The Joseph City Unified School District Governing Board met on Nov. 12, during which Superintendent Bryan Fields announced he will be resigning from the district at the end of the school year in June 2026.
Board President Elden Larsen thanked Fields for his commitment to the schools. “All the years that you put in from being a teacher all the way up.”
Fields began working at the district in 1993 in classified/temporary positions then became a certified teacher in 1996. He served as the junior varsity basketball coach starting in 1994. He began coaching high school football in 1996 and became the junior varsity coach by 1999.
Fields taught several different grade levels, teaching in various fields, but primarily social studies and physical education. He was also the junior high/high representative for the Joseph City Teachers’ Association that disbanded in the early 2000’s.
In 2004, he took on the roll as principal at Joseph City Junior/Senior High School then began serving as superintendent of the school district in 2013. Fields in an earlier meeting had noted that his reason for retiring is that he simply feels it’s time for someone new.
In Fields’ report to the board on other matters he provided the current enrollment numbers for the district, which total 417 students. He also noted that the Department of Education recently released the school grades, with the Joseph City High School receiving a B, Joseph City Junior High receiving a C and Joseph City Elementary School receiving a C.
He noted projects in the district, including roof project on the auditorium/vocational education building roof, as well and smoke/fire detectors.
Fields informed the board that there are several new programs in the schools including a leadership conference hosted by United Way of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff that included freshman students and the Money in Motion program. The elementary school has been offering numerous activities including enrichment and tutoring, flag football and soccer intramurals.
In other business, the following items were approved by Larsen and members, Karsten Flake, Dayton Flake and Lexi Nelson. Board member Cat Hansen was absent from the meeting.
* Approved expense vouchers in the following General and Special Funds accounts: No. 8: $168,587; No. 9: $160,398; No. 10: $163,441; No. 1011: $87,622; No. 1012: $18,025; No. 1013: $69,287; and No. 1014: $20,500. Auxiliary Operations Funds including No. 1015: $2,751; No. 1017: $4,713; and No. 1020: $1,175. Student Activities Fund No. 1016: $1,090.
* Approved the Student Activities Fund report.
* Ratified Cameron Baldwin as the JCHS wrestling assistant coach.
* Approved the appointments of Tori Golding, substitute custodian and Joseph Watkins, bus driver. Approved the resignations of Deveney McGee, instructional aide – Title I, Tyler Penrod, bus driver, and Christina Pringle, volunteer.
* Tabled for a later meeting the discussion and possible action regarding the search and screening processes for a new superintendent who would assume office on July 1, 2026.
* Approved 43 policy advisories for policy changes provided by the Arizona School Boards Association. A full list of the policy advisories is available at the district office.
* Approved student fundraisers including a cookie dough sale for the Class of 2031 and Schoolfundr Email Campaign for the high school boys basketball team.
The next school board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
