HUSD begins search for new superintendent

The board also received profile reports on each school within the district including Holbrook High School, Holbrook Junior High School, Hulet/Park Elementary and Indian Wells Elementary School (IWES).

In the IWES report, it stated that chronic absenteeism has dropped to 25.18% in 2025-26 since its 2023-24 spike of 48.87%. “This represents a reduction of nearly 24% points in three years and demonstrates meaningful progress toward returning to our pre-COVID attendance levels,” the report read, referencing its 16.54% chronic absenteeism in 2019.

Hulet saw a decrease in chronic absenteeism as well, with a rate of 20.97% in 2025-26, a 4.63% decrease from previous year.

The report also highlighted a 36% decrease in major office referrals, dropping from 135 in 2024–25 to 86 in 2025–26. The report read, “Hulet Elementary continues to see positive progress in student behavior through our focus on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).” According to the report, the goal for school year 2026–27 is to reduce referrals by another 5%, or to 82 or fewer.

Enrollment was stated to have remained relatively stable, seeing a slight decrease in the new 2026-27 school year, with five students less than 2025-26 at a total of 321 students.

Park’s chronic absenteeism reduced 7.15% in 2024-25 to 23.08%. Much like Hulet, Park saw positive results from the implementation of PBIS. “During the 2024–2025 school year, Park recorded 64

major office referrals, compared with only 42 major office referrals in 2025–2026. This represents a decrease of 22 referrals, or approximately 34%,” the report read.

Park’s enrollment saw a steeper decrease, with 120 students in 2026-27 compared to 153 in 2025-26. “A significant portion of our enrollment decrease is due to the size of our incoming kindergarten class,” the report read, “Last year’s kindergarten class had 67 students, compared with 51 kindergarten students this year—a decrease of 16 students. Our current first-grade class of 60 students is also 14 students fewer than last year’s first-grade enrollment of 74.” The report noted that the school retained the majority of its returning students, with only three transferred or moved and one transitioned to homeschooling.

The HJHS report shared its strategic goals, mentioning anticipated improvements to academic support and outcomes for students with disabilities, as well as overall student math proficiency and seventh grade English proficiency.

In the report for HHS, goals included an ACT proficiency increase, a projected graduation rate of 82% for the class of 2027 and acquiring an “A” rating on the Arizona Department of Education’s A-F profile.

The board received a presentation on the use of the district’s 10% maintenance and operations override, then accepted public comment concerning override funding, to which there was none.

The first of two public hearings to re-adopt the district Instructional Time Model (ITM) was also conducted, during which no one spoke. ITM allows for up to 40% of instructional time to be remote or virtual if the district chooses such an instructional platform.

Board Member Alfred Clark was absent from the meeting.

In other business, the board:

* Approved SY 2026-27 Prop 301 Performance Pay Plan.

* Approved the Park Elementary Gym Guaranteed Maximum Price No. 2 for soils conditions and No. 3 for the gym. The targeted groundbreaking for the gym is mid-October, with a completion goal of July.

* Approved a governing board resolution pertaining to the HUSD Preventative Maintenance and Plan Resolution as well as the district’s five-year School Facility Board Capital Plan.

* Approved the Data classification and informational technology systems software administrative procedures to meet audit compliance.

* Approved the FY 2027 School Safety Grant and off duty management for game security. The grant will provide a full-time counselor at Hulet and IWES, as well as a School Safety Officer (SSO) split between HJHS and HHS. Dr. Koerperich stated that because local police cannot provide a full-time School Resource Officer the district will utilized the Holbrook Police officers off-duty as SSOs to be paid at a rate of $800 per day, alongside third-party off-duty management for game security at $70 per hour.

* Approved the nine-month student support interventionist job description. This position will help with in-school student support.

* Approved an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) site coordinator extra duty job description to fulfill the duties of the AVID program at each school.

* Approved an updated Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 classified salary placement schedule to include the student support interventionist position to be placed at grade 6.

* Approved an update of the FY 2027 substitute salary placement schedule to include prep period substitution rates at $45 per hour for teachers that substitute during their prep period.

* Approved an updated game officials administrative procedure. The procedure updates the official’s rate of pay to increase $5 from the previous amount.

