During the most recent meeting of the Winslow Unified School District Governing Board, an important update regarding the school resource officer was discussed. Due to officer shortages at the Winslow Police Department, the school resource officer who was typically stationed at the high school during school hours will no longer be present on a regular basis. Instead, officers will be on call, ready to respond to any urgent needs, until the personnel shortage is adequately addressed.
Human Resources Officer Brayannen James also made a presentation during the same meeting. Her recent training in California focused heavily on teacher recruitment and retention, with an emphasis on the interconnectedness of these two aspects. James stressed the significance of showcasing the school district as an appealing and viable career option for students. She pointed out that many of the current faculty members were once students in the district, highlighting the potential for students to return and make a meaningful difference in their community. This approach is considered crucial to the district’s ongoing efforts to enhance its teacher recruitment strategy.
Also during this meeting, the board conducted elections for its officers, with no changes from the previous year’s officers. Debbie Martinez was reelected as president, Joseph Hartnett remained vice president, and Todd Wilcox continued his role as the clerk. The board also had the opportunity to revise its meeting schedule but ultimately decided to maintain the status quo. Meetings will continue to convene at 6 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays.
Additionally, the board revisited the district’s bereavement policy for staff during this meeting. In its previous form, staff members were entitled to take up to three days off for in-state funeral services and five days off for out-of-state services.
In other business, the board:
* Approved the hiring of ReBecca Anderson as a paraprofessional.
* Approved the following resignations: Brandon Guzman, effective Jan. 2; Alyssa Burt, effective Jan. 16; and Amber Goldtooth, effective Jan. 22.
* Approved Eric Leonard as a volunteer for baseball.
* Approved a fundraiser for WHS Spiritline for a ‘littles clinic’ at a cost of $25.
The next meeting of the WUSD school board will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 24, in the meeting room, located at 800 N. Apache Ave.
