Yuma Elementary District 1 elects officers, hires superintendent search firm and approves principal

The Yuma Elementary District 1 governing board voted Tuesday to elect Keith Ware as board president and Anthony Guyer as clerk, approved Nicole Alonzo as principal of Dorothy Hall Elementary and unanimously selected Arizona School Administrators to conduct the district's superintendent search.

The actions came during a regular meeting in which the board also appointed a board representative to the district employee benefit trust and voted to retain the board's regular meeting day and time (second Tuesday of each month at 5:45 p.m.).

The board first handled officer elections. A board member moved to nominate Keith Ware for president; the nomination was seconded and approved by voice/roll call, making Ware board president. Anthony Guyer was nominated and approved as clerk in a separate roll call vote.

In personnel action, the board approved the administration's recommendation to appoint Nicole Alonzo as principal of Dorothy Hall Elementary. The district's presentation outlined a multi-phase selection process including written applications, presentations to school and district groups and a final interview committee. Alonzo, who addressed the board after the vote, thanked the board and her family and said, "District 1 is the best district," and pledged to "do my very best to serve our community." The board voted in favor of Alonzo's appointment.

On the superintendent search, the board reviewed five proposals and discussed cost, scope and vendor approach. Members cited Arizona School Administrators (ASA) and the Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) as finalists; several members praised ASA's combination of services and price point. A motion to contract with Arizona School Administrators for professional search services was made by a board member, seconded, and approved unanimously. Board members indicated the district would schedule meetings with ASA within 7–10 days to begin timeline and process planning.

The board also voted to name a member — Miss Rico — as the district's representative to the employee benefit trust, the oversight body for district employee health benefits. That representative will attend quarterly trust meetings and report back to the board.

Finally, the board voted to retain its established meeting schedule (second Tuesday at 5:45 p.m.) after a short discussion about accessibility for Foothills-area families and workers.

Votes at a glance - President: Keith Ware — nominated, seconded, approved (unanimous). - Clerk: Anthony Guyer — nominated, seconded, approved (unanimous). - Employee benefit trust representative: Miss Rico — nominated, seconded, approved (unanimous). - Dorothy Hall principal: Nicole Alonzo — motion to approve adopted (unanimous). - Superintendent search services: Contract with Arizona School Administrators — motion by a board member, seconded by Miss Rico; approved (unanimous). - Meeting day/time: Retain second Tuesday of each month at 5:45 p.m. — motion adopted (unanimous).

Board members and staff said the unanimous votes would allow the district to move quickly on recruitment and staffing tasks this spring and summer. The board asked members to check calendars so a special meeting with the chosen search consultant can be scheduled within about 10 days.