Phoenix, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Lauren Maestas and Michaela Saxton, both Grants 4 Schools conference, Aug. 27-29, Scottsdale, cost to the district is $1,726; and Michaela Saxton, Graduate Medical Education workshop/charting the course, Aug. 25-27, Phoenix, cost to the district is $817.
* Approved expense and revolving vouchers totaling nearly $1.1 million.
* Approved payroll and expense vouchers totaling nearly $1.6 million.
* Approved personnel pay for extra duty pay, leave buyout and AVID stipends totaling $29,396; Extra duty pay and retention stipends totaling $452,301; and extra duty pay and new teacher pay/recruitment stipends totaling $71,856.
* Approved HHS clubs and sports for concessions for SY 25/26, estimated to earn $1,000-$3,000 per event; and HHS band and fusion for Charleston Wrap online catalog fundraiser, estimated to earn $1,000.
* Approved final adoption for the following policies: CA Administration Goals/Priority Objectives, CB Superintendent, CBA Qualifications and Duties of the Superintendent, CBCA and CBCA-R Delegated Authority, CBI, CBI-EB Evaluation of Superintendent, CCB Line and Staff Relations, CFD, CFD-E, CFD-R School-Based Management, CHD Administration in the Absence of Policy, CK Administrative Consultants and CM School District Annual Report.
* Approved consent agenda items and expense vouchers in items. Detailed information for all District expenditures may be obtained by contacting the School District business office, located at 1000 N. 8th Ave., Holbrook, or phone 928-524-6144.
