By L. Parsons Winslow Unified School District’s superintendent Kathryn Zanin has reportedly resigned from her position last week the day after a meeting of the district’s governing board. The report of Zanin’s resignation was verified by board clerk Debbie Martinez but no additional information was provided. During the meeting, the governing board had entered into an executive session to discuss Zanin’s contract, as well as an item related to the existing contracts for the solar arrays. While there was no discussion on the matters when the board reconvened, Zanin reportedly cleared out her office the following day and left. The district’s media relations specialist, Ty Hancock, declined to comment on the situation. As of press time it was unclear whether Zanin’s resignation was related to the contract discussions in executive session. During the governing board’s meeting it was discussed that last year Northland Pioneer College ceased payment of teacher stipends for dual enrollment classes. The board voted to continue paying their teachers an extra duty stipend for instructing those courses. With all members in attendance, the governing board approved a total of $1,200 per school year per instructor. Currently, Winslow High School offers students two courses that aligns with the NPC credit schedule; math and English language arts. The governing board also heard a presentation from WHS science instructor and Science Club sponsor, Megan Lymer. Lymer presented a proposal to the governing board to allow her club to begin fundraising for a trip to Belize to take place in the spring of 2022. The trip, according to Lymer, would not be school sponsored, but would be school supported. “This will take the liability off of us entirely, and will place it with the travel company organizing the trip.” Students active in the Science Club would be eligible to take part in the trip and all costs would be incurred by the club and the students themselves. The governing board voted 3-2 in favor of allowing Lymer to begin fundraising. In other business, the governing board: * Ratified vouchers in a routine procedure allowing the board to submit vouchers to the county superintendent between meetings. * Approved a survey by Colorado State University to be conducted of all Winslow Junior High School students in regards to substance abuse. The anonymous survey was previously approved by the Navajo Nation Human Research Review Board. The school will receive $1,250 for their participation. * Approved a request by the Arizona Department of Education for a recalculation of state aid as a result of the Transwestern Pipeline litigation and judgement. Winslow Unified is seeking reimbursement of $464,648 from the Arizona Department of Education based on budge limit errors due to a change in assessed valuation of the Transwestern Pipeline litigation. The company filed complaints in tax court claiming the Arizona Department of Revenue improperly exceeded the property’s market value. * Approved the hiring of Bryson Shepard as a custodian and Wynonna Gilmer as a bus driver. * Approved the hiring of Winslow Junior High School spring sports coaches, Brian Wilcox, Sierra Wilcox, Bryce Barris, Christie Bratt, Taylor Mills, Sarah Shumway and Kimberly Henling. * Accepted the resignation of Roberta Wagner, High School Navajo language/government teacher effective May 20. * Tabled an agenda item related to board training and the scheduling of a board retreat and work session. The next meeting of the Winslow Unified School District governing board will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24, in the district training room, located at 800 N. Apache Avenue.