* Approved the FY 2027 bus driver recruitment and retention plan.

* Approved a food and beverage administrative procedure that aligns with revised Policy DJ Purchasing Ethics. The policy outlines guidelines for student, employee and parental events.

* Approved designating Reality Works as a sole source for the purchase of a RealCare Baby 4 Infant Simulator Program for the HHS Child Development Program. The program is estimated to exceed the $15,000 bid threshold and the program has been unable to find competitive bids.

* Approved Northern Arizona University student Kayora Keyonnie to complete practicum work at IWES during the 2026-2027 school year. Keyonnie has fingerprint clearance as required.

* Approved the resignation of Hulet fourth grade teacher Brittiny Hegi, effective Sept. 1, and waived the liquidated damages as per Policy GCQC Resignation of Professional Staff Members.

* Approved first readings for the following ASBA policy updates: BCB & BCB-E- Board Member Conflict of Interest, EEAEA-R Driver Requirements, Training and Responsibilities, EEA Student Transportation, EFD Pricing of and Payment for Food Services, EGAEA-R Electronic Mail, DIE & DIE-R Audits/Financial Monitoring, ECAC & ECAC-R Vandalism and Reporting Suspected Crimes, IHAL Teaching About Religion, GCF Hiring, GCS Professional Research and Publishing, GB Personnel Policies, GBA, GBA-R and GBA-E Equal Employment Opportunity, GBEA Ethics and Code of Conduct, and GBEAA & GBEAA-E Conflict of Interest.

* Approved the classified resignation of Lenora Peters, food services substitute cafeteria worker, effective Sept. 3.

* Approved the classified employment of Paul Agramont, HJHS, transfer from ISI to student services interventionist; Levi Autobee, HHS, student worker; Tammy Attakai, HHS, transfer from custodian to student support interventionist; Daniel Baker and Mandy Spencer, both transportation, bus driver training; Charmarie Begody, HHS, academic advisor; Derek Bitsilly Jr., maintenance, facility worker -additional 10.5 hours; Angel Curley, Park/SPED, transfer from paraprofessional trainee to high needs paraprofessional; Cynthia Curtis and Sue Dixon, both transportation, bus monitors; Tucker Gibbons, district, Computer Specialist I; Letitia Lee, transportation, transfer from bus monitor to bus driver and custodian; Amber Mitchell, HHS/SPED, high needs paraprofessional; Rochelle Nez, IWES/SPED, paraprofessional trainee; and Lily Slade, food services, substitute cafeteria worker.

* Approved the certified employment of Brooke Frost, district ESI substitute and Shurell Nardi, district resident substitute.

