The Holbrook Unified School District Governing Board met at Indian Wells Elementary School on Feb. 8 and approved a resolution encouraging the Arizona Legislature to approve extending the aggregate expenditure limit to allow the district to fully expend its current budget capacity in FY 22.

If Arizona Legislators do not extend the aggregate expenditure limit before March 1, then the state Constitution will require all public district schools to cut 16% of their budget in the last few months of the school year.

For Holbrook School District, that means a loss of $2.6 million in their budget capacity on April 1. It was noted that a cut of this magnitude will significantly harm student earning, teacher and staff retention and community trust by causing large furloughs and other cuts prior to the end of the school year.

The board was also presented with an annual update on the Navajo Nation Johnson O’Malley Program. The program provides funding to meet the needs of Native American students attending public schools and HUSD contracts with the Navajo Nation Division of Diné Education to obtain this funding.

The current contract provides a total allocation of $129,391 for the 2021-2022 school year and pays for partial salaries for four employees, funds Navajo language, Navajo history and government instruction, English credit recovery, instructional supplies and student activities, cultural events field trips and incentive rewards, as well as technology, art, music and library supplies. The district currently serves 1,316 Native American students.

In other business, the board:

* Heard public comments from the Indian community.

* Reviewed the Impact Aid Program Indian Policies and Procedures (IPP) that are a required measure for Impact Aid compliance.

* Approved the administrative procedure for post-retirement employment options.

* Authorized first reading of policies pertaining to retirement of professional staff members and support staff members.

* Authorized first reading of the policy pertaining to professional and support staff members retirement work agreement.

* Authorized first reading of the policy pertaining to professional/support staff voluntary transfer of accrued sick leave.

* Approve the updated district recruiter job description. Staff members that effectively recruit and help retain staff throughout the school year will receive a stipend of $2,000.

* Approved the updated Year 1 and Year 2 Mentoring job descriptions that will be implemented this year.

* Approved the terms and conditions for building renewal grants for the Hulet Elementary HVAC procurement in the amount of $4,505 and Holbrook Junior High Quad Design in the amount of $94,525, as well as, approve the board president to sign the terms and conditions.

* Approved a memorandum of understanding between HUSD and the Northern Arizona Council of Governments.

* Approved the support staff employment of Cody Cline, district HVAC/trainee; Alysia Jackson, IWES substitute custodian; and Gretchen Madison and Justine Scott, both as Hulet daycare substitutes.

* Approved the support staff resignations of Mary Begay, transportation bus driver; La’Dell Burks, Hulet special needs assistant; Christian Phillips, computer services; and Hannah Yazzie, IWES preschool aide.

* Approved the certified employment of Vanessa Castillo and Isabelle Sloan, each as district substitute teachers; and Monica Liddle, HHS teacher on assignment.

* Approved extra duty for Nathan Adams, HJHS Spring Musical; Karen Estridge, HJHS Year One Mentor (one semester for Angie Nava); Dwayne Hawk, HHS drama sponsor; LouAnn McLaws and Jamie Justman, each as HJHS sports help; Aaren LaRose and Loren Silver, each as HJHS sports officials; Sarah Meeks, HJHS spring musical; Vanessa Morgan, HJHS assistant girls track coach; and Adicia Paschal, HJHS head girls track coach.

* Approved volunteers Gerard “Jerry” Barela, HHS assistant golf coach; Laurie Bowler, Kreslie Hawk, Misty Hatch, Shannon Knight, HHS band chaperones; and Val Jones, HHS musical help.

* Approved professional leave for Ray McLaws, Vendor Showcase, Phoenix, Jan. 14, at no cost to the district; Beth Self, Arizona Music Educators Association, Mesa, Jan. 27-29, at a cost to the district of $381; Stephanie Brosius, Monica Liddle, ACT Training, Tucson, Feb. 15 and 16, at a cost to the district of $1,300; Chantelle Taylor, Navajo County Spelling Bee, Snowflake, Feb. 16, at a cost to the district of use of a district vehicle; Cheri Grau and Andrea Tomlin, Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Recruitment Fair, Phoenix, Feb. 26, at a cost to the district of $190; Cheri Grau, Kevin Fosburgh and Andrea Tomlin, Northern Arizona University Recruitment Fair, Flagstaff, at a cost to the district of use of a district vehicle; Kyle Gardner, Arizona Music Educators Association Conference, Mesa, Jan. 28 and 29, at a cost to the district of $160; Jason Foutz, Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology Technical Skills Assessment Training, Snowflake, Feb. 11, at no cost to the district; Charlie Haussman, ADE Career and Technical Education Directors Meeting, Prescott, Feb. 3, at a cost to the district of $184; Ray McLaws, School Nutrition Association of Arizona Professional Development, Flagstaff, Feb. 25-26, at a cost to the district of $273.54; Jason Foutz and David Smith, Intentional Technical Skills, Feb. 11, at a cost to the district of use of a school vehicle; Steven Santos, ASAP-NJ (SAC Conference), Virtual, March 4, at no cost to the district; and Lori Williams, Athina Lewis, Bernice Gover, Riding for Focus – Regional Training, Gallup, N.M. March 19, at a cost to the district of use of a school vehicle.

* Approved expense and revolving fund vouchers totaling $1 million, and payroll and expense vouchers totaling $642,311.

* Approved fundraisers for HHS Student Council, Mr. Roadrunner Kickball Tournament for estimated earnings of $560-$700 and Mr. Roadrunner Dessert Bar for estimated earnings of $800-$1,000; HHS Swing Thing Newsies musical playbill advertisement for estimated earnings of $1,500 and Newsies musical for estimated earnings of $3,500; HHS Class of 2023 Valentine grams for estimated earnings of $90-$260; HHS softball beef jerky sales for estimated earnings of $6,000; IWES Student Council, candy grams for estimated earnings of $200; and HHS Band car wash/bake sale/rummage sale for estimated earnings of $750.

* Approved gifts and donations including a Lifetouch Pictures donation of $281.52 to HJHS; and a donation from Across Nations of 100 backpacks with school supplies and socks in them to IWES.

* Approved professional/support staff orientation and training.