The Holbrook Unified School District (HUSD) No. 3 Governing Board met last Tuesday in Indian Wells, during which Indian Education Committee members Tianna Begay, Donna Bizadi-Tallsalt, Desirae Silvers and Nora John reported on Johnson O’Malley (JOM)/Title VI and the Indian Education program within the district.
Through JOM funds, the Indian Education Committee was able to provide $20 each for students to buy books at the Scholastic Book Fair, approximately $12,000 for Native American Heritage Month throughout the schools, as well as learning incentives and supplies.
Bizadi-Tallsalt added that the committee paid for students to partake in American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES). “For Holbrook High School, we sent two students and two chaperones to Spokane, Washington, for their national conference.” The committee also provided the ability for 10 students to attend the Sparks of Possibility conference in Phoenix.
It was noted that the committee has received many questions on the Navajo School Clothing program, which is no longer organized by the school districts. Interested parents can go to the Navajo Nation Division of Social Services website at www.nndss.org/navajo-school-clothing-school-supplies-program/.
The Native American Education Summit held at the Indian Wells Elementary School (IWES) was also discussed, which had a total of 62 signed in participants. “We really focused on three things,” stated Dr. Koerperich, “academic outcomes, chronic absenteeism and adverse childhood experiences.”
After taking a close look at each subject, the summit collectively came up with a list of solutions to help with improving these areas.
Some future ideas noted by the committee are buses for summertime learning, Native American centered dance performances, clubs, a district wide Native American heritage celebration and other community/family building events and activities.
The public is invited to join the Indian Education Committee meetings, with the next meeting to be a parent meeting at 4:30 p.m. today (Wednesday) at the HUSD governing board room in Holbrook.
Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich congratulated the committee, stating, “I’ve been doing this for 15 years, and this is the best group that we’ve had be involved with decision making and the leadership. We really appreciate your involvement and your advocacy for kids and being able to tie that into each school. I think that’s very important.”
During the call to the public, Alfred Clark stated that he felt that the Native American Education Summit was a success and there should be more in the future.
In other business, the board:
* Accepted the principal’s report.
* Approved the English curriculum, Literacy for Life, for final adoption. It will be used in English language support classes at HHS. It has undergone a 60-day review.
* Opened the meeting to take public comments from the Indian community according to Policy IHBJ. Alfred Clark spoke saying he met with the chapter houses and the district should interact with them more for future Native summits.
* Reviewed the current Impact Aid Program Indian Policies and Procedures that are a required measure for Impact Aid compliance.
* Approved Policy KF, KF-RA, KF-EA, KF-RB, KF-EB, and KF-EC. Policy KF which pertain to community use of school facilities. Annually, the governing board must approve the fee schedule and usage policy for school facility use.
* Approved a revision to Policy EEAA Walkers and Riders. The policy is being updated to reflect that contracted mileage for out of district students that are income eligible may be reimbursed up to 30 miles compared to the old policy of 20 miles to align to state statutes.
* Approved an updated job description for the Director of Childcare Facility and an updated notice of appointment for Daycare Director Lori Reynolds.
* Approved out of state travel for Kevin Fosburgh and Anne Lang to attend the Ohio Career Fair from April 1-4, in Akron, Ohio, and for the Northeast Ohio Teacher Education Day and Ohio University Education Job Fair in Athens, Ohio. Expenses will be paid through Title II attracting and retaining high quality staff.
* Approved out-of-state travel for Bernice Gover to attend the National Indian Education Association conference in Washington, D.C., the week of Feb. 27-29. All expenses will be paid through the National Indian Education Association membership.
* Approved the HUSD Bike Club as a tax credit program for HUSD. A.R.S. § 43-1089.01 allows an individual to claim a nonrefundable tax credit for making cash contributions or for certain fees paid to a public school located in Arizona for the support of extracurricular activities or character education programs. The credit is equal to the amount of fees paid or cash contributions, not to exceed $400 for married filing joint and $200 for all other filing statuses.
* Approved the BRG-00288 and PH-0003364 IWES HVAC upgrade assessment, BRG-005077, PH-0006116 IWES roof repair, BRG-003511, PH-0006342 IWES roof replacement (procurement), and BRG-003332, PH-0006345 JHS weatherization (procurement) terms and conditions as presented.
* Approved support staff employment of Katy Brown, HJHS student services; Eric Clark, food services student worker; Amelia Dennie, Park/SPED high needs paraprofessional; Lea Gishie, HJHS secretary; Star Gonnie, and J Martinsen, both food services cafeteria worker; Jamie Justman, HHS career advisor; Parker Moss, Transportation white bus driver and Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT) driver; Jonathon Sample, transportation and maintenance, driver/grounds worker; and Aiyana Trujillo and Theresa VanHemert, Hulet/Daycare part time daycare assistant.
