HUSD discusses fiscal funding from federal and state grants

Title I funding, which assists schools with high numbers of low-income families, provides the largest amount of funds at approximately $1.2 million. “We will have some carryover that will bounce this number up a little bit more once we get the carryover completed,” stated Saxton. Title I moneys are used for instructional support, summer school teachers and professional development.

Saxton noted some drastic changes in Title II funding in the amount of $135,092 due to Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding. “In Fiscal Year 25 it does look a lot more, but that’s because we were still spending down ESSER funds, so we had a lot more carryover, versus now that we kind of run out of ESSER.” Title II is used for recruitment and intern stipends as well as professional development.

The board also received a presentation from Indian Education Director Bernice Gover on the Johnson O’Malley Convention in Denver, which included Holbrook High School teacher Sylvia Jackson and JOM board member Heather Sakurai. During the convention, Jackson was honored as the National Johnson O’Malley Association (NJOMA) Educator of the Year for her work in teaching the Navajo language at the high school.

The board elected Dr. Craig Stuart to remain president and Linda Yazzie to remain as vice president for the board for 2026.

The board held a public hearing on the district Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 26) budget revision before adopting the revised budget. There were no public comments. Following the public hearing, the board approved FY 26 budget revision to be sent to the Arizona Department of Education School Finance Division. The revisions reflect accurate funding for Average Daily Membership (ADM), capital budget revisions, classroom site funds, budget carry-forward and weighted student count revisions due to current year funding requirements.

Following the meeting an executive session was held for a routine evaluation of Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich, with a motion to approve the evaluation with no additional comments.

In other business, the board:

* Approved Wilson Language Fundations Readers for grades kindergarten, first and second grades for final adoption. It was posted for 60-day review on the district website.

* Approved the Heggerty Phonological Awareness curriculum as a supplemental curriculum to be used for reading intervention for final adoption. It was posted for 60-day review on the district website.

* Approved the school counselor’s book selections for final adoption. The list of books and the book proposals were posted for 60-day review on the district website.

* Approved Language Essentials as a supplemental curriculum for English language instruction for final adoption. It was posted for 60-day review on the district website.

* Approved building renewal grants for the Holbrook Junior High school fire alarm system replacement, Indian Wells Elementary School classroom HVAC replacement and authorized the board president to sign the terms and conditions of the building renewal grants.

* Approved the Construction Management At-Risk CMAR contract with Core Construction to begin construction management and planning for the Park Elementary School gym.

* Approved the FY 26 federal grants. These grants have been approved by the Arizona Department of Education and other entities that administer the grants.

* Approved an updated FY 26 Classified Salary Placement Schedule reflecting the new minimum wage requirements.

* Approved Flexible Creativity Dan Mulligan as a sole source for professional development for instructional practices.

* Approved Zoe Daniels to complete practicum work at Hulet Elementary School in the spring semester of 2026 for Daniels’ degree program through Northland Pioneer College.

* Approved Sara Speers to complete student teaching at Hulet and Park elementary schools in the spring semester of 2026. Speers is a Northern Arizona University elementary education major and will complete her first eight weeks in general education classroom with a third grade class at Hulet and then another eight weeks in a special education classroom.

* Held a first reading for policies that have been updated by the Arizona School Board Association. Policy updates include: DJE Bidding/Purchasing, EA Support Service Goals/Priority Objectives, EBAB & EBAB-R Hazardous Materials, EBBB & EBBB-R Accident Reports, EBC & EB-R Emergencies and School Closings, ECA & ECA-R Security, ECAC & ECAC-R Vandalism and Reporting Suspected Crimes, ECB Building and Grounds Maintenance, EDB & EDB-R Maintenance and Control of Materials, Equipment and Instructional Materials, EDC Authorized Use of School-Owned Materials and Equipment and GDBA Support Staff Salary.

* Approved the classified resignation of Brittany Antonio, Indian Wells Elementary School (IWES) homeless liaison; and Charlene Betts, special education high needs paraprofessional.

* Approved the classified termination of Ashley Begay, HHS cafeteria student worker.

