The Winslow Unified School District’s Governing Board met last week for a short meeting to pass administrative issues. Bonnie Brennan Elementary has officially cleared all fungal and asbestos testing, Superintendent Dr. Martinez announced Wednesday night. With phase one complete, the campus has moved into phase two, which includes sheetrock replacement followed by new carpeting. Work is expected to continue steadily and district leaders said they will keep the board updated as repairs progress.
The board then approved a staffing change at Jefferson Elementary School, converting the school secretary position from a 10-month to a 12-month contract. District leaders explained that the additional time is needed to support two major annual functions: KinderCamp, now entering its 14th year and kindergarten registration, which typically serves around 130 incoming students. The Jefferson Elementary School secretary will also serve as the district’s main point of contact for all new K–6 student registrations, relieving significant workload that has previously fallen on the junior high.
The board approved updates to several district policies to align with recent changes in state law. The revisions clarify which employees and service providers must obtain Identity Verified Prints fingerprint clearance and streamline language by removing outdated sections now covered elsewhere.
Graduation-related policies were also updated, including raising the required civics test passing score from 60 to 70 correct answers beginning with the Class of 2026 and allowing seventh and eighth grade students to take the test early and have it count if they pass. The changes also add new requirements for accommodation schools, including obtaining written consent before placing students in high school equivalency preparation programs and ensuring those students are simultaneously enrolled in a career and technical education course that leads to a credential. These updates ensure the district remains compliant with current state statutes.
The board also approved adding Jennifer Sanderlin, the governing board secretary as well as the administrator for each school as authorized signers on the district’s Wells Fargo bank account and approved opening a new electronic-use-only clearing account with BMO Bank, a step district leaders said was required following an audit finding.
In her superintendent’s report, Dr. Debbie Martinez noted that the school district is working with the Arizona Department of Education to potentially provide food boxes for students during the two-week Christmas break, pending state approval.
In other business, the board:
* Approved hiring Anne Forster and Rosemary Ortiz as high needs paraprofessionals and Edgar Petet as a maintenance worker.
* Approved the resignation of Tammy Canales a paraprofessional, extra duty pay for Denise Estudillo for chorus and an out of state request by Reese Chatwin to take another group of students for a service project in Mexico.
The next governing board meeting is scheduled for Dec. 10, the district’s only meeting in December.
