HUSD begins search for new superintendent

When speaking on JOM funding, Gover noted a severe decrease in funding, “Last year, we had $118,3346, and then this year we were initially given $9,749,” she explained. “A lot of that had to do with the political climate at the time.”

It was stated that as of Oct. 1, there was an additional $26,380 from the previous year, which is allowed to be used until Dec. 30. The JOM funds will be used to purchase language books and supplies, as well as conferences for students to attend. Gover added that while funding has been reduced, new funding is going to be available thanks to the Navajo Nation moving $2 million from their general fund to JOM fund. “We will have additional money coming, besides our $9,000, and they want us to spend all of it. So, before we can touch the money from the Navajo Nation general fund, we have to spend out our complete contract.”

The board reviewed the 2024-25 Achievement of Participation Report. Policy KJG requires the district to give 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.

In the report, it states that student population preschool through 12th grade is 1,827, with 59% identifying as Native American, 21% Hispanic, 13% White, 6% mixed race and less than 2% identifying as Black/Asian. It was noted that 54% students are male and 46% are female.

Trends of note in the report included IWES having steady attendance over the past five years and Park Elementary School moving second grade to Hulet Elementary School. Holbrook Junior High School (HJHS) is at a five-year low for enrollment based on smaller classes coming from Hulet and Park over the past few years.

HHS has seen fluctuations in enrollment over the past five years, with some of it being attributed to the Tiisyaakin Residential Hall only being at half-capacity due to COVID the past two years. It was stated in the report that overall, the district has experienced a declining enrollment trend over the past 10 years with a slow increase from the lowest enrollment in 2020.

No public comments from the representatives of Native students were given in regards to the Achievement of Participation Report.

During the call to the public, HHS student Hunter Tallsalt spoke to the board about the University of Arizona’s Saturday Scrubs program. According to their website, Saturday Scrubs is a free program for Arizona high school students to explore medicine with lectures and activities. Tallsalt stated that he’s been in contact with the program’s director and would like to have events in the program in Holbrook, adding the director would like to invite board members to attend one of the events, “To see what it’s about, to see what students are up to, to see how they train students and how they like to inspire more students to go into medical professions.”

Business Manager Lauren Maestas gave the annual financial report for 2024-25 to review the spending of the prior fiscal year.

Vice President Linda Yazzie and Boardmember Debbie Shumway were both absent from the meeting.

In other business, the board:

* Approved the book listings for purchase for students through the Indian Wells Elementary (IWES) and Hulet Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Book Program for final adoption. Purchase of books will come from Scholastic Dollars earned at book fairs. Students will be able to earn free books from the school book vending machine.

* Reviewed and approved of the Impact Aid Program Indian Policies and Procedures that are a required measure for Impact Aid compliance.

* Approved policies IHBJ, IHBJ-R, IHBJ-EA, IHBJ-EB, KGJA and KJG to ensure that the district meets all minimum standards in continuing to provide adequate levels of Indian community participation throughout the district.

* Approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Annual Financial Report includes the Food Service Annual Financial Report and Classroom Site Fund Narrative.

* Approved the Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act minimum wage increase for minimum wage employees beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The increase, based on inflation, will be at the rate of $15.15 per hour, up from the current rate of $14.70.

* Approved extra duty job descriptions for project management, to manage duties aligned with project assessment, design, procurement and construction of School Facilities Division projects. The duties will be dispersed in three roles for project management at the district.

* Approved Grand Canyon University education major Shurrell Nardi to conduct practicum work at Hulet Elementary during the fall semester.

* Approved Grand Canyon University education major Jacquelyn Benally to conduct practicum work at IWES during the fall and spring semesters.

* Approved out-of-state travel for Bernice Gover, Heather Armijo and Heather Sakurai to attend the National Johnson O’Malley Association national conference during Nov. 7-11, in Denver, Colo. All travel expenses will be paid through Johnson O’ Malley funds.

* Approved out-of-state travel for HHS Band and Fusion to travel to Disneyland in California during spring break March 9–13, 2026, including use of suburbans if needed as well as insurance coverage for all participants.

* Approved the implementation of the Kansas University College and Career Framework to be utilized at IWES. IWES received a grant to fund this program.

* Approved HHS to partner with the Center for High School Success to apply for the Arizona 9th Grade on Track Grant Project. The 9th Grade on Track Grant is a multi-year grant designed to provide funding to improve the ninth-grade student experience to ensure that students develop the skills they need to successfully proceed to the tenth grade on time and ultimately graduate from high school and launch successful careers.

