By China Cassidy On Tuesday, Dec. 8, the Holbrook Unified School District announced that COVID-19 tests can now be administered to students and staff at Holbrook Junior High (HJHS), Holbrook High School (HHS) and Indian Wells Elementary School (IWES). To facilitate the endeavor, the district has added a $1,500 extra duty stipend for Lonna Haussman to fulfill the position of the District BinaxNOW COVID-19 Coordinator for the period of November 2020 through May of 2021. Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich said that as the coordinator, Haussman is able to administer tests given to the district by Navajo County Health Services at all three locations. “This person will coordinate BinaxNOW testing for staff and students onsite at HHS, HJHS and IWES. All students and staff can be tested if they are showing symptoms of illness (common COVID signs). The test is administered onsite at HHS, HJHS and IWES, is a nose swab, takes about 15 minutes to get results and is 95 percent accurate when the person is symptomatic,” explained Koerperich. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, getting tested has proven to be somewhat of a challenge and the turnaround time for results was anywhere from five to seven days in some cases, if not longer, which resulted in many people missing work or school while waiting for results. One of the benefits of being able to offer testing at the schools, is the potential to cut back on the amount of time students and staff have to miss while out sick, as well as offer quicker results to determine the best course of action. Koerperich explained, “Having readily available tests was a variable that we talked a lot about because that is instant information and these people would come back to work, if they tested negative. It allows them to get back to work or to stay home for an extra few days for common cold kind of stuff. It kind of differentiates between that common cold and COVID.” The superintendent said there are proper procedures that the district has in place should someone test positive. “If someone is tested positive through the BinaxNow they isolate at home until Navajo County Health releases them. If there is exposure to other students or staff, an exposure letter is sent to each person.” In the event that a student or staff member tests positive, all cases are reported to the Navajo County Department of Health by the coordinator. Parents who would like to have their child be eligible to receive a BinaxNOW Covid-19 test must give their consent prior to Haussman administering it. In other business Director of Technology Barry Lambson gave a presentation and informed the board that the district continues their efforts to maximize the technological abilities of students, parents and teachers while school continues with Phase Three of the 12-Point Plan which has maintained parental choice in allowing students to attend school virtually from home, half time onsite learning or full time on campus. In other business, the board: * Approved the newly revised FY 2021 budget. The budget revision updates the current budget according to current year funding requirements including a decline in enrollment, an increase in budget carryforward and a slight overall increase in the FY 21 budget. * Approved an 18 cent raise for all minimum wage employees, as well as the hourly pay rate schedule for first-year, non-exempt employees beginning Jan. 1, 2021. * Approved the district’s Technology Disaster Recovery Plan, which outlines contingency plans for technology back-up, including data recovery in the case of a disaster impacting the district. * Approved a limited appointment contract for Educational Services Incorporated employees to receive 80 hours of Families First Coronavirus Response Act leave. * Approved Phase Four of the 12-Point Plan, which will be revisited in Feb. 2021. Moving into Phase Four of the plan, students will have the opportunity to change how they are receiving their instruction. They have the option to do virtual learning, on campus learning or the hybrid model which allows students to attend two days on campus and two days virtually. On campus learning opportunities will continue to be available to all students as required by the Arizona Department of Education even if the entire district were to return to virtual learning. * Approved the support staff employment of Patricia Moore as a food services substitute worker. * Approved extra duty for Michael Burks, auditorium technician; Charles Haussman, testing coordinator; Kyle Gardner, auditorium manager; Karen Estridge, Beth Baloo, David Smith, Lou Ann McLaws, John McDaniels, Alicia Jimenez, Brandi Butler and Jamie Justman, each as HJHS help; and Gretchen Madison, HHS ticket taker. * Approved professional leave for Casey Hancock, Phoenix, Arizona Association of School Business Professionals School Business Management Class, Nov. 13-14, at an estimated cost of $100. * Approved expense and revolving fund vouchers totaling $342,857. * Approved payroll and expense vouchers totaling $1.4 million. * Approved personnel pay for district insurance buyout in the amount of $37,750; a second quarter class differential stipend in the amount of $18,065. * Approved the disbursement of Arizona State University Digital Deseg Day funds in the amount of $13,299 for the Hulet and Park elementary schools; $13,380 to IWES; $15,064 to HHS; $9,000 to HJHS; $500 to Kevin Fosburg, Andrea Tomlin, Cheri Grau Paul Demuth and Charles Haussman; and $403.75 to Jeri McKinnon. * Acknowledged gifts and donations from the Navajo County Health Department for 2,500 facemasks, and gallon sized zip lock storage bags, whiteboard, pocket chart, magnets, class set of pencil sharpeners, two books, timer, and memo holders from Not So Wimpy Teacher to third grade teacher Kara Gardner. The Board also voted to continue with President Olivia Jaquez and Vice-President Linda Yazzie in their leadership roles. Vice-President Yazzie swore in President Olivia Jaquez, Member Ferral Knight and Member Craig Stuart.
