Last Wednesday, the Winslow Unified School District hosted a community meeting to gather feedback from parents who have chosen to enroll their children in other districts, primarily Joseph City. This gathering marked Superintendent Dr. Amber Martinez’s first public event, other than school board meetings, since assuming her new role.
Attendees were provided with informational sheets highlighting the strengths and advantages of an education within the Winslow district. Superintendent Martinez addressed the audience, noting that many families choose Joseph City due to its smaller class sizes and favorable student-to-teacher ratios. She emphasized Winslow’s recent efforts that reduced average class sizes to approximately 24 students in elementary schools and 26 in high schools.
Despite the district’s outreach, attendance was sparse. Among the few attendees providing feedback was Jason Whetten, who leads theatrical productions in Joseph City. Whetten shared insights from his experience, stating, “I teach many of these kids and most of them say it’s because of the four-day week.” Joseph City operates on a four-day school schedule, whereas Winslow maintains a four-and-a-half-day schedule, with Fridays as half days.
School Board President Debbie Martinez acknowledged Whetten’s comment, agreeing that Joseph City’s schedule is indeed appealing to families. However, she explained that implementing a four-day school week in Winslow would pose challenges, primarily due to the district’s dormitory accommodations for students living on the reservations, complicating scheduling and supervision.
An additional concern raised during the meeting was the potential difficulty for working families if a four-day week were adopted, as they rely heavily on school-based childcare. One attendee suggested making Fridays optional rather than eliminating them entirely, providing flexibility for families with varying needs.
Bonnie Brennan Elementary School Principal Larissa Richards responded positively to this suggestion, noting, “We’ve seen that (optional Friday’s) in other districts and it could definitely work.”
Notably absent were parents from the Winslow community who currently send their children to Joseph City schools. District administrators expressed a continued desire for further engagement and feedback from these families. Superintendent Martinez encouraged parents and community members to reach out directly with their input by contacting her via email at AMartinez@wusd1.org.