* Approved support staff resignation of Tawnya Lindsey, IWES/SPED high needs para.
* Approved certified employment of Shalea Palmer, HHS English teacher.
* Approved certified resignation of Andrea Luna, Hulet teacher.
* Approved extra duty for Vanessa Morgan, Paul Agramont and Lelia Demuth, all HHS assistant track coaches; Beth Baloo, HJHS new teacher mentor and afterschool soccer club; Lena Begay, transportation NAVIT and sports driver; Estefana Chavez, HJHS game help; Abrian Dickson, sports driver; Dennis Fortuna, HHS/SPED substitute SPED bus monitor; Lea Gishie and Gypsi Gover, both as IWES game help; Charles Haussman, district testing coordinator; Jessica Hubbard, Hulet tutorial; Alicia Jimenez, HJHS afterschool soccer club; Delmar Johnson, HHS assistant softball coach; Courtney King, IWES White Fleet sports driver and head softball coach; Jeremy Madison, HHS head golf coach; Zane Morgan, HHS head track coach; Daniel Orton and Jamal Johnson, HJHS sports official; Victor Padilla, White Fleet sports driver; Loren Silver and John McDaniel, HJHS White Fleet sports driver; Chantelle Taylor, HJHS spring musical; and Theresa Yazzie, IWES spelling bee.
* Approved volunteers Jason Analla and Louis Baldonado, both HHS assistant baseball coach; Ryan Baldonado, HHS head baseball coach; Gerald Barela, HHS assistant golf coach; Maylee Crawford, HHS choreography; Ronald Eisele, HHS assistant basketball coach; Laurie Bowler, John Hatch, Ramie Hatch, Galen Knight, Shannon Knight, Brandon Manuelito and Melissa Ochoa, all HHS band tour chaperone; and Trent Larson, White Fleet driver.
* Approved professional leave for Brianna Allison, special Olympics coach training; Heidi Hunsaker, Arizona Music Educations Association (AMEA) in-service conference, cost to the district is $759; Chantelle Taylor, AMEA conference, cost to the district is $170; Beth Self, AMEA conference, cost to the district is $330; Heidi Hunsaker, Orff/Kodaly chapter share, cost to the district is $75; Charles Haussman, NAVIT directors meeting, cost to the district is use of a school vehicle; Charles Haussman, ADE CTE administrators meeting, cost to the district is $188; Anne Lange, Arizona Department of Education task force, cost to the district is $50; W. Ray McLaws, SNAZZ school nutrition industry conference, cost to the district is $376; Cheri Grau, school connect conference, cost to the district is use of a school vehicle; Abrian Dickson, TPC electrical training, cost to the district is $2,085; Michael Burks, Tanium essentials software training; and Lori Williams, athletic directors meeting.
* Approved expense and revolving vouchers totaling nearly $750 thousand.
* Approved payroll and expense vouchers totaling nearly $1.4 million.
* Approved personnel pay for Christopher Ervin, teacher prep buy out, $2,573; Theresa Holmes, IWES deseg PD $500; Jonathon Sample, bus driver incentive $500; Andrea Tomlin, deseg PD $500; Bus driver incentive, Dec. 2023, $3,900; Bus driver incentive, Jan. 2024 $3,820; Park/Hulet PD 01/27/24, $5,300; Class size differential stipend, $4,191; Dec. White Fleet stipend, $860; Hulet/Park Teach Like a Champion monthly PD, $480; and Indian Wells deseg PD $7,000.
* Approved requests by HHS softball for beef jerky sales, expected to earn approximately $11,000; HHS baseball for banner sales, expected to earn approximately $3,250; HHS golf for digital fundraiser, expected to earn approximately $2,000; Class of 2025 for daddy daughter dance, expected to earn approximately $800-$1,000; Class of 2025 for basketball tournament, expected to earn approximately $800-$1,000; HHS student council for Mr. Roadrunner pageant, expected to earn approximately $500-$1,000; HHS student council for Mr. Roadrunner dessert bar, expected to earn approximately $1,000; HHS band for ice cream social, expected to earn approximately $700; and HHS band for car wash/bake sale/rummage sale, expected to earn approximately $750.
* Approved donations from Dollar General for a variety of items to Hulet and Park schools and HHS National Honor Society for $200 to the student council for the Travis Yazzie Scholarship.
* Approved consent agenda items and expense vouchers in items A, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, B, C, 1, 2, 3, D, E, F, and G. Detailed information for all District expenditures may be obtained by contacting the School District business office, located at 1000 North 8th Ave., P.O. Box 640, Holbrook, Ariz., 86025.
