The Holbrook Unified School District (HUSD) No. 3 District Governing Board met for a regular meeting Tuesday, April 14, during which Holbrook Junior High School (HJHS) and Holbrook High School (HHS) students spoke on the Advancement VIA Individual Determination (AVID) program and how it helped them prepare for life after school. AVID began being implemented in HHS in 2022. The program provides academic mentoring, peer tutoring and instruction on study skills.

“I’m a senior and I was one of the first groups of sixth graders when we brought AVID in, and I’ve been through it all the way through,” stated Alexa Jimenez, adding how she struggled with organization prior to AVID, and sometimes still falls back on those tendencies from time to time. “But when I return to those AVID principles, they help me so much.” She added how it also helped her motivate for college and find scholarships.

The board also received a presentation on the district’s insurance open enrollment for School Year (SY) 2026-27. The open enrollment plan outlines insurance options and the implementation of an employee wellness plan. Following the presentation, the board approved the open enrollment insurance program for SY 2026-27.

In new business, the board:

* Approved a one-time longevity stipend for food service staff at 10 cents per hour for all positions at 19.5 hours or more. Information provided by the district shows that these positions are hard to fill at this time and longevity in food service is an ongoing problem with filling positions. Funding will be specific to the food service budget.

* Approved the SY 2026-27 classified staff notice of appointment renewals, including a 3.5% hourly increase to the current hourly rate. Minimum wage increases were given in January so staff on minimum wage will not be given an increase.

* Approved a revised clinical services salary schedule used for the placement of speech language pathologists, occupational therapist, physical therapist, psychologists and school nurses for SY 2026-27.

* Approved the open enrollment administrative procedure that outlines guidelines for accepting both resident and non-resident students based on open enrollment capacities.

* Approved the 2026-27 Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT) and the Holbrook School District. This is an annual agreement.

* Approved the 2024-2027 dual enrollment intergovernmental agreement with Northland Pioneer College (NPC) with updated coursework, fees and staff for SY 2026-27.

* Approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the district and The ACE Development Group to provide funding for a partnership between AES, a subsidiary of the ACE Corporation, and the Holbrook School District. The MOU outlines funding for Energizing Roadrunner initiatives, STEM supplies and community event funding.

* Approved the renewal of the client service agreement with Educational Services Incorporated (ESI) for SY 2026-27. ESI specializes in providing temporary and long-term contract employees in schools. All associated rates will remain the same for next school year.

* Approved CWDL Auditing Services to conduct the fiscal audit for the district in Fiscal Year 2027.

* Approved the assistant principal job description at Holbrook High School.

* Approved the ninth grade center for high school success team lead job description and stipend.

* Authorized the extension of the HUSD contracted mileage program through the summer to provide opportunities for summer school students to attend summer school and other school-related events without additional incurred transportation costs to attend school-related summer events. Funding for the extension of the program will be paid through district funds and will not be reimbursable through the state mileage program.

* Approved the SY 2026-27 recruitment and retention administrative procedure and teacher recruiter job description.

* Approved the district to allocate $200 to each teacher recognized as Teacher of the Year, which was donated by the Vince and Libby Budenholzer family. The funds will be allocated through payroll, with the district paying any benefits associated with the stipend.

* Approved a 60-day review of Lexia Core5 Reading by Lexia Learning Systems. The material will be part of the Indian Wells reading program, focusing on the core reading components of phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Lexia Core5 will be funded through the Early Literacy Grant provided through the Arizona Department of Education. The 60-day materials will be posted on the district website under 60-day curriculum reviews.

* Approved a 60-day review of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” by Sean Covey. The book will be used in Holbrook High School leadership coursework. The 60-day materials will be posted on the district website under 60-day curriculum reviews.

* Held a first reading of Policy GCCG Professional/Support Staff Voluntary Transfer of Accrued Sick Leave for first reading.

* Approved out-of-state travel for Kyle Gardner to attend the Broadway Teaching Group workshop in New York, N.Y., from July 9-14, and will be funded through NAVIT and HHS Career and Technical Education funds.

* Approved the classified resignation of Allison Maxwell, Park Elementary School library assistant, effective May 22.

* Approved the classified retirement of Beatriz Ortega, Hulet Elementary School daycare assistant, effective May 22.