* Approved Language Essentials as a supplemental curriculum for English language instruction as presented for 60-day review. The proposal is included in the back-up materials and will be posted on the HUSD website under 60-day curriculum review.

* Approved the FY 2026 capital plan to be submitted to the School Facilities Board.

* Approved the updated Arizona School Board Association bylaws.

* Approved the classified resignations of Yvette Purley, substitute cafeteria worker, effective Oct. 2, and Jonathan Sample, bus driver, effective Oct. 1.

* Approved the classified employment of Tammy Attakai, maintenance custodian; Charlene Betts, special education high needs paraprofessional; Seth Browning, student maintenance worker; Julian Chavez, temporary substitute cafeteria worker to permanent cafeteria delivery; Christina Castillo and Vanessa Chee, both bus drivers; Deldon Nez, maintenance custodian, 30 to 40 hours; and Terri Tafoya, district, substitute secretary.

* Approved the certified employment of Monica Liddle, HHS long-term substitute.

* Approved extra duty for Elizabeth Baloo, HJHS white fleet driver; Courtney King, IWES white fleet driver; Heather Manygoats, Venora Morris and Charlotte Yazzie, IWES game help; Gabriel Nells, IWES football assistant coach; Josh Novak, white fleet driver; and Cayla Serna, HHS student council sponsor HHS stipend. * Approved volunteers Ashley Attakai, Colleen Hubbard, Zach Sulu and Farrell Yazzie, all as HJHS white fleet driver; Kylie Attakai, HJHS volleyball assistant coach; Victor Padilla, HHS and HJHS wrestling assistant coach; and Jonathan Sample Sr., HHS football coach.

* Approved professional leave for Jacob Baker, Jesus Luna and Lauren Maestas, BRG new user program updates training, Flagstaff, Sept. 11, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Charles Haussman, Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology directors meeting, Snowflake, Sept. 15; Jeremy Madison, Arizona Council of Occupational Vocational Administrators fall conference, Prescott, Nov. 5-7, cost to the district is $597; W. Ray McLaws, School Nutrition Association of Arizona annual conference, Phoenix, Nov. 7-9, cost to the district is $765 and use of a district vehicle; Gabriel Nells, athletic director’s meeting, Dilkon, Sept. 29; Daniel Orton, AZ Health & Physical Education conference, Mesa, Oct. 27-29, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Chantelle Taylor, JHJS, music concert practice, Oct. 7-8. Students will walk to practice at HHS and back to class; Danelle Garner, Jessica Paz and Nichole Tow, Essential Standards, Phoenix, Oct. 2, cost to the district is $500 and use of a district vehicle; and Gabriel Nells and Steve Redmon, Navajo-Hopi Area Junior High League JV Football Finals, Holbrook, Oct. 3, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle.

* Approved expenses and revolving vouchers totaling $549,087.

* Approved payroll and expense vouchers totaling nearly $1.1 million.

* Approved personnel pay number eight, $36,741; personnel pay number nine, $3,732; Classified Notice of Appointments, Sept. 2025; and Classified Notice of Appointments, Oct. 2025.

* Approved fundraisers for HHS Spirit Line, cheer clinic, expected to earn $500; girls basketball, popcorn sale, expected to earn $7,000; Swing Thing, ice cream social, expected to earn $2,000; football, money dolly online catalog, expected to earn $9,000; IWES council, shirt sales, expected to earn $559; IWES council, pre-sale boo grams, expected to earn $150; IWES council coffee sales, expected to earn $200; and IWES council, concessions, expected to earn $500.

* Approved HJHS Student Council Club, HHS Football Club, Class of 2028 Club and HHS Girl’s Basketball Club.

* Approved the acceptance of donations from LAM Corporation for $1,000 to AISES club; Navajo County for $1,500 to AISES club; Smith Bagley Inc. for nine cases of diapers to McKinney-Vento.

* Approved the following policies for final adoption: EB Safety Program; GCQF Discipline, Suspension and Dismissal of Professional Staff; JLC Student Health Services and Requirements; JLCD Medicines/Administering Medicines to Students; IHA Basic Instructional Program; JFB Open Enrollment; JLF Reporting Child Abuse/Child Protection; JR & JR-R Student Records; and GCQE and GCQE-R Retirement of Professional Staff Members.

* Approved consent agenda items and expense vouchers. Information for all District expenditures may be obtained by contacting the School District business office located at 1000 North 8th Avenue, P.O. Box 640, Holbrook, AZ 86025. Phone 1-928-524-6144.