Holbrook School District Will Consider Private Company For Sanitation Services

When the school district recently went out to bid for daily trash pick up services, the city’s bid came in at a monthly cost of $3,539 for schools within Holbrook, but did not bid for services at Indian Wells Elementary School. Navajo Sanitation bid $2,531.73 for Holbrook schools and $708 for IWES, and Larson Waste bid $3,728.88 for Holbrook schools and $941.77 for IWES. Being the lowest responsive bidder, Navajo Sanitation was listed as the company up for consideration for approval.

When discussing the matter, Board Vice President Olivia Jaquez stated that she had learned from City Manager Ray Alley that the city was going to seek approval from the city council to deny any sanitation services pertaining to refuse to entities that chose to contract with a private enterprise for trash collection.

For the schools, that would eliminate green waste collection and use of the transfer site, as well as any additional pick-ups after special events or for roll-off bins used during construction.

“We are doing the bids appropriately. Is it because this is Navajos bidding in this matter?” questioned board member Linda Yazzie. While none of the board members commented on the question, the City Finance Director Randy Sullivan did the following day.

“I’m shocked that a race card was pulled. If we lose the schools, we will lose approximately $50,000 in revenue and will have to lay off one or two employees from sanitation. If we lay off an employee and that person can’t find another job, they may have to move. They have kids in those schools and so the school will lose as well,” he stated.

According to Sullivan, providing the daily service is what brings in the revenues for the city, the extra services provided by the city are provided at little or no cost. “They may save $10,000 per year, but if they have to contract for all the services, they will likely lose more. The city is always readily available when needed, and if it should snow or the roads became impassible for that company what will they do then?” asked Sullivan, adding that the lower bid does not indicate value of service.

During discussion during the school board meeting, Superintendent Robbie Koerperich informed the board a consultant could be considered in the matter, but could be costly. He also indicated that by selecting a private company, the school could utilize the Joseph City transfer site if necessary.

“Navajo Sanitation is much lower (than the city). We have a great relationship with the city, but our obligation is to the people and we must follow procurement laws,” stated Koerperich.

The school board decided to table the issue in order to consider going out to re-bid with revised requirements or to bring in a consultant in order to determine if services can be cut back in general. Jaquez and Rick Nichols voted in support of tabling the item, with Ferrell Knight in opposition.

The decision of whether to eliminate trash services to entities that choose private enterprise will be presented to members of the city council for consideration during their Aug. 23 meeting.

In other action Aug. 9, the board:

* Approved Network Infrastructure Corporation (NIC) to provide wireless Internet access in English classrooms in the A and G buildings at Holbrook Junior High School, in the B building at Holbrook High School and in two classrooms at IWES. Funding for the wireless Internet will be provided through the e-rate grant.

* Approved NIC to implement wireless Internet access to selected classrooms in the school district.

* Approved a fall stipend in the amount of $244 per teacher for all continuous employment teachers during the 2011-2012 school year from Indian gaming revenues.

* Authorized Arizona Psychological Services to provide counseling services for IWES for the 2011-2012 school year.

* Approved the position of a School Resource Officer. District funds will provide half of the SRO’s salary and benefits.

* Held the first reading of a revision to the policy regarding Retirement of Facilities.

* Held the first reading of a revision of the policy regarding school board memberships. The revision would state that the district shall not spend monies for memberships in an association that attempts to influence the outcome of an election.

* Held the first reading of a revision of the policy regarding Qualification and Duties of the Superintendent regarding the maintenance of records, as well as a revision to the policy regarding data/records retention.

* Held the first reading of a revision of the policy regarding teaching about drugs, alcohol and tobacco to include date rape drugs.

* Held the first reading of a revision of the policy regarding compulsory attendance age. This revision states that a child shall regularly attend during school sessions not less than 180 school days or 200 school days, as approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

* Held the first reading of a revision of the policy regarding entrance age requirements. The revision states that when a child has not reached age 5 prior to Sept. 1 and was admitted for early enrollment in kindergarten, but does not remain enrolled, the district may receive only a portion of basic state aid for that child in the subsequent year.

* Held the first reading of a revision of the policy regarding fundraising. The revision states that only fundraising activities approved by the board will be allowed.

* Held the first reading of a revision of the policy regarding interscholastic sports to include guidelines, information and forms to educate coaches, pupils and parents regarding concussion injuries sustained in interscholastic sports.

* Authorized Charles Haussman, Robbie Koerperich, Mike McClellan, Jeri McKinnon, Connie McPherson, Charles Gover, Lance Phaturos and Ann Gardner as qualified evaluators to assist school administrators throughout the evaluation process.

* Authorized the hiring of paraprofessionals and/or health aides throughout the school year, as needed, when these positions are required by a student’s individual education plan.

* Approved the fees for non-special education preschoolers at Hulet Elementary School at $100 per semester.

