By L. Parsons The Winslow Unified School District Governing Board held a public hearing last week regarding their revised expenditure budget last week. In the hearing, WUSD Business Manager Shirley Lomeli explained that the 2021-22 school year will reflect reductions in the expenditures afforded the district. “Because our budget is based on enrollment, we are looking at probably a total reduction of our budget of $1,241,329. That is because we lost about 200 students this year.” However, Lomeli said various government grants will supplement the loss. An Enrollment Stabilization Grant from the State of Arizona was received by the district in the amount of $573,671. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) grant from the federal government was also received by the district in the amount of $709,358. Two additional awards of ESSER funding are expected over the next two school years. According to Lomeli, this means the district will remain in good financial standing. Following no public comment, the governing board, in the absence of Board Member Marilee Ervien, voted to adopt the 2020-21 district wide revised expenditure budget. During the superintendent’s report, Superintendent Connie Gover told the board graduation activities will take place as planned. At 5:30 p.m. today (May 12), speeches by the valedictorians and salutatorians will be delivered in the Performing Arts Center. A parade will take place on Saturday, May 15, with the time and location to be announced. The graduation ceremony will take place at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 19, at Emil Nasser Stadium. Tickets will not be sold to the public, and each student will receive four tickets for guests. In other business, the governing board: * Ratified vouchers in a routine procedure that allows the board to submit vouchers to the county superintendent between meetings. * Accepted a donation in the amount of $672 from ASD School Store to Bonnie Brennan and $350 in $5 gift cards from Jarvis Kerr to Winslow Junior High to be given to students who have shown exemplary scholarship and citizenship. * Approved the hiring of Karla Curley, as a third grade teacher at Bonnie Brennan; Tiffany Wacker, paraprofessional at Jefferson Elementary; Stephanie Westover, media technician at Washington Elementary; and Erica Sekayumptewa, bus driver. * Approved the transfer of Kim Gonzales from first grade to fifth grade teacher, Dominique Reid from first grade to third grade teacher, Monika Gose from part time to full time paraprofessional, Tara Wilcox from part time to full time paraprofessional, Tracey Turley from reading aide to special education paraprofessional, Telisha Galvan from special education paraprofessional to reading aide, Janeen Barton from paraprofessional to high needs paraprofessional and Natasha Shelton from special education paraprofessional to TALON aide. * Accepted the year end resignations of Bryce Barris, high needs paraprofessional; Jessica Eaton, third grade teacher; Danelle Garner, third grade teacher; Cheyne Lowry, paraprofessional; Scotti Martinez, paraprofessional; Ashley McLaws, paraprofessional; Jenny Decker, part time music aide; and Linda McKinney, part time paraprofessional. * Approved nine transportation staff members to work in the summer as needed across the district. * Approved Loretta Chischilly, federal programs secretary, to work from June 7 through June 30 to provide support for federal programs during summer school. * Approved Eric Mills as a paraprofessional to work over the summer to support the information technology department. * Approved out of state travel to Atlantic City, New Jersey, from Sept. 19 through 25 for Denise Estudillo, two staff members and two Indian Education Committee members to attend the National Johnson O’Malley Conference. * Approved the annual intergovernmental agreement between the Winslow Unified School District and NAVIT (Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology) for career and technology classes for the 2021-22 school year. * Approved an emergency measure from Governor Doug Ducey allowing Native American students to wear traditional tribal dress for graduation ceremonies. This approval was a formality as WUSD students are currently allowed to wear tribal dress. * Approved a motion to discontinue offering an online option for attending board meetings based on low attendance. * Set the summer governing board meeting schedule. The board will meet at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 11; 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 23; 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14; and 1 p.m. on Friday, July 23. The next meeting of the Winslow Unified School District Governing Board will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 11, in the board meeting room, located at 800 N. Apache Ave.
