By Linda Kor The Holbrook School District may be located in rural Arizona, but the district’s technology department is taking great strides to ensure that students are learning with the same technological advances as their peers throughout the state. “Students live in the digital world. We want to create an equal opportunity for our students when they go out in the world, and to do that we need to be current with technology,” stated Technology Director Ann Gardner. Information provided by Gardner at the district governing board meeting Tuesday evening showed that there are 1,800 computers and laptops in the district’s network, with a device available for approximately every two students. The district also provides iPad tablet computers, handheld iPod computers and Airliner Wireless Slates that control computer applications, allowing students to make notes on a SMART Board interactive whiteboard or any computer projected image from anywhere in the room. In addition, the district uses Student Response Systems, which capture real-time assessment data to gauge student comprehension as they are taught so that teachers can immediately identify individual learning needs and alter instruction as needed. This technology is not only helpful in the classroom, but also in the home. Students at Indian Wells Elementary School are allowed to take iPods home with various subject matters already uploaded, including educational games. “We have never had a device returned damaged or a charger lost. These students are very good at taking care of these devices,” noted Dr. Jeri McKinnon, principal at IWES. With this technology also comes the responsibility of ensuring these same students are being protected from the undesirable elements available on the Internet. In response to that need Gardner informed the board that the district is Children’s Internet Protection Act certified. “We are protection act compliant with filters in place. We are our own service provider, and responsible for ensuring that all minors in the district are being educated, supervised and monitored. There are no chat rooms, outside e-mail or instant messaging allowed,” explained Gardner. The district uses a program called Moodle that allows for ePal communication, but a teacher reviews each message prior to its receipt by a student. Board President Linda Yazzie asked if there is some technology that could be utilized by those students who travel up to three hours a day on the bus ride from home to school and back. “Vale (School District) has some technology in place on their buses, and we are currently looking into that. Right now we have the iPods that students can take,” explained Superintendent Robbie Koerperich. The technology referred to by Koerperich is a mobile Internet router that the Vale District has attached to one of its buses that enables students to surf the Web while en route to their destination. The problem for the Holbrook District is that the long bus rides take by its students lead to the Indian reservation, where there is little or no Internet access. “We haven’t quite figured it out yet, but we are working on making the most of that ride,” added Koerperich. In other action Sept. 11, the board: * Held the final reading and adopted policy revisions recommended by the Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA). * Adopted Earth Science by American Guidance Services (Pearson), copyright 2012, for the Transition Earth Science class at Holbrook High School. * Approved the 2012-13 capital plan as presented for submission to the State of Arizona School Facilities Board. The plan does not include any new construction. * Approved the placement of Suli Kaufusi at Grade 27, Step 15 as the new computer technologist for the district. * Approved Nita Taha as a personal health aide at IWES. * Approved the Declaration of Curricular and Instructional Alignment to the Arizona Academic Standards, and authorized Yazzie to sign it. * Authorized the delay of full implementation of the teacher evaluation system as outlined in Senate Bill 1040 until the 2013-14 school year and to align 34 percent of teacher evaluations to student learning outcomes. * Approved the Dr. Stronge Teacher Effectiveness Performance Evaluation System Model for all non-continuing teachers and teachers who are on plans of improvements for the 2012-13 school year, in addition to the Dr. Stronge Evaluation Model Student Learning Outcomes plan for all continuing teachers for the 2012-13 school year. * Approved the district’s performance pay plan for the 2012-13 school year. * Approved the top 10 legislative priorities of the district to be submitted to ASBA. These priorities include issues regarding budget cuts and concerns over sequestration. * Approved the Topics Curriculum as one credit that includes significant mathematics content. * Approved Dan Nielson as a qualified evaluator for the 2012-13 school year. * Approved an additional bus route, including a new part-time bus driver position, at IWES due to increased enrollment. * Approved the 2012-13 student activity fundraisers. * Approved an extension of the audit contract with Connie Sauvageau, CPA, as an independent auditor for the annual audits. * Approved an inter-local agreement with The Cooperative Purchasing Network for procurement of performance contracting. * Authorized placing the Navajo Language supplemental reading materials on display for a 60-day review. * Approved the support staff employment of Brandon O’Dell, HHS assistant football coach; Nita Black, IWES bus monitor; Linda Parker and Marie Gardner, both as Park Library substitutes; and Genevieve Keyonnie, cafeteria satelite worker. * Approved the support staff resignation of Yvonne Allen, HHS special needs assistant. * Approved the certified employment of Cathy Luke, Holbrook Junior High School reading specialist substitute; Juanita