By Naomi Hatch
“Twenty of the twenty-nine areas tested in AIMS (Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards) increased,” Snowflake School Superintendent Hollis Merrell advised the governing board Aug. 9.
He went on to say that four of the six schools in the district improved their label from a C to a B. “I’m grate-ful for the work teachers and staff did to see that happen,” he said.
Merrell also encouraged members of the governing board to retain a level of calm regarding the Sept. 1 clo-sure of Catalyst’s Snowflake paper mill. “It will impact how we spend money,” he said. “There is no way of quantifying how many students will leave and how it will impact us.
“There are new students and families moving into town; hopefully, they find ways to stay here,” said Mer-rell, noting that there are 37 new students at Snowflake Intermediate School, and registration is up from last year at Highland Primary School and Taylor Elementary School.
Following the board meeting, Merrell said that they have been through budget cuts in the last few years, noting one fund was cut approximately $600,000, and there are 30 fewer employees than when he was hired as superintendent, so there will be an impact on the district with the loss of an estimated $340,000.
The board:
* Unanimously approved the Snowflake Junior High School and Highland Primary fundraisers for this school year.
* Unanimously approved the SJHS Homework and Assignment Policy for the school year.
Merrell expressed appreciation to staff and teachers at SJHS for the support they are giving to the students and noted that there will be staff on hand to help students be successful.
* Approved out-of-state travel for the Indian Education Committee (IEC) to attend the National Johnson O’Malley (JOM) Association Planning Meeting scheduled Aug. 14-16 in Albuquerque, N.M., which will pro-vide information pertaining to process and procedures for the IEC Committee, parent committees and subcon-tractors. JOM grant funds will pay for the trip.
* Approved out-of-state travel for Starlena Begay of the IEC to attend the National JOM Association Face-to-Face Board of Directors Meeting scheduled Sept. 20-23 in Bloomington, Minn. JOM grant funds will pay for the trip.
* Unanimously approved a contract with Southwest Educational Billing Services as the district’s direct serv-ice claiming company for Medicaid reimbursements.
Aug 142012
