Governing board approves paraprofessional resignation, hires certified teacher and special-education paraprofessional

At a Dec. 16 special meeting, the Tonto Basin Elementary School District #33 governing board accepted the resignation/termination of Ms. Sherry Peabody from her full-time paraprofessional position and approved placing her on the district substitute list at $18 per hour.

The board also approved the employment of Heidi Goebel as a certified teacher for the period Jan. 5, 2026, through May 21, 2026, at a prorated annual salary of $55,000. The board approved hiring Shelby Hill as a paraprofessional for special education at $18 per hour. Board member Lacey moved each personnel motion; board member Robin seconded, and recorded votes were unanimous "Aye." The personnel motions were discussed and passed during the action-items portion of the meeting.

Superintendent Mr. Ketchem explained the district's hiring process, saying the district uses a committee that asks all candidates the same questions, independently scores them and selects the highest scorer to avoid perceptions of favoritism: "We have a committee. We go over it, ask them all the same questions, we score them independently, and then we take the highest score, and that's who gets it," he said.

The resignation of Ms. Peabody is effective Jan. 2, 2026; the district recorded that she accepted placement on the paraprofessional substitute list. The board did not discuss additional conditions or severance. The meeting adjourned at 3:49 p.m.