The Winslow Unified School District during a recent meeting of the district’s governing board has finalized the details of a new Student-to-Work program designed to bridge the gap between education and local employment. During the presentation, Career and Technical Education Director Penny Brimhall specified that the initiative is intended for a specific cohort, stating they have to be a senior and on track to graduate to qualify.
The program allows these students to remain enrolled full-time while earning elective credit through paid positions. A significant component of the discussion involved the district’s role as an employer, with administrators noting that students in the early childhood pathway could be hired as paraprofessionals to assist in district classrooms.
This program is a direct response to data showing that some students leave school early to enter the workforce; by formalizing these roles, the district aims to retain those students while addressing a lack of professional soft skills, such as punctuality and reliability, that local businesses have reported in younger hires.
In district recognitions, Samantha McGuire, a teacher at Bonnie Brennan Elementary was awarded a $2,500 grant from the Fiesta Bowl Wishes for Teachers program. This funding is designated for classroom resources and instructional projects. Similarly, Kristin Manning and Karen Estridge from Holbrook Unified School District were also awarded.
The board also celebrated the success of the elementary robotics program. A team comprised of third and fourth graders earned the Rising Star Award at a regional competition, a feat the board noted was particularly impressive given that they were competing against older middle school students. Superintendent Dr. Amber Martinez observed that the award reflects the students’ ability to apply complex engineering concepts under pressure. While the teams did not advance to the state level, the board highlighted the growth of STEM programs across the elementary sites.
The board moved to adjust the district salary schedule to meet the Arizona state minimum wage increase taking effect on Jan. 1. While the state mandate is $15.15, the board voted to set the district minimum at $15.17. This specific 2-cent buffer was implemented to maintain a clean 2.5% increase on the salary schedule. Business Manager Casey Hancock explained that this adjustment ensures the district remains ahead of the mandate while keeping the mathematical logic of the pay scales consistent for future raises. This change will immediately affect approximately 10 to 12 employees, providing a baseline for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Campus safety coordination remains an active priority, with Superintendent Martinez confirming an upcoming review of threat assessment procedures with Corporal Shane Robertson of the Winslow Police Department. This collaboration is focused on refining the protocols used to identify and mitigate risks on campus before they escalate. Once the police department and district administration finalize these updates, a formal presentation will be given to the board. Members expressed that maintaining a direct line of communication with local law enforcement is a long-standing priority for the district’s safety strategy.
Finally, the board reviewed the financial report for the first half of the fiscal year. To date, the district has spent $5.2 million, which represents about 30% of the total budget right now. This spending is drawn from a $6 million maintenance and operations budget. With 42% the year completed, the current expenditure rate indicates that the district is tracking below its total budget allocation. This financial standing was cited during discussions regarding facilities management, specifically a planned cleanup of district-owned areas near the freeway to address accumulated debris. The board noted that these figures provide the necessary margin for upcoming spring semester expenses and infrastructure projects.
In other business, the board:
* Accepted donations of $5,853 from Climb-A-Thon donations and $5,710 from Walk-A-Thon donations.
* Approved resignations from Maidson Venegas and Tara Wilcox, both high needs paraprofessionals.
* Approved Kacey Nelson transferring from district emergency substitute to paraprofessional and Willord Villanueva transferring from Winslow High School (WHS) paraprofessional to WHS science teacher.
* The following fundraisers were approved: B-Club thrift closet; FBLA Adopt a Duck, Tat-a-Teacher and Give Your Teacher a Beard; Class of 2027 prom tickets and foam fingers/paws; Lady Hoop Club Money Dolley and T-shirts; S-Club Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest and Valentine grams; and Student Council Winter Informal, Winslow Informal concessions and 2026 desktop calendar.
* Approved the revised Budget 2 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
The next regular meeting of the Winslow Unified School District Governing Board will be held at 5:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Jan. 7, at the district boardroom located at 800 N. Apache Ave.
