The Yuma School District-1 Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting Monday night prior to the start of the new school year on Tuesday.
Though probably not noticeable to students, there is a new roof at Yuma Middle School just in time for classes to resume.
That was part of the facility upgrade report given by Chad Rayl of CMR Management. Areas of the flat roof at Morris Elementary also have been fixed. The drainage issues around the YMS gym have been addressed. Improvements are being made to the press box at the football/track facility, and there will be concrete upgrades there as well.
Superintendent Jim Fraley informed the board he had set up a survey to get feedback from the public as part of his 90 Day Plan. Links can be found at Yuma-1’s website and Facebook page, or one can scan the QR code.
He said the staff got off to a productive and positive start last week preparing for the upcoming school year. Numerous continuous service awards were handed out during an all-staff meeting, including one for 30 years. He shared that the new food service vendor, Chartwells, provided a delicious breakfast for the staff. It is hoped the new offerings will prove to be popular with the students.
Staff meetings focused on collaboration and solving problems together. Fraley said he met with all coaches, setting priorities and a positive tone. The meeting also included various trainings.
Fraley said a lot of time was spent last week on safety and security. The first parent night presentation on August 19 will be about the same thing.
The superintendent also told the board he wanted to form a committee to research if Yuma-1 is competitive in regards to extra-duty stipends and salaries. He said the idea is to bring it back to the board in the spring.
The board unanimously approved the intergovernmental agreement with the City of Yuma for School Resource Officer services, and approved another one with Yuma County Clerk & Recorder for election services.
The board approved the extra duty/club stipends for 2025-26, but not before more discussion by the board. Heath Roundtree asked Fraley if the committee could get its research done in six months, and then the board could make changes that could be retroactive to cover the whole school year. Tyson Brown noted the FFA stipend is lower than two other clubs. He said all three at least should be equal.
All five board members were at the meeting: President John Deering, Terri Cooper, Lindsey Galles, Roundtree and Brown.
Consent Agenda
The Consent Agenda approved by the board included the following recommended hirings: Presley Papachek, Joe Oss and Jamie Nighswonger for YHS Summer Weight Room; Laura Hiliard, YHS special education para; Bryson Castillo, assistant boys golf coach; Kailynne Swingle, junior high science; Mackenzie Kucera, MES instructional para; Teresa Blair, mini bus driver; Hannah Lungwitz, assistant softball coach, and; Lindsey Galles, assistant volunteer softball coach. It also included the resignation of Sarah Cook, YHS special education para.
It also included approval of the YHS, YMS and MES student handbooks, and the YHS and YMS activities handbooks, along with the list of returning coaches.
The board’s next regular meeting will be September 29.