By Linda Kor Snowflake Unified School District students headed to the classroom this week as the district resumes its regular schedule despite recommendations by the Navajo County Public Health Services to delay school openings until certain benchmarks are met. Those including less than 100 cases per 100,000 population for two consecutive weeks, the number of tests coming back positive versus how many tests taken, and results of COVID-like illness surveillance, which happens at emergency departments in a questionnaire that hospitals use as an early indicator of what’s going on in the community. Analysis by the county shows that community percentages are in line with county percentages, which shows that two of those criteria have been met but falls short on the number of tests coming back positive versus those taken. Currently the county is at 9.9 percent and the benchmark is seven percent. The district is taking measures to help reduce any potential exposure including requiring that all persons, including, staff, students, vendors, visitors and volunteers to wear a cloth face covering while on any district property, in any district facility, at any district event, whether indoors or outdoors and in any district vehicle, including district busses. That requirement does not extend to children under the age of two or anyone who has trouble breathing. Students and staff will be also practicing physical distancing of six feet to the extent possible. In other business, the board: * Approved the employment of Kelli Hatch, district office receptionist; Amber Lefevre, Snowflake Junior High School, math teacher; Angela Brooks, Snowflake High School assistant girls soccer coach; Conner Preswitch, district maintenance; Cynthia Juarez, Snowflake Intermediate School paraprofessional; Kathryn Landroche, SJHS paraprofessional; Kera Hensley and Kylie Penrod, each as Highland Primary School paraprofessionals; Maegan Mills, Snowflake Intermediate School secretary; Marci Sipes, Highland Primary School third grade teacher; Norla Lovingood, Highland Primary School paraprofessional; Orlando Vellajos, district custodian; Katherine Zeman, Taylor Elementary School paraprofessional; Wendy Miller, online coordinator; Will Flake, freshman football coach; Brindee Rogers, Tiffany Plympton and Lisa Nicholls, each as TES paraprofessionals; Josie Miller, TIS Title I; and Natalie Hall, guidance counselor. *. Approved the transfer of Leticia Taylor, SHS guidance/mental health counselor to district mental health counselor. * Approved the resignation of Allix Klueber, TES paraprofessional; Nathan Hall, Highland Primary third grade teacher; Gwen Smith, TES paraprofessional; Becky Fisher, freshman volleyball coach; Lindsey Owen, Snowflake Intermediate School paraprofessional; Haley Haggard, SJHS paraprofessional; Kierstyn Judd, SJHS paraprofessional; and Lizzie Clonts, TES paraprofessional. * Approved the FBLA fee proposal of a $55 flat fee. Previously members paid a $15 fee to join and plus the cost of a club T-shirt, which averages $25-$35 along with the National Fees of $6. . * Approved an FBLA fundraiser for Little Caesars pizza sales fundraiser and a TOMWAT water bottle sales fundraiser. * Approved for first reading the Arizona School Board Association policy advisories pertaining to staff personal security and safety, basic instructional program, student dress, parent involvement in education and visitors to schools, retirement of professional and support staff, executive sessions, instruction and training in suicide prevention. * Approved a revision of the fiscal year 2021 expenditure to change one number. This change has no bearing on the expenditure budget limits. * Approved a payroll adjustment. * Approved the SHS fee schedule. * Approved the technology property use agreement. * Approved the Arizona Department of Education vendor list for Universal Literacy and Dyslexia Screener. * Approved the Star Early Literacy program. * Approved the distance learning plan.
