School district may transfer fire station leases

by David Boyle
News Director
Members of the San Juan School Board approved several policies, heard updates on buildings in the district and reviewed a request to move fire station operations from the county to the Navajo Nation at their latest meeting.
As part of the August 13 meeting District Superintendent Dr. Christine Fitzgerald presented the administrative leadership’s theme for the year “Listen to learn, listen to lead”.
The district plans to have extensive listening tours, including visits to chapter meetings, community councils, and school community meetings to receive feedback directly.
As part of that effort, the district has a physical reminder of that from Monticello High 10th-grade student Linden English. 
English was recognized with a San Juan Sweet Job award after they designed 3D-printed custom Bears Ears models to represent the district and highlight the district emphasis of listening.
At the meeting, the board also discussed a request to transfer lease agreements for fire services on district-owned land.
The San Juan School District owns parcels of land within the Navajo Nation, including where the fire stations in Monument Valley and Montezuma Creek are located.
Currently San Juan County operates those stations but they could change hands to the Navajo Nation Fire Services.
San Juan County Deputy Attorney Jens Nielson, County Fire Chief David Gallegos, and Navajo Nation Fire Chief John Williams were all on hand to discuss the proposed transfer.
Williams explained the Navajo Nation would like to assume responsibility for fire services to resolve jurisdictional issues.
Currently emergency calls can be delayed as dispatchers have to determine if callers are tourists or Native residents to establish response jurisdiction.
Board members asked questions and raised concerns related to the scarcity of land in the district and also concerns about emergency response reliability for local students.
The board approved a motion to support the concept and enter negotiations with the Navajo Nation for a modified, shorter-term lease, possibly 25 years.
The agreement would ensure continuous emergency services while protecting the district’s land assets.
Williams confirmed the Navajo Nation’s special revenue fund will sustainably support the two stations.
Members of the board also approved the Teacher and Student Success Act funds for the 26-27 school year totaling $1.3 million. While this is similar to previous years, what is different this year is how the state allows the funds to be spent.
Following legislation from the past state legislative session, half of the funds must be spent on literacy interventions for schools with low literacy scores. 
Of that total, up to 25 percent of funds can cover educator salaries. The district plan to use the remaining funds can be used to cover school counselors, social workers and school psychologists.
Fitzgerald noted that with no secure state funding source for elementary school counselors the district has to creatively pool TSSA funds and at-risk program budgets to maintain those vital positions.
Members of the board also reviewed and adopted new district policies. 
Among them is an additional $100 per month for board leadership and a $100 stipend per meeting, capped at $1,200 annually, for board members attending elective, public-facing community events, such as chapter meetings and regional trainings. That approval came after a public hearing.
Members of the board also approved a stricter cell phone policy with a bell-to-bell ban on school campuses, a step beyond the previous classroom-only ban.
The district is also transitioning from physical keys to a key card system for exterior school doors.
The program allows school administrators to program precise access schedules and requires PIN codes for after hours. Physical keys will remain as emergency backups.
The board also received reports on updated student fees and travel restrictions. To align with state rules, fee waivers for school-sponsored travel is limited to two overnight trips of two or more nights, per student per year. That excludes UHSAA state tournaments.
To secure a waiver for an additional trip, students will need to coordinate with the principal to establish a school service plan. An annual fee cap is also set at $7,000 per student.
The board also reviewed bullying reforms with updates, including the prohibition of the creation or distribution of non-consensual explicit or intimate images with SafeUT and the district hotline acting as formal anonymous reporting avenues.
The board also approved an updated evaluation policy. Teachers will be evaluated on a four-year cycle with a three-tier rating system: not effective, partially effective, and effective teachers.
Under the new rules, salary advancement restrictions would only apply to teachers who receive a “not effective” rating.
The district also recognized the opening of the new Blanding Elementary School.
In other building news, the renovations at Monticello High and ARL Middle School are underway with substantial completion roughly estimated for January.
The board also expedited an emergency procurement contract with Redd Mechanical to address HVAC failures at Monument Valley High School.

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