By Linda Kor Members of the Holbrook School District Governing Board approved a new policy regarding the use of crowdsourcing during their Tuesday meeting. According to the new policy, crowdsourcing is the process of obtaining needed goods, services, ideas or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people, and especially from an online community, rather than from traditional employees or suppliers. According to Superintendent Robbie Koerperich, crowdsourcing has become something that is used sporadically, but may develop into a great opportunity for the district, and he wants to be certain that the district has a policy in place to ensure it is done correctly. “We see the potential of increasing the supplies for students by using this type of resource. There’s no money exchanging hands, it’s strictly supplies,” Dr. Koerperich explained. A recent example of the results of crowdsourcing was an endeavor by science teacher Beth Baloo that resulted in snacks and basic desktop supplies for her classes, as well as computer tablets and two 3D printers valued at thousands of dollars. The Holbrook High School band also benefitted from crowdsourcing by obtaining 18 music stands. “These are major companies wanting to give to education. One of the major contributors to one of the crowdsourcing sites is Dick’s Sporting Goods. It allows them to donate goods for tax purposes and get their products into the hands of the people they want to use them,” Koerperich explained. The effort may provide not only items for the classroom, but needed services as well. One teacher is checking crowdsourcing to provide bus charter services for the senior class trip. With the policy, specific guidelines are established to ensure that items are approved in advance, and that what is obtained is sent directly to the district and established as part of district inventory before going to the classroom. The policy also states that no photos of students or anything specific regarding Holbrook School District can be used in soliciting items. “It’s a win-win for the companies that want to contribute and teachers that want to bring more to their classroom. It’s all pretty new, so we wanted to be certain to set a policy right away to make certain everything is handled appropriately,” explained Koerperich. Crowdsourcing options approved by the board included DonorsChoose.org, Think It Up and Sportsmatter. In other action Jan. 12, the board: * Approved the annual review of the district’s student wellness policy without any changes. * Approved a policy revision regarding the admission of transfer students from charter schools, school districts and Arizona online instruction. * Approved Hulet and Park elementary schools to participate in the St. Mary’s Food Bank program. * Approved the revised 2016-17 school calendar to coincide with Northland Pioneer College’s spring break for the benefit of students attending the Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology. * Authorized Park School to apply for the A+ School of Excellence Program, a comprehensive school recognition process that celebrates outstanding schools and acknowledges the most successful schools in the state. * Approved the support staff hiring of Kimberly Yazzie as a bus driver; Valarie Denetso, night custodian; Pete Tracas, night custodian; Shannon Wilson, Hulet School substitute and Holbrook Junior High School library aide; Charlotte Begay, IWES preschool aide; Leonita Cline, HJHS Special Education special needs assistant; Jennifer Maize and Becki Colon, substitute custodians; and Melissa John, Hulet School special needs assistant. * Approved retirement and return to work through Education Services, Inc. for Pat Freeland as a Hulet School high needs paraprofessional and Rosa Alley for 19.5 hours per week as a computer lab aide. * Approved the retirement and return to part-time work of Stephanie Bifano, school nurse. * Approved the support staff resignation of Melissa John as the HJHS attendance clerk and Jolene Wilson as an IWES cafeteria substitute; and the termination of Christine Yazzie as a substitute custodian; * Approved the retirement of Jerry Fischer as the district’s network administrator. * Approved extra duty for John McDaniel as an HJHS assistant basketball coach. * Approved volunteers for the Backpack Volunteer Program, including Efren Mondragon, Henrietta Mondragon, Sherry Reed, Betty Heward, Martha Blosser, Deborah Alvarez, Frank Lucero, Tom Castillo and Carolyn Castillo. * Approved gifts and donations from DonorsChoose to Beth Baloo’s HJHS science class for snack food items valued at $182, two tablets valued at $257.44, Littlebits circuits valued at $248.34, and hot glue and scissors valued at $272.07, and a 3D printer valued at $3,740.89 and filament valued at $235.91, both from MakerBot, as well as a MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer valued at $3,229.60; Lions Club to Park and Hulet schools in the amount of $320 each for year end awards; Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign, $10; Hulet Parent Teacher Student Association running and walking track equipment in the amount of $500 for Hulet School’s Fuel Up Program; and from DonorsChoose.org to Holbrook High School band for 18 music stands. * Approved professional leave for Sunny Obren to attend a Servsafe Food Protection Manager Class scheduled Jan. 8 in Phoenix at an estimated cost of $282.70; Beth Self, Arizona Music Educators Association In Service Conference, Jan. 28-30 in Phoenix at an estimated cost of $364; Connie McPherson, Special Ed Law Conference, Feb. 5 in Scottsdale at an estimated cost of $915.98, plus use of a district vehicle; and Melody Myers, Jeannette Maxwell and Dawna Charley, Play Matters, Jan. 15 in Albuquerque, N.M., at an estimated cost of $279, plus use of a district vehicle. Also Connie McPherson, Mike McClellan and Jeri McKinnon, Regional Workshop, Jan. 26 in Phoenix at an estimated cost of $1,411, plus use of a district vehicle; Joy Burroughs, Education and Career Action Plan: Moving from Compliance to Culture, Jan. 6 in Flagstaff; Jeff Meeks, Northeastern Arizona Directors Meeting, Jan. 21 in Kayenta at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; Jeff Meeks, Arizona Department of Education, TAS Work Group, Jan. 28 in Phoenix; and Jeff Meeks and Carey Kester, High School Transition, Jan. 14 in Show Low at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle. * Approved expense and revolving fund vouchers totaling $586,854, and payroll and expense vouchers totaling $1,355,168.68. * Approved fundraisers for the HHS Outdoor Club for the presale of cherry, pumpkin and apple pies for estimated earnings of $200; and the HHS Student Council for Valentine Grams for estimated earnings of $300 and a Mr. Roadrunner Dessert Bar for estimated earnings of $200.