By Talaina Kor During the Holbrook Unified School District board meeting held on Tuesday, Aug. 10, the board approved policy a revision for first reading that states that a school district or charter school may not require a student or teacher to receive a vaccine for COVID-19 or to wear a face covering to participate in in-person learning. When asked by a board member how binding the policy is if the pandemic were to worsen, Superintendent Dr. Robby Koerperich stated that “The only thing that would overturn this would be an executive order by Governor Ducey.” Koerperich also added that some schools are not passing this policy, which will reveal whether the policy is bonding statutorily or not. As the Indian Wells Elementary School is on the Navajo Nation where masks are required, Koerperich stated that the district will comply, “We are requiring face masks for our students on the Navajo Nation.” The revision passed with Board member Claudia Jackson voting against the policy revision, and the rest of the board voting in favor. Rosie Alley spoke during Call to the Public, thanking the board and administration for all their work and dedication during this challenging time and contributing to the success of her grandchildren. Teacher Kyle Gardner also addressed the board with a short presentation regarding the Digital Storytelling Course he held. In other business, the board: * Approved a digital storytelling course to coursework at Holbrook High school. * Approved the Education Specialist Effectiveness Performance Evaluation System, Leader Effectiveness Performance Evaluation and Teacher Effectiveness Performance Evaluation tools as performance evaluation systems for 2021-22 school year. * Approved policy revision for first reading which outlines that, if the Board creates an advisory committee, the committee is subject to the Arizona Open Meeting Law requirements. * Approved policy revision for first reading for the following items: that the Governing Board may recess the meeting without a vote in order to maintain decorum and meeting rules; that the Governing Board may provide food and beverages at school district events as allowed by the Arizona Constitution and policies of the Department of Education; at least one kindergarten through third grade teacher in each school to receive training related to dyslexia. This was updated to July 1, 2022, from the July 1, 2021, date; that a teacher, administrator or other employee of a public school may not use public money for instruction that presents blame or judgement on the basis of race, ethnicity, or sex and outlines guidelines as such; that bus driver applicants are required to possess a commercial driver’s license from Arizona or an adjacent state if they will be driving a school bus for a school district; that includes an update to calculation of instructional time and instructional hours. The new statute allows for districts to develop on campus and off campus instructional platforms; that outlines guidelines for when a student in grades K-4 may be suspended or expelled from a school district. * Approved re-hiring bus drivers at the rate in which they left the district if they have previously been employed with the District in prior years. * Approved the School Safety Program agreement between the District and Navajo County Sheriff’s Office to provide a School Resource Officer (SRO) at Holbrook Junior High School and Holbrook High School through the Arizona Department of Education School Safety Grant. * Approved a delegate(s) to represent HUSD #3 at the 2021 ASBA Delegate Assembly on Sept. 11. * Approved the support staff employment of Patricia Dewitt, food service and substitute worker; Theresa Fewell, food service/transportation and substitute worker/substitute bus driver/driver white bus; Ayla Hayden, Hulet/Park and preschool aide; Cornelia Iashie, transportation and driver white bus; Shivana Jake, food service and student worker; Ethan Knight, food service and student worker; Ana Paula LeSueur, Teri Tafoya, Velma Winslow and Debbie McKee, each as food service and substitute worker; Heather Manygoats, district office and accounts payable; and Mary Tsosie, transportation and bus driver. * Approved the resignations of Ana Paula LeSueur, food service worker; Colleen Teigh, special needs assistant; and Joshua Meeks, maintenance student worker. * Approved the certified employment of Francis Ambrose, Don Davis