* Approved extra duty for Phoebe Adrales-Torres, HJHS, game help, white fleet driver and girls track head coach; Paul Agramont, Ashley Attakai, Dylan Barela, Steven Carbonneau, Madison Chappell, Delmar Johnson, Aaren LaRose, Parker Moss, Nicholas Moyte, Arletta Nez, Craig Remos and Jonathan Sample, all HHS, White Fleet drivers; Gishie Arviso, HHS, Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT) driver; Shawna Bailey, HHS and HJHS, game help; Leslie Baldonado, HHS, game help and HJHS, non-AIA (Arizona Interscholastic Association) sports official; Beth Baloo, HJHS, robotic club sponsor; Karli Barela, HHS, nurse extra days; Destany Begay, HJHS, White Fleet driver and game help; Desiree Brewer, HHS, junior sponsor; Sierra Browning, HHS, SPED department head and SPED IEP liaison; Mike Burks, HHS, auditorium manager and sports broadcasting; Meghan Carbonneau, HHS, sophomore sponsor; Cheryl Carlson, HHS, game help and Career and Technology Education Department head; Shawn Layden, Eric Carlson, Cody Cline, Tobias Herndon, Tim Yazzie and Evan Mondragon, all HHS, game help; Stephanie Charley, HJHS, girls basketball head coach and White Fleet driver; Abrian Dickson, HJHS, non-AIA sports official; Karen Estridge, HJHS, game help; Kyle Gardner, HHS, auditorium manager and Swing Thing sponsor; Ramie Hatch, HHS, National Honor Society sponsor; Heidi Hunsaker, Hulet, Rockin Roadrunners; Kim Jaster and Rasheed Hollins, both Hulet, grade level chair; Callie Jensen, HHS, outdoor club sponsor and Link Crew coordinator; Alicia Jimenez, HJHS, robotic club sponsor, AVID coordinator; Jamal Johnson, HJHS, boys basketball head coach and White Fleet driver; Annie Jones, HHS, freshman sponsor; Jamie Justman, HHS, ninth grade grant team lead; Shannon Knight, HHS, senior sponsor and IAT (Intervention Assistance Team) coordinator; Bryan Lang, HJHS, athletic director substitute; Carmelita Long, IWES, before school supervision extra duty; Jeremy Madison, HHS, game help, Roadrunner Nest and White Fleet driver; Heather Manygoats, district, foster care liaison and IWES White Fleet driver; John McDaniel, HJHS, White Fleet driver, boys basketball assistant coach and HHS game help; Margarita Mike, operational trainer; Sarah Meeks, HHS, fusion sponsor and band sponsor Ashley Mitchell, HHS, science department head; Daniel Mitchell, HHS, social studies department head; Jerald Nez, HHS, game help, math department head, AISES sponsor and special education liaison; Shelly Nez, HJHS, sixth and seventh grade assistant volleyball coach and White Fleet driver; Michael Nilsson, HHS, yearbook sponsor; Daniel Orton, HJHS, game official and HHS White Fleet driver; Victor Paz, HHS, game help and White Fleet driver; Greg Perkins, HHS, electives department head and White Fleet driver; Beth Plumb, HJHS, White Fleet driver; Josh Raisor, HHS, drama sponsor; Michaela Saxton, District, testing coordinator; Beth Self, Hulet, Rockin’ Roadrunners; Cayla Serna, HHS, student council sponsor and White Fleet driver; Ray Ann Terry, IWES, lunch detention extra duty; Stephanie Thompson, HHS, English department head; and Laurel Visser, HJHS, global catalyst mentor after school program.

* Approved volunteers Antonio Aguilera, Francis Ambrose, Ryan Attakai, Ryan Baldonado, Alaya Darling, Ron Eisele, Trent Larson, Daniel Moore, Ray Patterson, Donavan Rodriquez, Markos Serna, and Artie Yazzie, all HHS, White Fleet drivers; Kyley Attakai, HHS, game help, HJHS non-AIA sports official and game help; Alex Baker, Scott Baker and Farrel Yazzie, all HHS and HJHS, White Fleet drivers; Julian Chavez, Chris Moore, Mark Oberitter and Jonathan Sample, all HJHS, White Fleet drivers; Colleen Hubbard, HJHS, White Fleet driver and HHS game help; LouAnn McLaws, HHS, game help; Zachary Sulu, HJHS, assistant wrestling coach and White Fleet driver; and Brian Visser, HJHS, classroom volunteer.