* Approved the hiring of support staff, including Ashley Jeffers-Sample, Dwayne DeJohn, Caleb McClellan, Jordan Simpson, Edwin Scott, Corozon Alvarado and Thomas McLaws as student workers; Barbara Harvey and Linda Best as Park and/or Hulet elementary schools secretary substitutes; Alberta Belin, Indian Wells bus monitor and substitute cafeteria worker; Carol Greer, Phenix School special needs aide; Kristin Koke, resident substitute and/or aide; Kathy Pete, bus driver; Tiffany Richards, Shonna Pecotte and Patricia Moore, daycare assistants; Lily Spencer, Raelynn McLaws and Ramon Ledezma, substitute custodians; Myron Bitahy, Indian Wells bus monitor; Scott Baker, HJHS head softball coach; and Tony Aguilera, HHS assistant boys’ soccer coach.

* Approved the resignations of Alycia Johnson, daycare assistant; and Ayla Hayden, special needs assistant.

* Approved hiring of certified staff, including April LeFevre, Margaret McClellan, Lelia Demuth, Krista Smith, Daniel Castillo and Valerie Brooks as substitute teachers.

* Approved extra duty, including Alisha Schelley and Mary Jane Lionberger for Singapore Math training; Beth Self, Hulet Harmonizers; Doug Hansen, Hulet detention; Ruth Wallace, head Special Olympics sponsor; Mari Smithson, Hulet Student Assistance Team; Dave Wright, Hulet Student Assistance Team, and Fresh Fruits and Vegetables program; Lona Haussman, Hulet Fresh Fruits and Vegetables coordinator; Dan Orton, IWES athletic director, boys’ basketball coach and game help; Laura Tsosie, IWES cross country and soccer assistant coach; Cale Allen, IWES football and girls’ basketball coach, and game help; Theresa Yazzie, IWES volleyball coach and game help; Erica Chee, IWES assistant girls’ basketball coach and assistant softball coach; Heidi Hunsaker, Park Performers; Ginny Novell, HHS Tech Cadre; Brian Long, HHS Student Council advisor and Drama Club sponsor; Adrian Tubbs, HHS Rodeo Club sponsor; Donna Campbell, HHS Outdoor Club sponsor; Susan Nafziger, HHS Future Business Leaders of America sponsor; Julie Foree, HHS National Honor Society and junior class sponsor; Cheryl Carlson, HHS assistant volleyball coach; Annette Rothman and Mary Jane Lionberger, Park Fresh Fruits and Vegetables program coordinators; Sunny Obren, district Fresh Fruits and Vegetables program monitor; Charles Haussman, district testing coordinator; Luis Alvarez, IWES detention and game help; Kelly Buckwalter, HHS Drama Club sponsor; Keith Wheeler, HJHS head football coach; Kyle Gardner, Dwayne Hawk and Dennis Pelty, HJHS assistant football coaches; Beth Plumb, HJHS assistant softball coach; Marlena Day, IWES recruitment stipend; Erik Carlson, HHS yearbook sponsor; John Paul Hunt, IWES soccer coach; Jon Skevington, IWES game help; and Kara Gardner and Roni Orton, game help.

* Approved Cameron Perkins as an HHS boys’ soccer volunteer.

* Approved professional leave, including Peggy Redmon, Phoenix, E-IEP Pro Training, Oct. 5 and 6, at an estimated cost of $1,100 plus a district vehicle; Connie Gover, Phoenix, Qualified Evaluator Training, Aug. 15 and 16, at an estimated cost of $380 plus a district vehicle; Lona Haussman, Flagstaff, Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program training, July 26; Connie Gover, Litchfield Park, Directors Institute 2011, Aug. 29-31, at an estimated cost of $623 plus a district vehicle; Sally O’Dell, Tempe, Infinite Visions-General Fixed Assets, July 27-29, at an estimated cost of $791 plus a district vehicle; Charles Gover, Flagstaff, School Improvement, Aug. 11, at an estimated cost of the use of a district vehicle; Paul Demuth, Prescott, Arizona Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association State Conference, Sept. 10-13, at an estimated cost of $826 plus a district vehicle; Cindy Percy, Tempe, 2011 High School Counselor Conference, Sept. 7, at an estimated cost of $101 plus a district vehicle; and Daniel Orton, Winslow, Nava-Hopi Area Junior High League meeting, Aug. 5, at an estimated cost of the use of a district vehicle.

* Approved vouchers totaling $2,139,226.71.

* Approved fundraisers, including HHS Student Council, August-March, Roadrunner Day plates with local restaurants to raise money for the Travis Yazzie Memorial scholarship and cancer research; Mr. Roadrunner Pageant for the Travis Yazzie Memorial scholarship and cancer research in March; HHS soccer, Aug. 6, Alumni Soccer Game at Roadrunner Stadium; HHS Student Activities, throughout 2011-2012 student activity clubs will be selling concessions at different games as club fundraiser; IWES Student Council throughout 2011-2012, selling concessions during games as a club fundraiser; IWES Student Council, Aug. 17, Student Council bake sale during the Back to School Night; and HHS volleyball, Aug. 11-Sept. 25, Serve-A-Thon.