HUSD pushes return to campus date to September 14

The Holbrook Unified School District No. 3 (HUSD) Governing Board met last week to discuss the adjustments made to the 12-point plan, which was originally set to have students return to school onsite for phase two on Aug 17, but is now extended to Sept. 14, assuming Navajo County can meet the final benchmarks set by ADHS in order to reopen schools. According to information from AZDHS, Navajo County still needs to manage to go two weeks with a percentage of positive cases below seven percent and remain at or below 100 cases per 100,000 individuals. HUSD Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich said that although the district cannot reopen schools as they had initially planned, they have worked out a temporary solution to be able to offer onsite help for students needing a place to work on their academics during the day. beginning Aug. 17. Koerperich explained, “The free onsite learning opportunity will be limited based on capacity and staffing available. Staff are currently assigned to virtual teaching responsibilities; therefore, regular classroom instruction will not occur. Rather, each school will provide a communal space to allow students to be in a safe and productive environment to continue their virtual coursework.” First consideration for the onsite learning opportunities will go to students with special needs, English Language Learner students, children in foster care and students that qualify for Title I indicators I and II. The onsite learning opportunity includes access to technology, food service programs and access to internet capabilities and will be supervised by qualified staff. Students and staff attending onsite will need to follow the protocols outlined in the 12-Point Plan, such as physical distancing, use of face masks, health screenings, sickness response, sanitation and socialization. A waiver will be required as part of the effort to ensure that parents who choose to send their child for onsite learning opportunities understand the risks associated with a public setting. The superintendent explained, “The Holbrook School District has a mitigation plan to reduce these inherent risks; however, it must be acknowledged that schools are communal environments and even with the strictest precautions there is a level of risk that a child may become ill and the potential for that illness to be spread into the home exists.” Regarding school athletics, Dr. Koerperich announced that football and volleyball for junior high, and flag football, volleyball and cross country for Indian Wells Elementary School is canceled for the fall semester. HUSD is currently analyzing opportunities for AIA sports which include football volleyball, cross country, chess and e-sports for the future. Koerperich offered, “We are exploring intramural activities when we can transition to phase two and three.” In other business, the board: * Approved the updated HUSD 12-Point Back to School Plan update. * Approved a request by Special Education Director Dr. Jeff Meeks to hire special needs paraprofessionals throughout the school year, as needed, when these positions are required by a student’s IEP (Individual Education Plan). * Approved a recommendation to designate Charles Haussman, Robbie Koerperich, Kevin Fosburgh, Jeri McKinnon, Andrea Tomlin, Dan Nielson, Jeff Meeks and Cheri Grau as qualified evaluators to serve as evaluators for the district’s teacher performance evaluation system. * Approved a request by Dr. Koerperich to utilize Norcon Industries as a sole source vendor for Kalwall windows that are utilized throughout the district. * Approved an update to the technology cadre job description that is utilized at each school site and district-wide to assist the technology department in managing district-wide technology. * Approved a request by Dr. Koerperich for the Director of Support Services extra duty job description which will be responsible for supervising transportation, food service, facility services and custodial services departments throughout the district. * Approved the transfer and hiring of staff including, LaDell Burks, from HJHS high needs to Hulet special needs; Barbra Williams, from Park Elementary School high needs to Hulet Elementary School high needs; Zavion Waits, from student worker to substitute custodian; Lane Jensen, summer painter; and Tommy McLaws, full time bus driver/facility worker. * Approved the resignation of Mindy Ohlson JHJS special education; Ashlynn Legg, computer services student worker end of summer employment; Tyson Begay, Kobi Koerperich and Andres Aguilera, each as a support services student worker end of summer employment. * Approved the retirement of Daisy Goh, transportation dispatcher, with return to work through ESI effective Oct. 1. *Approved certified staff employment and transfer of Catrina Garner, IWES special education; Sue Hayden, English language tester; Rick Hurst, HHS math interventionist; Greg Perkins, from full time physical education/health to athletic director; Vicky Craig, HHS special education case manager; Stephanie Bifano, Virginia Lindsey and Connie McPherson, each as substitute retirees working for Arizona State Retiree System insurance. * Approved the certified staff resignation of Cary Simpson, HHS special education retirement effective Oct. 31 with return to work on Nov. 2. *Approved extra duty for Dan Mitchell, HHS social studies department head; Ben Coppollo, HHS English department head, Cary Simpson, HHS special education department head; Mike Burks, HHS tech cadre-website; Jeremy Madison, HHS Roadrunner Roost; Ashley Mitchell, HHS science department head; Laura Layden, Park Elementary School year two mentor; Debbie Koerperich, IWES year one mentor; Suzanne Powell, IWES year two mentor; Saraphania Benally, Dee Dunaway, Stephanie Peters, Jessica Hubbard and Chantelle Taylor, each as Hulet Elementary School year one mentors; Karen Estridge and Beth Plumb, both as HJHS year one mentors; Cary Simpson and Daniel Mitchell, both as HHS year one mentors; and Julie Fields and Jeff Meeks, both as Title IX coordinators. * Approved the expense and revolving fund vouchers totaling $147,658 for school year 19-20 and $698,865 for school year 20-21. * Approved $18,000 for new teacher orientation/training. * Approved a donation of Encore headphones HHS teacher Michael Burks and 396 Rainbow Care Kits from the Children of the Naats iliad (Rainbow) Project to Indian Wells Elementary School students.