“The test scores throughout the state have been released,” said Snowflake School District Supervisor Hollis Merrell at the governing board meeting on Aug. 9. “Our schools have performed very well comparatively. We will be looking at the scores and seeing the places we can improve and get better. Congratulations to all of our schools and staff for their hard work. Their performance is reflected in those scores.”
Scores provided by the Arizona Department of Education show that overall in the district, the scores improved in English, going from 49 percent of the students passing in the 2016-2017 school year to 53 percent passing in the 2017-2108 school year. In mathematics the results show that 60 percent passed in the last school year, the same as the year before that. The district did quite well compared to Navajo County overall, where the results showed that only 30 percent of the students in the county passed English and 32 percent passed in English for 2017-2018.
Merrill went on to report that during teacher training last week, one of the things discussed was that the test scores are not the most important things but they are important, noting that students who raise their scores in math have fewer barriers in their lives. “The more successful the students are now, the more opportunities they will have in the future.”
Alexis White, a high school student and member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA), addressed the board regarding difficulties getting on the agenda to go to the national convention for FFA. White said, “The National Convention is October. Most of us have raised our money and are prepared to go.” Hollis requested that she schedule a meeting with Principal Larry Titus.
Bob Flake of the Snowflake Rodeo Committee gave a donation of $300 each to the girls’ soccer and volleyball clubs. “The last few years, we have had help from our school clubs manning the ticket booth at the rodeo. Friday night we had 3,000 people and probably 6,000 people on Saturday night. These girls do a fantastic job in handling the money and keeping people moving.”
While members of the girls’ soccer club were unable to be at the presentation, Chloe Lyman and Lanee Penrod from the girls’ volleyball club were there to receive the check.
In other business, the board:
* Approved new employees including Becky Fisher, freshman volleyball coach; Jamie Robinson, varsity assistant volleyball coach; Britt Smith, Snowflake Junior High School assistant football coach seventh grade; David Alexander, Snowflake Intermediate School special education; Jennah Self, Taylor Elementary School paraprofessional; Joni Reed, Snowflake Intermediate School sixth grade; Victoria Allen, SJHS paraprofessional; Rachel Ebersol, Taylor Elementary paraprofessional; Marcus Marshal, SJHS assistant football coach; Trista Hall, Taylor Elementary School paraprofessional; Reggie Petersen, freshman football coach; Shayna Reddick, SJHS head softball coach; and Tyler Parham, SJHS softball coach.
* Approved resignations for Heidi Strong, Snowflake Intermediate School sixth grade; Patsy Burke, Snowflake Intermediate School special education; Jennifer Miller, Taylor Elementary School paraprofessional; Lynn Johnson, head track coach; Samantha Rodriguez, Taylor Elementary School; and Stephanie Blackmore-Licon, Taylor Intermediate School paraprofessional.
* Approved volunteers Adam Wolfe, soccer fitness coach; Alexis Shumway, junior varsity girls soccer assistant; Jason Whiting, assistant freshman football coach; Jesus Juarez, junior varsity boys soccer assistant coach; Lauralyn Scott, girls soccer goalie coach; Sheronnie Owens, girls junior varsity assistant soccer coach; and Tom Paxman, boys varsity assistant coach.
* Authorized an employee leave of absence for Shella Flake.
* Approved putting the work for a ramp, steps and sidewalks at SJHS drop-off and pick-up location out for bid.
* Approved a Department of Economic Security Intergovernmental Agreement Amendment.
* Approved an Arizona School Board Association policy advisory.