and Marilyn Francisco, each for Educational Services Inc., (ESI) substitute for the district; Angie Nava, HJHS social students and long term substitute/ESI; and Rebekah Wilson, substitute for the district. * Approved the resignation of Sylvia Katoney, ESI substitute for the district. * Approved extra duty for Brianna Allison, special education Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) Task Force; Gishie Arviso, Leslie Baldonado, Erik Carlson, Veronica Dale, Dwayne Hawk, Tobias Herndon, Jerald Nez, Lou Ann McLaws, Arletta Nez, Melissa Olson, Beth Plumb, Jackie Saxton, Teri Tafoya, Rita Yazzie, Tim Yazzie and Gretchen Madison, each as HHS game help; Beth Baloo, HJHS mentor year one; Saraphania Benally, special education ESSER Task Force and wrestling table help Pat Kenny Meet; Stephanie Brosius, HHS junior class sponsor; Michael Burks, HHS yearbook sponsor, tech cadre and auditorium technician; Steven Carbonneau, HHS assistant wrestling coach; Cheryl Carlson, HHS senior class sponsor and HHS game help; Ben Coppolo, HHS English Department Head; Vicky Craig, HHS SPED case manager; Angela DelCollo, HHS athletics-assistant Spirit Line; Lelia Demuth, HHS Running Club, assistant coach cross country, assistant coach track, and HHS game help; Paul Demuth, HHS assistant coach track; Tim Eddings, special education ESSER Task Force and detention; Karen Estridge, Danelle Garner, Alicia Jimenez, Jayme Hughey, Andrea Luna, John McDaniel, Daniel Orton and Lou Ann McLaws, each for ESSER III Task Force; Kyle Gardner, HHS Swing Thing director, HJHS football official and auditorium manager; Bernice Gover, Indian Wells Elementary School tech cadre; Kassandra Grabowski, Spiritline head coach; Ramie Hatch, HHS math department head; Ty Hatch, HHS prep buy out, baseball assistant coach and volleyball assistant coach; Susan Hayden, English language tester; Sylvia Jackson, HHS electives department head; Delmar Johnson, HHS assistant boys Soccer, head coach boys basketball and assistant coach softball; Galen Knight, HHS assistant coach baseball and HHS game help; Shannon Knight, HHS sophomore class sponsor and HHS game help; Aaren LaRose, HHS head volleyball coach; Laura Layden, Park year two mentor; Jeremy Madison, HHS Roadrunner Nest, assistant boys basketball and head coach golf; Debbie McKee, food service and HHS game help; Sarah Meeks, HHS marching band, Concert Band and Fusion Director; Ashley Mitchell, HHS science department head; Daniel Mitchell, HHS National Honor Society sponsor, E-Sports head coach and social studies Department Head; Zane Morgan, head coach cross country and head coach track; Roni Orton, IWES year two mentor; Jessica Paz, HHS assistant girls basketball; Victor Paz, HHS head coach girls soccer and assistant boys basketball; Greg Perkins, HHS athletic director and head coach girls basketball; Amanda Remos, SPED ESSER Task Force; Steven Santos, HHS assistant football and wrestling; Cary Simpson, HHS special education department head and freshman class sponsor; David Smith, HJHS football official; Chris Starkey, HHS head football coach and game help; Melicia Thompson, HHS student council sponsor; Benson Wallace, HHS assistant girls soccer; and Lori Williams, IWES athletic director and student council. * Approved volunteers Tony Aguilera, HHS head coach boys soccer; Paul Agramont, eighth grade football coach; Frances Ambrose, HHS assistant football coach; Alex Baker, HHS assistant softball coach; Jacob Baker, HHS/HJHS assistant coach softball; Scott Baker, HHS/HJHS head coach softball; Kendall Bakurza, HHS head baseball coach; Ryan Baldonado, HHS assistant baseball coach; Lucinda Kinlicheenie, Richard Petersen and Tess Baldonado, each as HHS game help; Jme Baloo, HHS wrestling table help; Elisha John-Aberle, HHS assistant girls basketball; Daniel Moore, HHS assistant football coach; Ray Patterson, HHS assistant softball coach; Donovan Rodriguez, HHS assistant football coach; Cayla Serna, HHS assistant volleyball; Artie Yazzie, HHS assistant girls basketball and game help. * Approved professional leave for Greg Perkins for athletic director’s meeting in Phoenix. * Approved expense and revolving vouchers totaling $1.3 million, and payroll and expense vouchers totaling nearly $1.2 million. Including personnel pay for Indian Wells Book Study Leadership for $1,125; new teacher orientation/training for $25,625; Hulet Professional Development Day $15,500.
