The Winslow Unified School District Governing Board gave approval to a stipend plan that will compensate teachers for class sizes over the state mandated limit for each grade level during their Aug. 2 meeting.
Superintendent Cyndie Mattox explained that both Winslow Junior High School and Winslow High School have large class sizes. She said, “They are above and beyond capacity and it is the perfect time to implement a plan like this.” In addition to compensating qualified teachers Mattox said, “The plan gives the district a way to collect data on class sizes and figure out a dollar amount on what it’s costing us to have large classes. But it also points out our need for more teachers.”
Board member Dodi Montoya commented, “No teacher wants that many kids in their classrooms, but what we are spending on this stipend is salary for two teachers. I would rather have another teacher and lower the class sizes.” Mattox replied, “The problem is that we just don’t have the teachers, so this acknowledges the ones we do have for the job they are already doing.”
WJHS Principal Deb Lopez said, “We have had a position advertised for an ELA (English Language Arts) since April of last year, I check that application pool daily and there is no one. Our staff prefers a certified teacher in each classroom, even if it means larger class sizes. We have qualified teachers in all of the classes at the junior high and our students are being serviced in the best way that we can give them at this point, and at least we are compensating our teachers for being willing to do the extra work.”
Beyond paying teachers more to deal with larger class sizes, the district is also embarking on a marketing campaign to attract new and qualified teachers to the area.
The governing board also discussed the newly implemented tutoring plan that will be in each school this year. Mattox said, “When we changed our calendar and did away with intervention, we realized we needed to offer tutoring. Beginning next week, it will be available on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of each week at each of the schools.” The after school program will be headed by certified teachers and students will be transported home after the sessions by district employees in district vehicles.
Mattox also explained that the City of Winslow has provided paint on existing crosswalks near the schools. The City also will be furnishing signage at the intersection of North Park Drive and Mahoney Street. The district will place a crossing guard at that location and at the intersection of Gilmore Street and Williamson Avenue.
In other business, the governing board:
* Approved the hiring of Theresa Breeze Del Mar, high school counselor; Mandy Chee, first grade teacher; Gene Glenn, biology teacher; Quentin Hayes, Career and Technical Education, and Law and Public Safety instructor; Cheyenne Martinez, fifth grade teacher; Leslie Powers, fifth grade teacher; and Stephanie Stewart, special education teacher.
* Approved the resignation of Charlene Guile, English teacher; and Darren Mitchell, a special education classroom aid.
* Approved the adoption of Solution Tree as a sole source provider for resources and professional development in professional learning communities at Winslow High School.
* Approved the changes to the district’s retire and return to work program. The changes consist of removing language in the state statute denying Proposition 301 monies, as the Winslow Unified School District provides its employees with those funds.
* Selected President Sharon Greenwood to represent the district at the 2018 Arizona School Board Association Delegate Assembly to be held Sept. 8 in Phoenix.
* Tabled a decision on the board member insurance policy and liability.
The governing board meets at 6 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month in the district office, located at 800 Apache Ave.
