Supervisor Alberto Peshlakai discusses road improvements for Indian Wells Elementary

Other road improvement projects and issues on reservation lands were discussed and reviewed as well, including the use of Highway User Revenue Funds (HURF) to improve district bus routes. “We utilized some of our funds to help provide gravel to help these bus turn around areas that are in areas with dirt roads off the main paved roads that allow for buses to run around, or either pick up or drop off students in an area where they won’t get muddy.”

The board received a report on the work projects done over the summer, including remodels of several spaces throughout the district and a full roof replacement for IWES. Environmental service projects noted were new fire alarms implemented at Holbrook High School (HHS) and Holbrook Junior High School (HJHS), new HVAC installed at IWES and mini split units installed in Park Elementary pending a new HVAC system.

Projects completed by the information technology department and transportation services were reviewed as well.

Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich provided a school safety report, which included the district’s Emergency Operation Plans (EOP). Systems already implemented within the district include emergency plans, drills, camera surveillance, scan badges, RAVE notification, an inter-agency communication platform called Mutual Link, tabletop scenarios, safety modules and trainings. “We don’t have a resource officer at the time, but we do have funding for that if we can find one,” added Dr. Koerperich.

The district also mandates monthly trainings for staff. Visual screening, first aid, crisis stress management and reunification were listed as part of those training sessions. “For reunification, we practiced that last year, which was the first time that we’ve ever done reunification plans.” Reunification training and planning is to ensure students safely return to guardians following an emergency or crisis.

Following the presentation, the board approved the school safety plans for School Year (SY) 2026-27.

The board also took public comment on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget revision, which had no changes aside from updating the budget to most current forms provided by the Arizona Department of Education after the completion of the legislative session. No one from the public spoke. The board then adopted the FY 2027 budget revision.

In other business, the board:

* Approved Dr. Koerperich, Clete Hargrave, Connie Gover, Nichole Tow, Rasheed Hollins, Galen Knight, Bernice Gover, Andrea Tomlin, Sierra Browning and Jeff Meeks as qualified evaluators for the district’s performance evaluation systems for SY 2026-2027, all have attended qualified evaluator training.

* Approved the continuation of the class size differential stipend for SY 2026-27.

* Approved SY 2026-27 contracted mileage administrative procedure.

* Approved the Education Specialist Effectiveness Performance Evaluation System, Leader Effectiveness Performance Evaluation and Teacher Effectiveness Performance Evaluation as performance evaluation systems for SY 2026-27.

* Approved a list of qualified hearing officers to use in matters of student discipline and employee-related issues that arise throughout the school year.

* Approved an extra duty job description for a foster care coordinator to coordinate all foster care responsibilities on behalf of the district.

* Approved an extra duty job description for district testing coordinator.

* Approved a payroll transition plan while searching for a payroll specialist.

* Approved the SY 2026-27 preschool parent handbook for IWES.

* Approved a School Facility Oversight Board Minimum Adequacy Guideline (MAG) exception for R7-6-220, which pertains to a learning and technology center for Hulet Elementary School once the Hulet to Park transition occurs. This will acknowledge that Hulet will not require a full library, but classroom libraries will be utilized for preschool and kindergarten classrooms at Hulet. The MAG exception will be submitted to the School Facilities Division for approval.

* Approved a revised Park Elementary School gym funding resolution. The resolution outlines funding from the school facility board, unrestricted capital and adjacent way including funding for site conditions from the School Facility Oversight Board (SFOB) will be contingent upon approval from the SFOB.

* Approved HUSD to use the GoFan online payment system to be used for electronic payment for concession, student activity fees, tax credit donations, general donations and ticket sales, as well as additional electronic payment applications as an online card payment system. President Craig Stuart, Vice President Linda Yazzie and Board Members Debbie Shumway and Alfred Clark voted in favor of the motion, with Claudia Jackson voting against. Jackson explained, stating “I don’t like GoFan, only because I have elders that don’t understand paying with a phone when they have to attend games.” Dr. Koerperich noted that he would look into seeing if they accept cash.