* Approved the classified employment of Bryson Autobee, William Cassidy, Lukai Frenette, Dominick Gambos, Macy Gardner, Tia Gillispie, Alexa Jimenez, Lori Kishbaugh, Mehretta Meeks, Sasha Parcell, Ninti Pitman, Merhetta Sullivan, Peyton Trujillo and Alexis Young, all Pat Kenny Wrestling student workers; Karli Barela, district nurse; Nicole Begay, IWES substitute cafeteria worker; Carol Greer, special education special needs assistant, increase from 29 to 35 hours; LaDonna Jackson, Hulet daycare assistant, increase to 29 hours/week; Venee John, transportation, bus driver and facility worker; Braylee Livingston, transportation, bus monitor; Juan Luna, maintenance, facility worker; Benjamin Meeks, transportation, bus driver; and Jeff Robinson, game worker.

* Approved the certified resignation of Monica Liddle, district ESI substitute teacher.

* Approved the certified employment of Zachary Woody, district emergency substitute.

* Approved extra duty for Phoebe Adrales-Torres, HJHS sports help; Shawna Bailey, HJHS game help; Leslie Baldonado, HJHS sports official; Beth Baloo and Alicia Jimenez, both HJHS robotic coaches; Davina Begay and Jasilyn Yazzie, both IWES White Fleet drivers; Stephanie Charley, HJHS girls basketball assistant coach; Charles Haussman, district testing coordinator; Jamal Johnson, HJHS eighth grade boys basketball head coach; Jeff Meeks, district Title IX coordinator; John McDaniel, HJHS sixth and seventh grade boys basketball coach; Dan Orton, HJHS eighth grade girls basketball coach; Loren Silver, HJHS non-AIA sports official; and Rebekah Wilson, IWES sports official. * Approved volunteer Maylee Crawford, HHS Spirit Line assistant coach.

* Approved professional leave for Meghan Carbonneau, Effective Demonstrations, Glendale, Feb. 26, 2026, at a cost to the district of use of a district vehicle; Cheryl Carlson, dual enrollment meeting, Holbrook, Jan. 6; Abrian Dickson and Kyle Gardner, program management, Snowflake, Nov. 20; Charles Haussman, Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology directors meeting, Taylor, Nov. 17; Jesus Luna, the Trust Loss Control, Tempe, Nov. 19-20, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Gabriel Nells, Navajo-Hopi Area Junior High League athletic directors meeting, Hotevilla-Bacavi, Dec. 5; Michaela Saxton, GME new user bootcamp, Phoenix, Jan. 22, 2026, cost to the district is $50; Chantelle Taylor, NE regional honor festival, Saint Johns, Nov. 19, cost to the district is $300 and use of a district vehicle; Ciara Analla, Peggy Reid, Monica Sanchez and Benita Smith, L.E.T.R.S. training, Flagstaff, Nov. 15, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Mike Burks and Ryan Fraley, 2025 State of Arizona Cyber Summit, Dec. 5, cost to the district is use of a district vehicle.

* Approved expense and revolving vouchers totaling $559,620.

* Approved payroll and expense vouchers totaling nearly $1.1 million.

* Approved personnel pay for classified notice of appointment for Dec. 2025; minimum wage change effective Jan. 1, 2026; Nov. 2025 White Fleet driver’s stipend, $1,240; personnel pay number 12, $92,984; Proposition 301 pay, $244,614; personnel pay number 13, $4,578; and personnel pay number 14, $8,145.

* Approved fundraisers held by IWES student council for sweaters and T-shirt sales, expected to earn $3,825; IWES student council for home game concessions, expected earnings not determined; IWES student council for Christmas grams, estimated earnings not determined; HHS band for ribbon flower and card, expected to earn $450; HHS band for car wash/bake sale/rummage sale, expected to earn $750; HHS band for sweetheart dance, expected to earn $1,000; HHS band, color guard camp for students grades fifth through eighth, expected to earn $450; and HHS Fusion for Holbrook roadrunner fanny packs, expected to earn $250.

* 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. in Holbrook.