By China Cassidy During a meeting of the Holbrook Unified School District Governing Board on May 12, the board approved the Park and Hulet Grade Level Redesign Plan for school year 20-21. This will mean that grade levels kindergarten through first grade will now be at Park Elementary and grade levels second through fifth grade will be at Hulet Elementary, allowing the district to maximize classroom space and provide efficiencies at both schools. In other business, the board: * Accepted the independent auditors report conducted by Dobridge and Company Certified Public Accountants. Business manager Jacob Boyle presented the prepared report, which showed 21 non-compliant items that are being addressed with staff and changes are being made based off the auditor’s recommendation. * Approved the Support Staff Salary Placement Schedule for the 2020-2021 year. * Approved a 3.5 percent hourly rate increase for all returning non-exempt support staff employees, that are not currently on minimum wage, for the SY 2020-2021 work year. * Approved the FY20 notice of appointments for non-exempt support staff for the 2020-2021 school year. * Approved the Holbrook High School, Holbrook Junior High School, Hulet Elementary School, Indian Wells Elementary School and Park Elementary student handbooks for the 2020-2021 school year. * Approved the district recruiter stipend, which will be eligible for employees who assist in recruiting new staff. * Authorized HUSD to pay any benefits associated with the Teacher of the Year stipends to be allocated through payroll. Each Teacher of the Year will receive $200 from funds generously donated by the Vince and Libby Budenholzer Family and Mike Budenholzer. * Approved the Federal Project agreement with the Joseph City School District to share a Federal Projects Manager position. * Approved a request to submit local initiatives to Arizona School Boards on behalf of HUSD. * Approved the hiring and renewal of contract for district employees Victor Padilla, Heather Manygoats, Gretchen Madison, Debbie McKee and Katie Willis. * Approved the resignations of Toni Ghormley from Park Elementary School Library; Rhiannon Westover, HJHS receptionist/A-Team; and Audri Quezada, Park and HJHS nurse’s aide. * Approved certified staff employment and transfers of Byron Bateman, sixth grade math to sixth grade science; Adicia Paschal, sixth grade science to sixth grade social studies; Brandi Butler, sixth grade social studies to AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) elective and seventh and eighth grade social studies for one period each; Beth Baloo, robotics/science to seventh grade science; Kris Manning, seventh grade science to eighth grade science; Alicia Jimenez, eighth grade science to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics); Galen Knight, seventh and eighth grade math to The Learning Center alternative classroom; Megan Newton-Pender, second grade to kindergarten; Gypsi Gover, kindergarten to second grade at Indian Wells Elementary School; Veronica Karn, second grade to third grade at Indian Wells Elementary School; Roni Orton, first grade to reading specialist in Indian Wells Elementary School; Dan Nielson from HHS assistant principal/dean of students to HJHS assistant principal/dean of students; Jeri McKinnon to transfer to the high school principal; Chantelle Taylor, fourth grade to fifth grade; Mari Smithson, fourth grade to fifth grade; Lisa Billie, second grade to Hulet Elementary School fourth grade; Sherra Dunsmore, from fifth grade to second and third special education; and Nichole Tow, fifth grade to student service position; Madelynn Brewer, HHS social studies teacher; Amanda Chee, first grade teacher; Steven Santos, Park/Hulet elementary schools’ safety grant counselor; Angela DelCollo, Hulet fifth grade teacher; Heidi Hunsaker, transfer to Hulet; Beth Self, transfer to Park and Indian Wells elementary schools; and Courtney Sher as Hulet second grade teacher. * Approved the retirement of Tanya Phaturos, HJHS instructional/specialist. * Approved extra duty for Jacob Baker, COVID-19 essential worker; Ana Paula LeSueur, food service essential worker; Kyle Gardner, High School Swing Thing director; Luis Alvarez, Indian Wells Elementary School lunch detention; Kevin Fosburgh, Park/Hulet principal contract addendum; Brandi Butler, HHS assistant track. * Approved expense and revolving funds totaling $1.4 million.
