At the recent Winslow Unified School District (WUSD) board meeting, GH2 Architects presented their assessment of the old high school’s potential renovation. The firm outlined significant challenges that make the project both complex and costly.

“Utilizing the existing traditional classroom space to meet the district’s 21st-century learning standards presents significant challenges,” GH2 representative Robert Wadsack stated. He detailed the necessity for full replacement of all systems, including electrical, mechanical and plumbing, as well as extensive structural repairs and upgrades to meet current safety codes.

The architects also highlighted limitations related to outdoor programs, parking and site security. Wadsack projected the renovation cost to approach $43.7 million, or approximately $600 per square foot.

Board President Debbie Martinez expressed concern over the high cost, noting that the district cannot allocate such a substantial amount solely to Old Main when there is a need to serve students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The board discussed next steps, including hiring a financial advisor to determine feasible funding options and considering alternative solutions for the old building.

During the meeting the board also addressed concerns regarding the newly proposed booster club guidelines. Darcey McKee spoke against adopting the guidelines in their current form. “I find that the current guidelines are overly cumbersome,” she said, emphasizing that the complexity could discourage volunteers. McKee proposed a more streamlined approach, suggesting mandatory annual meetings, simplified documentation, and end-of-season reporting to maintain oversight without burdening volunteers.

Renee Hardy echoed McKee’s sentiments, expressing that the guidelines might be too complicated for booster clubs to implement effectively. “It’s too much work; it’s too hard to accomplish that,” Hardy stated, advocating for leaving the booster clubs as they are to continue supporting youth activities.

Board members deliberated on the issue, with some emphasizing the need for oversight to protect both the school and the booster clubs. Board Member Joey Hartnett acknowledged the importance of booster clubs, saying, “I don’t want to discourage anyone from doing that because we don’t fund our athletics well enough to do without them.” The motion to approve the guidelines resulted in a tie vote, with Todd Wilcox and Dodie Martinez in favor and Martinez and Joey Hartnett voting against, leading to the decision to table the item for the next meeting when all board members are present. Board Member Allen Leonard was not present.

Safety concerns were another critical topic, particularly the absence of a School Resource Officer (SRO) due to police department staffing shortages. Superintendent Connie Gover reported that the police department is unable to provide an SRO at this time. Martinez stressed the importance of having an SRO on campus, citing recent incidents in nearby schools. “I just don’t think it’s safe,” Martinez said. “It’s imperative that an SRO is seen at the schools.” She plans to write a letter to the city council to advocate for the return of the SRO, emphasizing that school safety cannot be compromised.

The board also addressed the upcoming resignation of Superintendent Gover, effective June 30, 2025. Under the consent agenda, a motion was made to table the acceptance of her resignation for further discussion in an executive session. However, the motion failed due to a lack of a second, and the consent agenda was approved as presented.

During the public comments, incoming board member Janice Childers expressed concern over changing the superintendent job description to require certification rather than prefer it. “The moment you change the word from ‘preferred’ to ‘required,’ you have now tied your own hands,” Childers stated, suggesting that the change could limit the pool of qualified candidates.

Board members debated the merits of requiring certification. Some felt that maintaining “preferred” would attract a broader range of applicants, while others believed that a certified superintendent is essential for the district’s needs. Martinez emphasized, “We’re looking for a superintendent, and that’s what we’re looking for.” The motion to change the job description from “preferred” to “required” passed with three votes in favor and one against.

Following this decision, the board discussed selecting a search service to find a new superintendent. They considered proposals from the Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) and the Arizona School Administrators (ASA). Cost differences and familiarity with the organizations were key points in the discussion, with the cost for ASBA services set a $9,500, plus expenses and ASA at $7,500, plus expenses. Martinez advocated for choosing ASA due to its lower cost, stating, “I would vote to go with the cheaper one because it is very expensive to have these.” Other members mentioned established relationships with ASBA but ultimately agreed on contracting with ASA. The board voted in favor of ASA.

The board also reviewed and had a first reading for policy advisories from the ASBA. The policies included updates on board self-evaluation procedures, bidding and purchasing processes, staff certification requirements, curriculum development, and guidelines for service animals in schools. The revisions aim to enhance flexibility, transparency, and compliance with state statutes and federal regulations. The board conducted a first reading of the policies, with no action taken at this time.

The meeting concluded with acknowledgment of the community’s support in passing the override measure, ensuring continued funding for the district. The election resulted in Martinez chosen for a new term with new board members Janice Childers and Isabel Britton were announced, replacing Hartnett and Leonard. The new members will be seated in the January meeting.

In other business, the board:

* Accepted a donation from Winslow Junior High School softball parents in the amount of $73.50.

* Approved hiring Tabatha Nez as a substitute, Alyssa Howeth as an emergency substitute and Willord Villanueva as a paraprofessional.

* Approved Kyle Phillips as a high school girls basketball volunteer and Kendal Ybarra Jr., Kane Ybarra and Izaiah Romero as high school wrestling volunteers.

* Approved extra duty pay for Sheninkwa Cly and Jennifer Yazzie for girls basketball.

* Approved the following fundraisers: Student Council’s Christmas candles, Class of 2026’s Powder Puff game concessions, Game Club’s Super Smash tournament, Lady Diamonds’ Christmas wreaths, Lady Hoop Club’s team store at home events, Lady Hoop Club’s calendar fundraiser, Lady Hoop Club’s T-shirts/hoodies, Student Council’s Adopt the Bulldog, S-Club’s hot chocolate cocoa bombs, and Boys Basketball’s Money Dolly fundraiser.

* Approved out-of-state travel for the Winslow High School honor society to Anaheim, Calif., and the junior high honor society to go to Buena Park, Calif.

* Approved the fiscal year 2025 capital plan.

* Awarded a contract for a HVAC system to Sunny Path Associates, LLC at a cost of $1,955,084.

* Approved creation of Speech Language Pathologist Assistant job.

The next meeting of the WUSD school board will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20, in the meeting room, located at 800 N. Apache Ave.