4 staff members resign from Haxtun Schools

A short, hour-long meeting of the Haxtun Board of Education was packed with resignation letters, new hires and the approval of a step increase for both certified and classified staff members. The District is currently seeking applications for a high school principal, maintenance worker and elementary secretary.

The June 22 meeting opened with reports from administration, beginning with Superintendent Darcy Garretson. The meeting marks her last in the official superintendent role as her contract for such ends on June 30 and newly hired Marsha Cody begins her career in Haxtun on July 1.

Garretson told the Board that interviews for teaching staff have been successful as per the list of suggested new hires under action items. The same cannot be the said for the maintenance position; one the District has had open for several months. In addition to the maintenance position, Haxtun Schools is also seeking an elementary secretary and high school principal. Plans are to interview for the elementary secretary position in July.

Gym floors, Garretson noted, will be refinished in late June and a professional cleaning company is currently submitting a bid to clean the tile floors.

She added that the new bus, purchased the month prior, will be ready for delivery/pick up in early July. In April, board members approved the purchase of a used, 14-passenger, non-CDL bus with 54,000 miles for $46,045.

In his High School Principal’s report, Alan Nall said that as of the meeting, high school staff remains stable with no expected major changes in roles or responsibilities. He said right now, staff are working on a class schedule for next fall.

Later in the meeting, while approving a list of resignations, board members approved one from Nall. During his report, he offered his help with transiting his position to the new hire when the time comes.

As the first item of business, the Board of Education accepted resignation letters from Christina Lucero, second grade; Sara Michael, kindergarten; Nall, high school principal; and Jamie Imhof, fifth grade.

In her letter, Michael told the Board that she has enjoyed her time with the students she taught, the staff she worked with and the parents and community members who have supported her.

“I have decided to pursue a teaching position in another district and although I’m sad to be leaving a wonderful school, I’m excited for this new opportunity and chapter in my teaching career,” Michael said. “I will always be a Bulldog and will be Haxtun’s biggest supporter and fan. I wish the school district the best and am excited for all of the new changes that are coming. Thank you for the past 15 years.”

Imhof shared some of the same sentiments, expressing her joy to meet students and watch them grow to where they need to be academically. “Every time I am given the opportunity to teach in our great school I have a feeling of happiness and joy,” she said.

However, Imhof said due to obligations to her family farm, she will be unable to return next year.

“I pray that someday I will be able to return to teaching and this incredible school,” Imhof said in closing. “Thank you so much for trusting me to teach your students.”

Resignation letters from Nall and Lucero were not provided to the Herald as of press time despite several requests.

In the very next item of business, board members voted to hire Christie Toops, Christi Philps, Amy Duvall and Tamra Asburn. Toops and Philps will each teach a kindergarten class; Duvall will be a fourth grade teacher, again for a split classroom; and Ashburn will replace Lucero as one of two second grade teachers.

Before discussing the budget and an employee contract for Elementary Principal Becky Heinz, the BOE voted to give all certified teachers a one-step increase on the salary schedule, which amounts to a one and a half percent increase. Board members also approved increasing the amount paid for a single health premium to match a 12-percent increase.

Board members approved a similar motion for the classified staff members; a one-step increase on the salary schedule, equal to one and a half percent increase. All classified staff members will also maintain the same number of work hours for the coming year as in the past in the transition to a four-day school week.

Board members, other than Rich Starkebaum who was absent from the July meeting, adopted the 2021-22 budget. Highlights of next year’s budget include moving all staff members one step on compensation schedules; adding two and a half full-time positions including one and a half learning-loss teachers and a counselor; continuing to cover a single health insurance premium for those who qualify; increasing maintenance supervisor compensation; and increasing bus driver pay.

As the last item under new business, board members approved a 182-day contract for Heinz, with per diem requirements to be written.