The Sedona-Oak Creek School District Governing Board thwarted an effort to hire the principal of St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Cottonwood as a part-time math coach at West Sedona School.

Jackie Kirkham was on the list of new hires submitted for the board’s approval at its Tuesday, Sept. 13, meeting. She was to be offered a contract to work 20 hours a week — 10 in the classroom and 10 at home or at St. Joseph’s.

Although the board tends to rubber stamp personnel matters such as new hires,  extra-duty contracts and changes in positions and hours — and did, in fact, approve all others at the meeting — board president Zach Richardson objected to hiring Kirkham.

“It’s a perception issue … that we can’t handle our internal education,” he said.

“St. Joseph’s is trying to recruit our students and we’re trying to recruit theirs,” he continued, saying that hiring Kirkham might lead to the impression that St. Joseph’s has more-qualified people and might prompt parents to send their children there.

“The situation is a bit bizarre …. We’re hiring someone who is employed elsewhere. Obviously we’re number two. If a math teacher quits tomorrow [at St. Joseph’s], she’ll be teaching there,” Richardson said.

“What will our students think? What will our teachers think?

“Let’s keep looking for another solution.”

SOCSD Superintendent Dave Lykins pushed for the hiring.

“Perception is one thing, reality is different. As an educator, I want to give kids the tools, whatever the perception,” he said, adding that the district advertised for the position all summer, but found no candidates.

“This one opening for us is important,” Lykins said.

The district adopted a new math curriculum, called Eureka Math, which  presents a challenge to both students and teachers, according to Lykins and WSS principal Scott Keller.

“It is very complicated. It’s rigorous and hard to teach,” Keller said.

The math coach would need to spend time in the classroom observing teachers, getting to know the students and teaching lessons so the teachers can watch how to do it, as well as providing professional development in staff meetings. Outside of the classroom, the coach would analyze data to determine where the students are and identify trouble areas.

Acknowledging the potential for conflicts in the long term with Kirkham’s situation, school board member Karen McClelland tried to find middle ground, suggesting that she be hired just for the current semester, while the district continues its search.

“Somebody needs to be in that position,” she said. “It would hurt the kids too much to not have it.”

McClelland made a motion to offer Kirkham a one-semester contract, but neither Richardson nor board member Tommy Stovall seconded it.

Board members Bobbie Surber and John Miller did not attend the meeting.

Kirkham could not be reached for comment.

Asked about the issue the following day, Richardson said, “She was a great teacher for our district and a personal friend, but unfortunately she left our district for a position from which we could not rehire her into our district on a part-time basis.”