* Approved for first reading the Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) policy revisions and updated for: Policy BEDB Agenda, Policy CA Qualifications and Duties of the Superintendent, Policy DJ Purchasing Ethics, Policy DJE Bidding/Purchasing Procedures, Policy IHA Basic Instructional Program, Policy IHB-R Special Instructional Programs, Policy IKE-RB Promotion and Retention of Students, Policy IKF Graduation Requirements, Policy JF-R Student Admissions, Policy JFAA-R Admission of Resident Students, Policy JFAB-R Tuition/Admission of Nonresident Students, Policy JFABC-R Admission of Transfer Students, Policy JFABD-RB Admission of Homeless Students, and Policy JFABDA-RB Admission of Students in Foster Care.

* Approved Vice President Yazzie to be a delegate to represent HUSD at the 2026 ASBA Delegate Assembly, with Board Member Clark approved as an alternate. Delegates vote on legislative priorities for advocacy on behalf of public-school districts for the 2027 legislative session. Each member district is allowed one vote for each action item. The assembly will be held on Sept. 11.

* Approved the classified resignation of Fiaa Bitahay and Braylee Livingston, both graduated student workers, effective May 22; Joshua LeSueur, graduated student worker, effective Aug. 5; Nancy Canada, lead cafeteria worker, effective July 29; Jason Coley, HHS, academic advisor, effective July 21; Anthony Larsen, computer services specialist, effective Aug. 17; and Tonya Vrbas, district, payroll and leave benefits clerk, effective Aug. 7.

* Approved the separation of services of Judy Saiz, transportation, high needs paraprofessional, effective Aug. 5.

* Approved the classified employment of Elena Baldonado, Kyle Honeysuckle, Antasia Kennedy and Stephanie Ortega, all substitute cafeteria workers; Ashley Hayes, Hulet, preschool aide; Kamryn Lampsa, cafeteria delivery; Letitia Lee, transportation, bus monitor; Ezabelle Salazar, special needs assistant; and Jacquelyn Saxton, district, substitute secretary.

* Approved the certified employment of Sierra Browning, HHS, teacher, increased to 160 days from 135 days; and Shurrell Nardi and Jason Strong, district substitutes.

* Approved extra duty for Paul Agramont, HHS, head football coach and assistant track coach; Ashley Attakai, HHS, assistant volleyball coach; Leslie Baldonado and Cheryl Carlson, HHS, mentors; Dylan Barela, HHS, assistant baseball coach; Destany Begay, HJHS, sixth and seventh grade softball coach; Saraphania Benally and Karalyn Reidhead, Hulet, special education (SPED) individual education plan (IEP) liaisons; Dawna Bitsoie and Deborah Koerperich, IWES, mentors 2026/27; Bridegam Stephanie and Andrea Tomlin, IWES, SPED IEP liaisons; Steven Carbonneau, HHS, boys head wrestling coach; Madison Chappell, HHS, girls assistant basketball coach; Dennis Fortuna, HHS, E-Sports coach; Alli Gardner, Hulet/Park, cadre; Kara Gardner and Jessica Hubbard, Hulet, mentors; Karen Estridge. Kyle Gardner and Alicia Jimenez, HJHS, mentors; Danelle Garner and Nicole Moyte, Hulet, grade level chairs; Connie Gover, Clete Hargrave and Galen Knight, HHS, SPED IEP liaisons; Ramie Hatch, Callie Jensen, Shannon Knight and Heather Morgan, HHS, tutorial; Tobias Herndon, HJHS, sports help; Nora John, Johnson O’Malley Indian Education Committee; Delmar Johnson, HHS, boys assistant soccer coach and boys head basketball coach; Noah Johnson, HJHS, non-AIA (Arizona Interscholastic Association) game official and SPED IEP liaison; Jamie Justman, HHS, NAVIT (Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology) career advisor; Bryan Lang, HJHS, AIA game official; Aaren LaRose, HHS, head volleyball coach; Athina Lewis, IWES, student council 2026/27; Jeremy Madison, HHS, head golf coach; John McDaniel, HJHS, sports help and boys head cross country coach; Nicholas Moyte, HHS, head cross country coach; Anika Francis, Mandi Chee, Gypsi Gover, Gabriel Nells, Sophia Nells, Courtney King, Jasilyn Yazzie and Theresa Yazzie, IWES, White Fleet drivers; Arletta Nez, HHS, assistant cross country coach and head track coach; Jerald Nez, Ashley Mitchell and Stephanie Thompson, HHS, mentors 2026/27 and tutorial; Rochelle Nez, IWES, sports help; Daniel Orton, HHS, girls assistant basketball coach; Victor Paz, HHS, girls head soccer coach and boys assistant basketball coach; Greg Perkins, HHS, girls head basketball coach; Beth Plumb, HJHS, girls head cross country coach; Amanda Remos and Rasheed Hollins, Hulet, Mentors 2026/27 and Park, SPED IEP liaisons; Meagan Newton-Pender and Monica Sanchez, Park, grade level chair 2026/27; Cayla Serna, HHS, assistant volleyball coach; Nichole Tow, Park, SPED IEP liaison; Rebekah Wilson and Marc Yazzie, IWES, game official and sports help.