* Approved professional leave for Phillip Bannister, Lang Bartruff, Victoria Rice and Ruby Zambrano, Foundations of Classroom Management, Snowflake, Oct. 21-22, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Sierra Browning, Arizona’s 2026 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) conference, Scottsdale, Aug. 17-20, estimated cost to the district is $1,215 and use of a district vehicle; Meghan Carbonneau, Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC): Empowering Students Through Professional Skills, Glendale, Sept. 30 – Oct. 1, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Meghan Carbonneau, West-MEC: Rubrics to Increase Success, Glendale, Nov. 16-17, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Meghan Carbonneau, West-MEC: Bridging Proficiency in Classroom Management & Formative Assessments for Career and Technical Education Programs, Glendale, Feb. 22-24, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Meghan Carbonneau, West-MEC: Lesson Plan Writing, Glendale, June 9-10, 2027, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Cheryl Carlson, – Early Childhood Education advisory council meeting, Snowflake, Sept. 16; Cheryl Carlson and Jamie Justman, NAVIT directors meeting, Snowflake, Sept. 21, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Abrian Dickson, SkillsUSA advisor leadership conference, Tucson, Aug. 24-26, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Connie Gover, Andrea Tomlin, Nichole Tow and Laurel Visser, BT Data Dig, Flagstaff, Sept. 25, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Jamie Justman, NAVIT directors meeting, Snowflake, Aug. 24; Robbie Koerperich, Bernice Gover, Lauren Maestas, Heather Manygoats and Michaela Saxton, Tribal Consultation, Winslow, Aug. 26, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Jeremy Madison, Future Business Leaders of America leadership camp, Williams, Sept. 21-23, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Jeremy Madison and Cayla Serna, NAVIT business/marketing fall advisory council, Snowflake, Oct. 27, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Ray McLaws, School Nutrition Association of Arizona’s 70th annual state conference, Phoenix, Sept. 25-26, estimated cost to the district is $517 and use of a district vehicle; Ashley Mitchell, Daniel Mitchell, Jerald Nez and Stephanie Thompson, the Assessment Collaborative Institute, Scottsdale, Sept. 14-17, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Gabriel Nells, Navajo-Hopi Area Junior High League rules clinic officials meeting, Dilkon, Aug. 14; Gabriel Nells, athletic directors meeting, Winslow, Sept. 11; Jerald Nez, Arizona Rural School Association region conference, Flagstaff, Sept. 24-26, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Michael Nilsson, digital communication advisory meeting, Snowflake, Sept. 10, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Michaela Saxton, Edgar Academy, Phoenix, Oct. 13-14, estimated cost to the district is $727 and use of a district vehicle; Loren Silver, pre-Diné Language Proficiency Assessment training, Window Rock, Aug. 24, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Anne Touchstone, Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association (ASPAA) 2026 Fall conference, Tucson, Nov. 17-20, estimated cost to the district is $1,178; Anne Touchstone, ASPAA investigation training part two, Phoenix, Sept. 2, estimated cost to the district is $200; Andrea Williams, NPC student teaching/capstone orientation, Snowflake, Aug. 18.

* Approved expense and revolving fund vouchers totaling $624,475 for FY 2025/26 and $457,614 for FY 2026/27.

* Approved payroll and expense vouchers totaling nearly $2.1 million.

* Approved personnel pay six, $47,331, professional development, athletics, FSA stipends and August bus driver incentive; personnel pay seven, $7,402, athletics and wellness stipend; and personnel pay 7.1, $163,731 first quarter Prop 301 stipend.

* Approved girls wrestling club and student activities, HHS junior class, AISES club, HHS senior class, DECA, FBLA, golf club, National Honor Society, outdoor club, student council, Fusion, HHS band, select choir, stagecraft, Swing Thing, HJHS student council.

* Approved food and beverage purchase for annual family nights and parent teacher conferences at each school, purchases will be below $999 for light refreshments and snacks; The Fancy Navajo Food demonstration, estimated cost is $1,000; and Park and Hulet attendance incentive snacks, estimated cost is $2,000 each.

* Approved HJHS student council to run concessions, Sept.-May, estimated to earn $1,000; HJHS student council to sell Christmas grams, Nov.-Dec., estimated to earn $60; HJHS to sell Valentine grams, January – February. 2027, estimated to earn $150; HJHS student council to sell testing grams, February – April 2027, estimated to earn $60; HHS Swing Thing/select choir to host an ice cream social, Nov. 2, estimated to earn $1,400; HHS Swing Thing/select choir for MoneyDolly sales, Sept. 24 – Oct. 3, estimated to earn $10,000; IWES student council for coffee/drink sales, Sept. 9 – May 20, estimated to earn $210; and IWES student council for game concessions, Sept. 16, 22, 23 and 29, estimated to earn $300.

* Approved for final reading Policy BEDB Agenda; Policy CA Qualifications and Duties of the Superintendent; Policy DJ Purchasing Ethics; Policy DJE Bidding/Purchasing Procedures; Policy IHA Basic Instructional Program; Policy IHB-R Special Instructional Programs; Policy IKE-RB Promotion and Retention of Students; Policy IKF Graduation Requirements; Policy JF-R Student Admissions; Policy JFAA-R Admission of Resident Students; Policy JFAB-R Tuition/Admission of Nonresident Students; Policy JFABC-R Admission of Transfer Students; Policy JFABD-RB Admission of Homeless Students; and Policy JFABDA-RB Admission of Students in Foster Care.

* 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.