At last week’s meeting of the Winslow Unified School District’s Governing Board Superintendent Connie Gover was given board approval to participate in Educational Services Inc’s (ESI) Retire and Return to Work program. This program allows an individual working under the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) to continue their position with the district while they retire. The employee will stay in the position they are working but they will not technically be employed by the district but by ESI, who is not a member of ASRS. They will return after being a part of this program for one full year, which is how long someone must be away from an ASRS employer before they are allowed to return while collecting their retirement. Gover will begin this program in February 2024 and will “return” back to work in February 2025 until her contract is up in June of that year at which point she will begin her actual retirement. This break will switch her employment status to allow for the collection of retirement benefits but there will be no interruption in her role as superintendent until she officially retires at the end of the 2025 school year.
Also, during the board meeting administrators at several of the schools spoke about a conference they all had recently attended. Amanda Leonard, the principal of Washington Elementary School spoke about her meeting at the conference surrounding social media and what role the schools have in managing off campus speech on social media.
Larissa Richards, principal of Bonnie Brennan Elementary School, spoke about what she learned about long term suspension and when it should apply to a student and how to properly document the events that led up to that punishment to make sure the schools are complying with all rules and regulations.
Debra Lopez, the Principal of Winslow Junior High School (WJHS), spoke about the rights of parents to make educational decisions for their children in cases of divorce or extend family. She spoke about now being in an age where children of divorce may only have one parent who has rights over their education and abiding by that is important for staying in line with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which is often referred to as FERPA.
Finally, Jefferson Elementary School Principal Amber Martinez spoke of what she learned about students with an individualized education program (IEP) and the seriousness of making sure everyone is following what is laid out in that binding document.
The board also recognized some employees for their service. Administrator of the Quarter was given to Amber Martinez and Substitute of the Quarter award was given to Alexis Vargas. Employee of the Month for September was given to WJHS maintenance worker Luis Petet for classified employees and for certified employees the award went to WJHS teacher Sharon Vasquez.
In other business, the board:
* Approved a new lease agreement with Northern Arizona Council of Governments for the building near the district office that is used for Headstart.
* Approved hiring of Lani Leonard as a substitute for the district.
* Approved the following volunteers: Shelby Cronemeyer, Jaynel Graymountain, Berkley Hendricks, Christopher Jack, Caitlin Quinonez, Isaac Quinonez, Cody Rivera, Sergio Rivera, Aimee Tafoya, Daniel Tafoya, Clifford Wells, and Harmony Wells for Winslow High School Band, and Quentin Begody Sr. as a volunteer for WJHS wrestling.
*Approved extra duty pay for Brandi Serious, eighth grade volleyball coach.
* Approved the following fundraisers: Dance Line’s Ramsey Classic showcase/concession on Dec. 12, priced from $1 to $5; Anime Club, Honor Society, Student Council, and Drama Clubs’ Haunted House priced at $5-10; and Indian Club’s Native American Festival-beverages on Nov. 15, at $1 and $3, and Pizza slices from Dec. 3 to May 20, 2024 at $2.
The next meeting of the WUSD Governing Board will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11, in the meeting room, located at 800 N. Apache Ave.