* Approved volunteers Antonio Aguilera, HHS, boys head soccer coach; Julian Chavez, HJHS, football coach; Toby Christensen, HHS, sports help; Angel Curley, Park, classroom help; Tom Gomez, Aaron Hush and Alan Roes, HJHS, AIA game official; Colleen Hubbard, HJHS, sixth and seventh grade softball, head volleyball coach and white fleet driver; Jerome King, IWES, football and softball; Adriana Monroe, HJHS, seventh grade softball coach; Daniel Moore and Donavan Rodriguez, HHS, assistant football coaches; Erlinda Murray, Park/Hulet, classroom help; Mark Oberriter, HJHS, sixth and seventh grade football coach; Jonathan Sample Sr., HHS, assistant football coach and HJHS, football coach; and Farrel Yazzie, HHS, boys assistant wrestling coach.

* Approved professional leave for Meghan Carbonneau and Cheryl Carlson to attend the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America advisor leadership academy, Tucson, Aug. 31–Sept. 2, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Cheryl Carlson, Northland Pioneer College educator preparation department meeting, Snowflake, Aug. 18, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Karen Estridge, Connie Gover, Michaela Saxton and Andrea Tomlin, NAVVY, Flagstaff, July 22, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Jeremy Madison, Future Business Leaders of America adviser leadership conference, Tucson, Aug. 24–26, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; Gabriel Nells, athletic directors meeting, Dilkon, Aug. 7; Amanda Remos, hearing/vison hands-on competency, Whiteriver, Aug. 7, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle; and Loren Silver, Sparks of Possibility conference, Phoenix, Sept. 29 – Oct. 1, estimated cost to the district is use of a district vehicle.

* Approved expense and revolving fund vouchers totaling $248,523 for FY 2025/26 and $862,367 for FY 2026/27.

* Approved payroll and expense vouchers totaling nearly $946,582.

* Approved personnel pay No. 4: curriculum development, classroom set up, project momentum, nurse’s hours and new teacher training, $36,454.

* Approved HHS clubs and sports to run concessions during the sports seasons for SY 2026/27, expected to earn $1,000 to $3,000 per event; and HHS volleyball to host cookie sales, Aug. 14 – Sept. 4, expected to earn $5,000.

* Approved Policy GCCA Professional/Support Staff Sick Leave for final adopted. The updates include revisions to the policy to align to current practices.

* Approved Policy IKF Graduation Requirements for final adopted. The policy update outlines new language for accepting nationally recognized assessments by transfer students.

* Approved consent agenda items and expense vouchers. Detailed information for all District expenditures may be obtained by contacting the School District business office located at 1000 North 8th Ave., or by calling 928-524-6144.