Tonto Basin board adopts revised leave policies and approves multiple hires

The Tonto Basin Elementary District (4215) School Board voted on Nov. 10 to revise personnel policies covering vacations, sick leave and personal leave for professional and support staff and approved several job descriptions and hires.

Key policy changes include reducing 12-month administrators’ vacation from 25 to 20 days with a maximum accrual reduced from 50 to 40 days (accrual pauses when the balance reaches the cap and resumes when it drops below 40). The board adopted procedural details for payout limitations — up to 10 days per year at board discretion and up to 40 days at termination — and confirmed a list of paid holidays. Professional support staff sick leave (GCCA) was adopted with accrual of one day per month (10 days for 10-month employees; 12 days for 12-month employees) and a maximum accrual of 50 days; sick leave is not paid out upon separation except as may be provided under a separate retirement policy for long-tenured employees. The board also adopted GCCB on personal, emergency and religious leave (two paid personal days per year, limits on concurrent use, notice requirements and calendar restrictions) and GDD for support-staff vacations (12-month support staff now receive 16 vacation days with a 16-day accrual cap).

The board also adopted job descriptions for a Business Manager (administrative role, preferred bachelor’s in business/finance or 5+ years related experience, Arizona IVP fingerprint clearance within 45 days) and an Administrative Assistant/SIS Specialist (primary HR/admin support and the only position authorized to add vendors and employees to preserve segregation of duties). The board approved a Special Education Director/Teacher 10-month position combining district-level reporting responsibilities with classroom duties, suitable for a teacher on assignment with appropriate credentials.

Personnel approvals included new hires: Sherry Hall (cafeteria substitute, $16/hour), Francine Phillips (cafeteria substitute, $16/hour) and Terry Lord (office substitute, $18/hour). The board approved vouchers FY26 (2,605–2,607) with maintenance and operations totaling $71,210.51. Job postings will be published on the district website and community locations; administration plans additional outreach to fill the posted positions.