Nells, IWES substitute teacher; and Lelia Demuth, Mark McKeller and Bonnie Ellsworth, substitute teachers. * Approved extra duty for Delmar Johnson, HHS boys’ assistant soccer coach and HHS boys’ basketball intramurals; Erica Chee, IWES assistant softball coach and girls’ assistant basketball coach; Laura Tsosie, IWES assistant soccer coach and head cross country coach; John Paul Hunt, IWES soccer coach, game help, assistant football coach and official; Amanda Boyce, IWES assistant volleyball coach; Theresa Yazzie, IWES volleyball coach and game help; Luis Alvarez, IWES game help, mentor and detention; Cale Allen, IWES game help, head football coach and head girls’ basketball coach; Barry Silverstein and Kara Gardner, IWES game help; Daniel Orton, IWES game help, head cross country coach and head boys’ basketball coach; Marlena Day, IWES mentor; and Sunny Obren, IWES Fresh Fruits and Vegetables coordinator. Raul Mendoza, HHS head cross country coach; Melissa John, assistant cross country coach; Lou Ann McLaws, HHS assistant volleyball coach and HJHS game help; Teri Tafoya, district sub scheduler; Beth Plumb, Brian McMahon, Chris Symancyk, Doug Radzanowski, Josh Raisor, Tim Yazzie, Virginia White and Will Voelkerding, HJHS game help; Beth Baloo, Tanya Phaturos and Tim Gurczynski, HJHS game help and Gear-Up team members; Sarah Chee, Erica Chee and Karen Frank, IWES playground supervisors; and Greg Ethridge, HHS assistant football coach. Linda Best, Park and Hulet substitute secretary; Tim Eddings, IWES assistant cross country coach; Ramona Joe, IWES assistant cross country coach; Erin Cuniffe, Gear-Up team member; Daphne Lamb, Gear-Up team member and student council advisor; Joy Burroughs, student council advisor; Deb Koerperich and Dee Dunaway, Park Beeper Readers; Lelia Demuth, HHS Running Club sponsor; Erik Carlson, HHS Key Club sponsor; Sarah Meeks, HHS marching and concert bands; Chris Obren, HHS co-marching band; Greg Perkins, HHS girls’ basketball intramurals; and Stevie Jackson, Future Business Leaders of America coordinator. * Approved volunteers Kameron Edwards, HHS girls’ soccer; Nora Begay and Adrienne Begay, both at HJHS; and Angel Hudgens, HHS boys’ soccer. * Authorized the donation of a telescope by a member of the community with an estimated value of $300. * Approved professional leave for Jeri McKinnon, Mike McClellan, Jeremy Hatch, Sandy Carlisle, Marlena Day, Karen Estridge, John McDaniel and Lou Ann McLaws, Daily Math Skills Training, Aug. 27 in Tucson at an estimated cost of $943, plus use of district vehicles; Robbie Koerperich, Arizona School Administrators Fall Superintendency Conference, Oct. 28-30 in Prescott at an estimated cost of $504.78, plus use of a district vehicle; and Julie Fields, Title I Application/Arizona Local Educational Agency Tracker Plan Review Workshop, Sept. 12 in Snowflake at an estimated cost of a district vehicle. Linda McMahon, Tanya Phaturos, Jeremy Hatch, Nichole Lozano, Erin Cuniffe and Connie Gover, Multi Tier Behavior Support, Oct. 4 and 5 in Phoenix at an estimated cost of $1,938.48, plus use of a district vehicle; Connie Gover, Stephanie Bridegam, Carey Kester, Karen Estridge and Karalyn Reidhead, Tech for Learning Communities Training/Fundamentals, Sept. 11 and 12 in Phoenix at an estimated cost of $336, plus use of a district vehicle; Garry McDowell, Arizona State Impact Aid Association, Aug. 22 in Flagstaff at an estimated cost of $11, plus use of a district vehicle; and Charles Haussman, Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology Directors Meeting, Aug. 23 in Taylor at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle. Dave Wright, Soccer Advisory Committee, Aug. 29 in Phoenix at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; Julie Fields, Neglected and Delinquent Fall Regional Conference, Sept. 26 in Flagstaff at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; Teri White, Schoolmaster Training and Career Tech Meeting, Aug. 28 in Snowflake at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; Robbie Koerperich, ASBA Law Conference, Sept. 6-8 in Phoenix at an estimated cost of $580, plus use of district vehicle; Robbie Koerperich, Title I Committee of Practitioners Meeting, Sept. 21 in Phoenix at an estimated cost of $174; and Robbie Koerperich, Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments Principal Exam Review, Sept. 12 and 13 in Phoenix. Amber Dennis, several students and chaperones, Southwest Institute for the Education of Native Americans Conference, Sept. 19 and 20 in Phoenix at an estimated cost of $3,000, plus use of a district vehicle; Justin Madden, Susan Nafziger, Lance Phaturos, Donna Campbell, Nick Moyte and Rachel Kirkaldie, Breakaway Training, Sept. 11 in Flagstaff at an estimated cost of $160, plus use of district vehicles; and Donna Campbell, Student Assistance Program Coordinator Training, Sept. 28 in Phoenix at an estimated cost of $43, plus use of a district vehicle. Alfred Clark, 19th annual Statewide Conference on Homelessness, Oct. 16 in Phoenix at an estimated cost of $284.20, plus use of a district vehicle; Alfred Clark, the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Annual Conference, Oct. 27-30 in Albuquerque, N.M., at an estimated cost of $1,127.06, plus use of a district vehicle; Jeri McKinnon, Connie McPherson and Mike McClellan, K-3 Reading Workshop, Sept. 20 in Flagstaff at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; Amber Dennis, Gear-up Coordinator Orientation Conference, Sept. 27 and 28 in Phoenix at an estimated cost of $505; and Julie Fields, Educational Service Agencies Council, Sept. 10 in Snowflake, at an estimated cost of a district vehicle. * Approved expense and revolving fund vouchers totaling $1,520,354.81, and payroll and expense vouchers totaling $1,160,949.85. * Approved expense vouchers for fundraisers.