Board approves HOCRN agreements for 155-foot flagpole and community garden use; member abstains on conflicts

The Heber-Overgaard Unified School District Governing Board on April 14 approved two separate agreements with the Heber-Overgaard Community Resources Network (HOCRN): a memorandum of understanding to install a 155-foot flagpole on the high school campus and an agreement allowing HOCRN to use the fenced community garden at Mountain Meadows Primary School.

Superintendent Ron Tenney outlined the flagpole MOU: HOCRN will purchase the 155-foot flagpole, fund and oversee subcontractors for construction, and maintain a maintenance fund for flag replacement, repainting and lighting. The district will provide the land, remove fencing as needed for installation, and provide electricity for the pole’s motor and lighting. Board members emphasized the project is funded entirely through community donations; a 40x80-foot flag will be kept with a smaller 60x30-foot flag available for high-wind conditions. A signed copy from HOCRN representative June Call was on file.

The community garden agreement formalizes HOCRN’s use of the fenced garden area and a designated parking area. The agreement currently lacks a formal legal description of the fenced area; administrators said the fence serves as an adequate boundary for now and that a legal description can be added later. HOCRN’s planned activities include expansion of student involvement through enrichment classes and summer planting; events noted in the minutes include a community open house scheduled for May 2 and a gardening class on April 25.

Both measures passed; the minutes record that Board member John Piva abstained on the HOCRN votes due to a conflict of interest with HOCRN.