The Joseph City Unified School District Governing Board met on Aug. 11, during which Superintendent Shannon Harvilla reported on student enrollment. He noted that district enrollment totaled 387 students, including 28 preschool students, 137 students in kindergarten through fifth grade, 93 students in sixth through eighth grade and 129 students in grades nine through 12.

He noted that the FY2027 budget adopted in July was built on a projection of 357.5 K-12 students, not including preschool, putting the district two students ahead of that projection. “I want to be careful about what this does and does not mean. Two weeks of attendance is not a trend, and the number that actually drives our funding is the Oct. 1 count. Between now and then we will lose some students and gain others. What I can tell you is that the direction is the right one, and that the elementary is carrying it,” stated Harvilla.

In the last board meeting the board approved the cost for homeschooled students receiving ESA funds and wanting to enroll in at least one class, club or sport. Harvilla reported that since that meeting 13 ESA students have enrolled, with the district receiving $15,500. Six of those students signed up for just classes, three for classes and an activity and seven for either a sport or a club. It was noted that this enrollment is not included in the overall full-time student enrollment numbers.

“The dollars are not the part I care most about. Thirteen students who were not in our buildings in May are in our classrooms, our gym and our shop today. Seven of them came back through a sport or a club rather than a class, which is exactly the door I hoped they would use. A family that trusts us with a season is a family that may trust us with a class next year, and a student who competes in our uniform is a student who is one of ours again,” stated Harvilla.

In his report, Harvilla noted that the new business manager, Caleb Layden is fully in the business manager role with consulting support at a fraction of the previous cost, which he projected will save the district about $80,000 this year.

Harvilla informed the board that Layden contacted the Navajo County Treasurer’s Office to confirm the district’s line of credit and learned that the bank had canceled it. “For the record, the district drew that line every fall and spring for five straight years and repaid it in full every cycle, most recently a $1 million draw in September 2025 repaid in November. It was a working tool with a clean repayment record,” stated Harvilla. Later in the meeting the board authorized administration to request a revolving line of credit through the Navajo County Treasurer for Fiscal Year 2026-27 in an amount not to exceed $2.6 million.

The board also authorized Harvilla to request an advance of basic state aid from the Arizona Department of Education. The funds are tax dollars provided to the district but since they are not provided when needed, a line of credit has been used to pay costs until the funding is received. If approved the advance would save the district an estimated $30,000 in interest costs.

Two people spoke during call to the public, the first was Kelly Metzger encouraging participation in the Box Tops for Education collection for student supplies. The second speaker was Adrienne Bushman, informing the board of the new security procedures at the elementary school for students entering and leaving the campus. She emphasized that although some parents have stated they do not like the changes, viewing them primarily as inconvenient, the procedures have been implemented to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students.

In other business, the board:

* Approved expense vouchers.

* Reviewed the student activities funds report.

* Approved student fundraisers including the football camp for the high school football team and the high school cheerleaders selling ads.

* Approved gifts and donations including six 98cc engines from GoPower Sports valued at $1,320 for hands-on learning, a donation of $100 for supplies from Harbor Freight and approximately $500 in school supplies from Blattner Energy.

* Approved qualified evaluators for certified staff.

* Approved the disposal of unused surplus furniture, equipment, books, vehicles and other items in compliance with Arizona statutes and administrative code via the online auction web service.

* Approved personnel requests for Laurie Bowler, Chess Club sponsor, class sponsor, NCA chairperson and National Honor Society sponsor; Gianna Brawley, student worker; Micah Brawley, class sponsor and Skills USA; Brayden Bushman, student worker; Dan Bushman, graduation coordinator and Career and Technical Education director; Jess Bushman, class sponsor; Trenton Deets, student worker; Christian Delgado, student worker; Jeri Edwards, class sponsor and junior high student council advisor; Brad Fischer, class sponsor; Rosemary Fischer, student worker; Dominik Flake, volunteer; Michael Gayer, chess club sponsor and class sponsor; Justin Gardner, student worker; Kylie Hansen, student worker; MarijJoe Hansen, class sponsor; Dan Hutchens, class sponsor; Daniel Hutchens III, auditorium coordinator; Taura Isaacson, class sponsor; Aaron Johnstun, class sponsor; Trina Larsen, class sponsor and FFA assistant sponsor; Kylie Miller, class sponsor; Paxton Miller, student worker; Darrel Mosier, volunteer; Lillian Neal, class sponsor; Kalebrinta Nez, student worker; Jordan Pedersen, auditorium worker; Wylie Petersen, student worker; Amy Peterson, class sponsor, concession stand supervisor, FBLA sponsor and Red Ribbon coordinator; Dimitrios Rael, student worker; Synali Rael, student worker; Kay Rush, class sponsor; JJ Sander, student worker; Tyson Smith, class sponsor, Hot Rod Club advisor and Skills USA; Ed Sorgen, concession stand supervisor; Gina Spurlock, substitute bus driver; Sharon Spurlock, junior high assistant softball coach, Jean Varney, junior high/high school volunteer; Jennifer Westover, high school student council advisor; and Jason Whetten, drama coach.

* Approved Board Member Lexi Nelson as the delegate to represent the JCUSD governing board at the Arizona School Boards Association Delegate Assembly to be held Sept. 12, with Board President Eldon Larsen as the alternate.

* Due to the ASBA event, the board changed the September board meeting date to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15.