The Sedona-Oak Creek School District Governing Board held its first meeting of 2024 on Jan. 6.
Board President Randy Hawley was approved to continue in the position for another year following a nomination by board vice president Lauren Robinson, who was also selected to continue in her role in a nomination by Hawley seconded by David Price. Scorpion Booster Club President Heather Hermen invited the public to the Booster Club’s upcoming Casino Night fundraiser at the Sedona Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Feb. 10, which will be covered in an upcoming edition.
Board member April Payne asked that the board agendize a discussion on the affordability of Sedona Performing Arts Center at Sedona Red Rock High School for local arts groups as a performance venue following the board’s receipt of a Dec. 10 letter from Lupita Pollock, founder of Running River School.
“I think it’s very disappointing that the community of Sedona can’t afford to use the performing arts center for community events,” Pollock wrote, partly in reference to the Sedona Dance Academy’s December performance of “The Nutcracker” in Camp Verde. “While the Sedona community understands that the cost of the venue is related to the costs of running it, I encourage the district to look for creative solutions to rent out what was originally built not just for the high school, but for the community.
“Is there a way the city of Sedona can create a grant-giving program to those who need financial assistance to rent SPAC? This would benefit the district by having the space rented more often and it would benefit community performance art organizations. Or, what about the family of means that often supports the district. Could they create a scholarship program for deserving organizations and events?”
“We’ve had some discussions with a number of private people that want to use [SPAC] but say they can’t afford it,” Hawley later said. “So they wanted us to reduce the rental fee, and at that point, it wasn’t brought to the board [and] it was dealt with through the administration. And the administration had no direction from the board to say they could do that … But ultimately, if we do make any of those changes that it will have to be instructions from the board level.”
In light of Payne’s request, “we probably would” agendize the discussion, Hawley said.
Price mentioned that he and SOCSD Superintendent Tom Swaninger were on the citizen panel to interview Anette Spickard, city manager of McCall, Idaho, and the only remaining finalist for the position of Sedona city manager.
“I think that the relationship between us and the city was in good health,” Price said. “I think that was a reflection of that … We don’t know the results yet of whether they’re going to hire this particular candidate.”
Hiring Staff
Swaninger said the district is now seeking a dean of students, an assistant principal, an assistant superintendent and a curriculum director, although the district does not actually plan to hire for all of those positions.
“Here’s the reasoning behind that,” Swaninger said. “So that the dean and the [assistant principal] position have very similar duties but not identical duties … we felt it best to post both of those positions to see what kind of candidates that we get, and to hire the best candidate, whether it be a dean of students or an [assistant principal].”
“That’s still up for discussion in terms of overall replacement,” Hawley later said. “But basically, they’re splitting [DeWitt’s] responsibilities up within the administrative team right now, because it’s only going to be for one semester. Then they’re going to post for a position. If you try to post now you’re not going to get a good turnout, because it’s the middle of the year. Spring is the right time to post for openings.”
“We posted for [all of the] positions to cast a wide net over the interested talent pool,” Swaninger later said. “It is possible that we may shift our leadership cabinet a bit and redistribute job descriptions within our organizational chart … We will not be adding an additional position, but may possibly be realigning our cabinet.”
Swaninger added that Sedona Red Rock High School has also hired Jim Stratton as the interim dean of students for the remainder of the school year.
“[Stratton] has more than 20 years experience educating students around the world, and I feel fortunate to have him on our team,” SRRHS Principal Heather Isom said in a Jan. 15 newsletter. “I know he is eager to get to know our students and families, and is passionate about supporting our teachers.”
Swaninger mentioned that he will be contributing a monthly column to the Sedona Red Rock News, and that SOCSD will be putting out a monthly newsletter that he and Hawley have been presenting to the nonprofit Big Park Regional Coordinating Council.
“There’s even talk of having a little monthly radio show. I don’t know if anybody would want to listen to me,” Swaninger said, and added that his 15-year-old daughter had just enrolled in the district. “But I am happy to be about to put myself out there and be a part of that.”
Sedona Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots served over 1,000 children during the Barrows’ decade at the helm, and this past year added 14 new drop-off locations for a total of 72. Karen Barrow said these collected 2,452 toys during the 2023 holiday season, an increase of 413 from the previous year.
Some 153 students at West Sedona School received bags of toys in 2023; 47 West Sedona School students received bicycles and 20 preschoolers got stuffed animals and coloring books. Through the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, another 99 kids received bags of toys, in addition to 61 through the Sedona Community Food Bank. The total this year across the Verde Valley and the Hopi Tribe was 920 children who received toys and 72 children who received a bicycle.
Election 2024
Hawley said he is undecided on whether to seek another four-year term in November. Board members David Price and April Payne are also up for reelection in November and both have confirmed that they will be running to retain their seats.
The board approved keeping the current meeting schedule, which is 4 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month, but rescheduled next month’s meeting for Tuesday, Feb. 13.
The board also submitted conflict of interest forms to the district. The forms were reviewed by Sedona Red Rock News following an information request, and there were no stated conflicts of interest by any board member.
