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Coconino County Accommodation School District approves handbook, interim food-service deal and new math teacher
Summary
At a July 25 special meeting, the Coconino County Accommodation School District board approved the Ponderosa High Student and Family Handbook, hired a math teacher for Ponderosa High, signed an interim catering agreement with Flagstaff Unified, and scheduled a public hearing on the Instructional Time Model for Aug. 7.
The Governing Board of the Coconino County Accommodation School District approved several operational items at a special meeting on July 25, 2024, including the Ponderosa High Student and Family Handbook, the hiring of a new math teacher for Ponderosa High, and an interim food-service agreement with Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD). The board also moved the start time of its Aug. 7 regular meeting to 5:15 p.m. and set a public hearing on the district's proposed Instructional Time Model (ITM) for 5:00 p.m. that day.
Why it matters: the interim FUSD catering agreement is intended to make Ponderosa High and T-school eligible for federal free and reduced-price meal programs once integrated under FUSD. Hiring and certification decisions affect classroom staffing for the coming school year, and the ITM hearing is a required procedural step before the board can adopt the district's instructional calendar.
Les Hauer, Ponderosa High School principal, told the board the Student and Family Handbook was updated only to reflect academic dates and otherwise remains the same. Dave Dirksen, the district's chief education officer, said the handbook largely mirrors the Tse'Yaato' High handbook, which had previously been reviewed by the district's attorney; Dirksen said the district did not plan a separate attorney review of the Ponderosa version to avoid that additional expense.
On staffing, the board approved hiring John Taylor as a Ponderosa High math teacher. Hauer said Taylor has close ties to the school and that his emergency teaching certificate expires in June 2025; Hauer said there is a plan to obtain permanent certification for Taylor.
The board approved an interim Ponderosa High School'—Flagstaff Unified School District Food Services Catering Agreement intended as a stopgap until FUSD formally adds the schools into its food-service operations. Hauer said the interim agreement increases meal costs by $0.25 during the transition year but that the full FUSD contract, which the FUSD Governing Board is scheduled to consider on Aug. 13, 2024, would allow students to qualify for federal free and reduced-price meal programs. Hauer also said meal pickup for the interim arrangement will be moved to Coconino High School rather than Sinagua Middle School.
Superintendent Cheryl Mango-Paget said she will attend a Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) cohort event and requested the board's Aug. 7 meeting time be changed to 5:15 p.m.; the board approved the time change and the 5:00 p.m. public hearing on the ITM. Dirksen reminded the board that Arizona Department of Education rules require two public hearings on the ITM before the board may take a final vote.
Dirksen said he is gathering input from Chapter House partners on the district's Indian Policies and Procedures; the board recorded a plan to discuss IPPs again at the September meeting. In future-agenda notes, Hauer requested the board review the food agreement again after FUSD board action, and Mango-Paget asked for an item on BYRS grant spend down.
The meeting, held in person and virtually at the Office of the Coconino County Superintendent of Schools in Flagstaff, was adjourned by Mango-Paget at 9:49 a.m. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Aug. 7, 2024.
Votes at a glance: Approve Ponderosa High Student and Family Handbook (approved; approval recorded by Superintendent Cheryl Mango-Paget; vote tally not specified); Approve hiring of John Taylor as Ponderosa High math teacher (approved; approval recorded by Superintendent Cheryl Mango-Paget; vote tally not specified); Approve interim Ponderosa High School'—Flagstaff Unified School District Food Services Catering Agreement (approved; approval recorded by Superintendent Cheryl Mango-Paget; vote tally not specified); Approve changing Aug. 7 meeting to 5:15 p.m. (approved; approval recorded by Superintendent Cheryl Mango-Paget; vote tally not specified); Approve holding ITM public hearing for Aug. 7 at 5:00 p.m. (approved; approval recorded by Superintendent Cheryl Mango-Paget; vote tally not specified).