* Approved the classified employment of Ayla Hayden, Hulet part time preschool aid; Letitia Lee, transportation, bus driver in training; and Patrick Torres, special education high needs paraprofessional.

* Approved the certified retirement of Saraphania Benally, Hulet Elementary School, special education academic services, effective May 22; and Theresa Holmes, IWES teacher, effective May 22.

* Approved the certified resignation of Kathleen Begay and Jessica Paz, both Hulet Elementary School teachers, effective May 22, and Conner Prestwich, Ashley Smith, Ashley Speers, Chantelle Taylor and David Wallace, all HHS teachers, effective May 22.

* Approved the certified employment of Karen Estridge, HJHS, prorated special education stipend; Rasheed Hollins, Park, addendum: student services 10 days; RainaLynn Manansala, IWES, sixth grade teacher; Sophia Nells, IWES sixth grade teacher to special education teacher; Brooke Saganitso, IWES preschool teacher; Kristine Vicente, IWES fifth grade teacher; Zachariah Woody, ESI substitute; Jasilyn Yazzie, IWES fourth grade teacher; and Ruby Zambrano, HHS math teacher.

* Approved extra duty for Phoebe Adrales-Torres, HJHS girls track head coach and white fleet driver; Jerald Nez, HHS, white fleet driver; Saraphania Benally, Hulet/HJHS, Project Momentum presenter; Dawna Bitsoie, IWES, KinderCamp coordinator; Tim Eddings, Maria DeHaan, Anika Francis, Marilyn Francisco, Debbie Koerperich, Ruby Ronquillo, Andrea Williams, Theresa Yazzie and Jasilyn Yazzie, all IWES summer school; Jessica Hubbard, Kara Gardner and Amy Miller, all Hulet Elementary School summer school; Pat Freeland, Peggy Reid and Katie Willis, all Park Elementary School June 2026 KinderCamp; Gypsi Gover, IWES, KinderCamp teacher; Melissa John, Park Elementary School summer school; Cheryl Justman, HJHS game help; Caleb Layden, HHS assistant softball coach; Rochelle Nez and Marc Yazzie, both IWES, bike after school program; and 2026 spring break workers.

* Approved volunteers Ryan Attakai, HHS, White Fleet driver; Terryuna Nez, HJHS, girls track coach; and Patrick Torres, HJHS, track coach.

* Approved professional leave for Karli Barela, School Nurse Organization conference, Phoenix, June 11-12, cost to the district is $555; Meghan Carbonneau, Career Technical Education professional development course, Glendale, April 14, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Bernice Gover, Winslow Indian Health Care school health conference, Flagstaff, March 20, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Gabriel Nells, athletic directors meeting, Dilkon, April 13; Michael Nilsson, Technology Student Association teacher institute, Glendale, April 24-25, cost to the district is $290 and use of a district vehicle; Michaela Saxton, advisory meeting, Snowflake, March 18; Michaela Saxton, Arizona Elementary and Secondary Education Act Conference, Glendale, June 8-11, cost to the district is $815.44 and use of a district vehicle; Ray Ann Terry, grief informed schools training, Peoria, April 17, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Mike Burks and Ryan Fraley, The Trust in-person cyber training, Lakeside, March 5, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; and Connie Gover and Andrea Tomlin, Northern Arizona University Pep Fair, Flagstaff, April 10, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle.

* Approved expense and revolving vouchers totaling $816,347.

* Approved payroll and expense vouchers totaling nearly $1.2 million.

* Approved personnel pay in the amount of $15,631, $8,682, and $15,983; and March 2026 White Fleet driver’s stipend, $1,000.

* Approved HHS baseball Krispy Kreme sales, April 10-30, with expected earnings of $3,000; Mr. Roadrunner basketball tournament, May 2, with expected earnings of $300; Mr. Roadrunner dodgeball tournament, April 15, with expected earnings of $300.

* Approved the acceptance of a $500 donation from Navajo County Attorney’s Anti-Racketeering Revolving Fund to HHS Swing Thing.

* Approved consent agenda items and expense vouchers. Detailed information for all District expenditures may be obtained by contacting the School District business office located at 1000 N. 8th Ave.