By Linda Kor During the March 9 meeting of the Holbrook Unified School District Governing Board, the board approved updates to the district’s 12-Point Back to School Plan, which includes remaining in Phase III for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year and will include various options for students and families at each school, from four-days on campus to hybrid to virtual. According to information provided by the district, students and families will have the opportunity to re-evaluate their instructional platform and sign up for four days on campus beginning March 22. Indian Wells Elementary School will continue virtual learning until further notice in accordance with the Navajo Nation Department of Diné Education Board resolution requiring schools on the Navajo Nation remain in virtual learning. The district will work with the Department of Dine Education for on campus learning opportunities and reopening structures as soon as possible. IWES will offer limited on-site services for special education, ELL and academically at-risk students as applicable to parental consent. Students and staff will continue to be required to utilize face masks or face shields. White Mountain sports and Arizona Interscholastic sports will take place for all spring sports while using AIA safety guidelines. Limited capacity activities will be allowed based on local and county health metrics. Capacities will be limited and all 12-point protocols will be followed. During the meeting, the board also held a discussion on a 1.5% increase in salary for all certified teachers, administrators and salaried employees for the 2021-2022 school year but no decision was made during the meeting. In other business, the board: * Approved a second budget revision for the FY 21 budget. The budget revision includes a reduction in budget capacity due to current year average daily membership (ADM). The budget revision modifies the ADM from the proposed budget to the current year budget average daily membership count. * Approved the FY22 first year certified faculty placement schedule and substitute placement schedule; special assignment positions salary schedule including math, science, special education and Indian Wells Elementary School positions; administrator placement schedule; certified staff extra duty daily, hourly, and periodic pay stipends and special assignment stipend schedule as presented for SY 2021-2022. * Approved the 2020-2021 administrator and salaried employee contracts. * Approved the First Year Extra Duty Certified Faculty Stipend Placement Schedule for fine arts, academic and other duties; as well as, Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) related activities. * Approve a step increase to eligible extra duty personnel; as well as, a 1.5% increase to employees that are beyond Step 5 on the Extra Duty Certified Faculty Placement Schedule for fine arts, Career and Technical Education, academic and other duties; as well as, Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) related activities for SY 21-22. * Approved a Special Services Consortium Agreement for the 2021-2022 school year. The agreement includes a $40 per day increase to services for a total of a $10,000 increase for occupational therapy, physical therapy and certified occupational therapist assistant roles. The agreement is to be approved from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024. Exhibit A is revisited annually for cost analysis. * Approved a 15-915 request for recalculation of state aid based on the litigation posed by Transwestern Pipeline. Transwestern Pipeline has filed a lawsuit with the State of Arizona for a recalculation of tax revenue. This litigation will adversely impact the Holbrook School District tax collections for FY 16, FY 17, FY 18, FY 19, and FY 20. The 15-915 request is to recalculate state aid based on the reduction of tax revenue as a result of the Transwestern Pipeline litigation. * Approved the recommended calendar for SY 21-22. The calendar includes a five-day traditional calendar with half-days on Friday for Park, Hulet, Holbrook Junior High School and Holbrook High School. The calendar meets the requirements for 180 student days and 183 certified teacher day. The four-day calendar for Indian Wells Elementary was also approved, which includes 144 student days and 183 certified teacher days. * Approved the resignation of Alaya Darling, HHS head cheer coach and the retirements of Dan Nielson, HJHS Dean of Students and Melody Myers, IWES preschool special education. * Approved extra duty for Gypsi Gover, Debbie Koerperich and Roni Orton, each for IWES Title I & English Language Learners (ELL) tutoring; Daniel Orton, HJHS three-on-three basketball coach; Melissa Olson, HHS game help; Amanda Terry, Hulet/Park schools substitute secretary; Vanessa Morgan, HJHS head girls track coach; Jessica Paz, HJHS assistant girls track; Cheri Grau, HJHS supervisor 15 additional days in June 2021; and John McDaniel, HJHS head boys track coach. * Approved extra duty volunteers Alex Baldonado, HHS assistant baseball; Olivia Richins, HHS assistant softball coach; Steven Santos, HHS golf; Nicole Young and Jacob Baker, HHS softball; and Jason Analla, HHS baseball. * Approved professional leave for Teri White, Show Low, Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology CNA Testing, March 2, at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle. * Approved expense and revolving fund vouchers totaling $321,019 and payroll and expense vouchers totaling $1,373,032. * Approved an HHS softball fundraiser of online beef jerky sales for estimated earnings of $4,4914.
