The Holbrook Unified School District held the monthly meeting on March 6 at Indian Well Elementary School but prior to the regular meeting a public meeting was held to take public comment from tribal officials and parents pertaining to programs funded through the Special Impact Aid Act. During the regular meeting, the board approved for first reading a policy revision to a policy pertaining to Indian Education. The revision updates the policy to include new federal regulations for tribal consultation including the requirement for districts to implement Indian Policies and Procedures that involve annual consultation with tribal officials.

The Indian Wells Chapter requested a land transfer from land designated for Indian Wells Elementary School back to the Indian Wells Chapter for a business district land development project along Route 77 and Highway 15. The land transfer would give a portion of the leased land that was originally leased to HUSD No. 3 back to the Indian Wells Chapter. The land will be used for a leach field sewage system to accompany the business district. The board authorized Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich to work with the Indian Wells Chapter on the transfer of land and to sign documents on the transfer once a legal description for the transfer is finalized.

Dr. Koerperich explained to the board that HUSD offers a Post Retirement Employment Option (PREO) for staff that retire and return to work. The current PREO offers staff to return at 85 percent or 80 percent of their last regular employment salary depending on if they choose district insurance coverage or not. The recommendation approved by the board was for a five percent reduction to the PREO amount to cover additional employee expenses associated with PREO employees.

The board reviewed and accepted the Independent Auditor’s Report for fiscal year 2017 and Uniform System of Financial Records Compliance Questionnaire provided by Dobridge and Company Certified Public Accountants. It was noted that the list of non-compliant items was limited to 13 items that are being addressed with staff.

The board approved a partnership with the University of Arizona Nutrition Network Partnership to implement a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program (SNAP) at Holbrook Junior High School, Hulet Elementary and Park Elementary. The agreement outlines that the University of Arizona Nutrition Network would provide nutrition education activities and resources at participating sites from Oct. 1, 2018 through Sept. 30, 2020.

In other business, the board:

* Approved a policy regarding admission of students in foster care for first reading. The new policy and accompanying regulations and exhibits outline school district procedures for enrolling students that are placed in foster care.

* Approved the fiscal year 2019 first year schedules for certified faculty placement and substitute placement; special assignment positions salary schedule including math, science, special education and Indian Wells Elementary positions; schedules for administrator placement; special assignment stipend; extra duty for fine arts and sports; and special hourly certified employee pay rates.

* Approved a 1.5 percent increase in salary for all certified teachers and administrators for the 2018-2019 school year.

* Approved the issuance of teacher contracts for the 2018-2019 school year.

* Approved contract for certified administrators included Dr. Jeff Meeks, Kevin Fosburgh, Dr. Jeri McKinnon, Connie McPherson, Cheri Grau, Lance Phaturos, Dan Nielson and Dr. Charles Haussman.

* Approved out of state for: Janelle Chee, Loren Silvers, Sylvia Jackson, Donna Bizadi-Tallsalt and Melissa John to travel to the National Johnson O’Malley Conference in Tulsa, Okla., during the week of April 9-12. The Holbrook JOM Program will fund the cost of the conference and travel with the support of district vehicles and district liability insurance coverage.

* Approved out-of-state travel for Dr. Koerperich to participate on a rural education panel on Rural Education Panel Discussion, an annual conference sponsored by the University of Kentucky on May 9-11. The University of Kentucky will pay for airfare and hotel.

* Approved an agreement with the American Red Cross for the use of the HUSD facilities during a disaster relief effort such as a wildfire.

* Approved a continuation of an agreement with Navajo County Special Services Consortium to provide specialized services in meeting students’ Individual Education Plan (IEP) needs when they are not available through district personnel.

* Accepted the resignation of Holbrook Junior High Industrial Arts teacher Kelly Kinghorn effective March 9. Kinghorn was assessed a $2,500 liquidated damage charge for early contract cancelation.

* Approved the support staff employment of Christian Gishie, food service student worker.

* Approved the resignation of Vanessa Chee, bus driver/custodian; and the retirement of Beverly Guzzo, Hulet Elementary School special needs assistant.

* Approved the certified employment of Patty Singer, Indian Wells spelling education speech pathologist; and Timmie Yazzie, substitute teacher.

* Approved extra duty for Mary Tsosie and Henry Jackson, both as IWES parent volunteers; Shannon Knight, Dwayne Hawk, Stacey Apodaca, Kreslie Hawk and Michael Meeks, each as HHS band chaperones; Louie Baldonado Jr., and Alex Baldonado, both for HHS baseball; and Richard Peterson, HJHS soccer.

* Approved a donation by Jami McPherson of new shoes for boys and girls at Park Elementary School, a value of $95.

* Approved professional leave for Loren Silver, Farmington, N.M., Yikaii Yizhchi Conference, Feb. 21-23, at an estimated cost of $858, plus use of a district vehicle; Julie Fields, Phoenix, Arizona Association of School Business Officials Fund Accounting Workshop, April 13, at an estimated cost of $70; Cary Simpson and Karey Kester, Phoenix, Occupation Therapy, Feb. 23, at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; Ray McLaws, Phoenix, ServSafe Food Safety Manager Certification, Feb. 28, at an estimated cost of $299, plus use of a district vehicle; Cheri Grau and Jeff Meeks, Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University (NAU) Recruiting Fair, March 2-3, at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; Beth Baloo, Flagstaff, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), March 2-3; Cale Allen, Gypsi Gover and Annette Rothman, Phoenix, Teaching American Indian History, March 17, at an estimated cost of $522, plus use of a district vehicle; Barry Lambson, Flagstaff, CISCO Training Day, March 1, at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; Connie McPherson, Phoenix, A+ School Site Visit, March 28-29, at an estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; Cheri Grau and Jeff Meeks, Flagstaff, NAU Recruiting Fair, at a estimated cost of use of a district vehicle; Dr. Koerperich, Zane Morgan, Johanna Holmes, Cyndie Walters and Mary Walters, Phoenix, Arizona Senate Presentation, March 8, at an estimated cost of $749, plus use of a district vehicle.

* Approved expense and revolving fund vouchers totaling $399,956; payroll and expense vouchers totaling $1.3 million; third quarter tutoring stipends totaling $7,348; professional development totaling $65,714; and class size differential pay totaling $31,494.