The Winslow Unified School District Governing Board has a brief meeting to address several items ahead of the start of the school year, including setting athletic participation fees for kids not attending school within WUSD but want to participate in sports.

The board unanimously approved a $300 participation fee for in-boundary online charter school students and students receiving Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) who want to participate in district athletics. Athletic Director Ricky Greer explained the difference between online charter students, ESA-funded homeschool students and traditional homeschool students. “No funding has come into our district for those students, and the instruction a lot of times comes from a specific school that is receiving that funding and so that’s why a lot of school districts when they do approve this… they also have to pay a fee because again, no funding is coming,” Greer said. He noted that nearby districts charge a wide range of fees, with some as high as $2,500 per sport. Board President Debbie Martinez said she was concerned that charter school students “are bringing nothing… we don’t get any money for them” and that the district has limited recourse if they fail to return equipment. Board member Isabel Britton recommended the higher end of the range and moved for the fee to be $300, which passed.

During her administrative report, Superintendent Dr. Amber Martinez told the board that roof repairs at Jefferson Elementary School would be complete before classes resume. “I have Slade Roofing that will be repairing the Jefferson roof and it will be finished prior to the start of school,” she told council. She added that the district is “getting new bids for the industrial arts and transportation building to get the AC units installed” and that Finance Director Casey Hancock “has resubmitted the work order to FSB (facilities oversight board) for the installation of the units at the high school.”

Superintendent Martinez addressed delays in the arrival of new travel buses, explaining that the vendor had been pressed for documentation. “Mr. Hancock sent them a pretty rough e-mail today asking them for proof that what they’re saying is actually getting done and he got a phone call immediately… they will be sending us emails for documentation,” she said.

During the meeting, the board:

* Accepted a $5,000 donation from Loves Truck Stop that will be distributed to all schools in the amount of $1,000 each.

* Approved the following hires: Bryce Barris, Winslow High School science teacher; Steven McCabe, bus driver; and Jacksen Leonard, special education paraprofessional.

* Approved the resignations of Monapoppy Dunton, teacher, for not meeting certification requirements and Rebecca Perez, softball coach.

* Approved additional coaches for WHS wrestling and marching band and the Winslow Junior High School spirit line.

* Approved the following fundraisers: Football Club, bulldog cards; Football Club, e-teams online fundraiser; Class of 2026, Chick Fil A meal sales; Class of 2026, pom pom sale; Class of 2026, powder puff game; Class of 2027, cotton candy on Bulldog Day; Class of 2027, candy graduation leis; Class of 2027, candy graduation leis; Class of 2027, cotton candy-Fridays; Honor Society, snack cabinet; Honor Society, Krispy Kreme donuts; Popcorn Club, popcorn and pickle sales; Scholarship Committee, jeans day, parking spots, and dunk tank; fifth and sixth grades, snack sales; scholarship fund, Gatorade sales; gifts and donations, and Walk-A-Thon.

* Approved Vice President Todd Wilcox to represent the district at the Arizona School Board Association annual meeting.

* Approved the Arizona Interscholastic Association membership statement required to participate in interscholastic activities.