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The Winslow Unified School District (WUSD) Governing Board met last month and discussed the process for hiring a new superintendent. Current Superintendent Cyndie Mattox will be retiring at the end of the 2019-20 school year. In previous meetings, the board has decided to utilize the expertise provided by the Arizona School Board Association (ASBA) in the hiring process. According to Governing Board President Sharon Greenwood, the ASBA will hold an open meeting to discuss the job description and potential candidates at 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, in the board meeting room, located at 800 N. Apache Ave.
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The process of hiring a new superintendent will begin with reaching out to district staff, including teachers and administrators to gather their suggestions on questions that should be asked of candidates for the position. Those questions are to be submitted by this Friday, Oct. 4. Next, the governing board will post the job opening on various outlets including the Arizona Department of Education website. The governing board hopes to have a new superintendent by February of next year. Board member Joe Hartnett said, “The hiring of the new superintendent is an important job and I want the community to know that the governing board does not take it lightly. We are committed in finding the right fit.”
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The governing board also took action on releasing a fourth-grade teacher from her duties at Bonnie Brennan Elementary. Tabatha Nez was placed on paid administrative leave for 10 days until her termination date. Charges against Nez included violation of the employment contract and violation of staff ethics policies pertaining to her fingerprint clearance card and an arrest that was made last year.
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Greenwood stated, “According to state law, Nez is not entitled to a hearing at this time but is entitled to a hearing at a later time if she requests it within 10 days.”
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Teacher Sharon Vasquez spoke on behalf of Nez as the President of the Winslow Education Association (WEA). Vasquez indicated that Nez’s attorney recommended she not attend the meeting, as the attorney was not able to attend. She stated, “Nez has filed a ‘good cause’ application with the Board of Fingerprinting and entered into a plea agreement agreed upon by all parties. She will plead guilty to the offense and that will allow her to get her fingerprint back. Mrs. Vasquez asked the board to take into consideration that Ms. Nez will not be charged with a felony and can get her fingerprint card back.”
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The board then moved for an executive session to discuss the matter. Upon re-entering the regular meeting Hartnett moved, “I move that the Governing Board of the Winslow Unified School District No. 1 dismiss certificated teacher Tabatha Nez from employment with the school district at the expiration of 10 days from the date of service on Sept. 19, 2019.”
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Nez will not be eligible for reemployment by the district for at least one year according to the Arizona Revised Statute. Further, Mattox was asked to file a complaint with the Arizona Department of Education regarding the alleged unprofessional conduct that has been set forth in the charges presented to the governing board.
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When asked for clarification on the charges against Nez that resulted in the loss of her fingerprint clearance and ultimately, her termination, Mattox and Nez, at the advice of her lawyer, both declined to answer.
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In other business, the governing board:
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* Approved the financial report for the month of August. District Business Manager Shirley Lomeli explained, “The district is at 17 percent of the year completed and expenditures are at 10.5 percent. She also mentioned the override that will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot. “Voting in favor of the override in November will continue the existing tax which voters previously approved, it will not establish a new tax.”
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* Approved the hiring of Tierra Jishie, athletic trainer at Winslow High School; Joy Renfro, substitute custodian; Carl Turner, substitute teacher; and Reanna Walton as an emergency substitute teacher.
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* Approved the resignation of Kristen Hess, an English Language Arts teacher at Winslow Junior High School.
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* Ratified vouchers in a routine procedure allowing the district to submit vouchers to the County Superintendent between board meetings.
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* Accepted a donation of a Pace American enclosed trailer valued at $8,000 from Winslow Schools Music Booster Club to the district.
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* Approved Greg Schalow as the district hearing officer for the 2019-20 school year.
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* Designated evaluators for the 2019-20 school year in a routine procedure.
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* Approved Arizona Comfort Systems as a sole source provider for HVAC services for the district.
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The next meeting of the Winslow Unified School District Governing Board will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3, in the board meeting room, located at 800 N. Apache Ave.
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