YUHSD board expected to tap new leader Wednesday

Yuma Union High School District governing board members have a busy week slated.

A quorum of YUHSD board members is expected to attend a community forum Tuesday where superintendent candidates will take questions from the audience. Three finalists are being considered for the job: Juan M. Ceja, deputy superintendent for Liberty Elementary School District in Buckeye; Gina M. Thompson, interim superintendent for YUHSD; and P. William Van Hickman, superintendent for Columbus Municipal School District in Columbus, Miss.

The forum is slated for 6 p.m. at the Kofa High School Auditorium, 3100 S. Avenue A. The board is expected to hold a 4 p.m. special meeting Wednesday at the library at Yuma High School, 400 S. 6th Ave. The board will meet in executive session to discuss the finalists, and a decision as to which finalist to offer a contract will be made during the board’s regular meeting which starts at 5 p.m.

The board will also consider approving: a three-year intergovernmental agreement for the Yuma Educational Transportation Consortium; a guaranteed maximum price for Kofa High School campus renovations from McCarthy Buildings Company, Inc.; and donations to the district.

Student Council representatives from Cibola, Gila Ridge and Vista high schools will update the board with current events at their respective campuses. Calendars for the next three school years are set to be approved under the board’s consent agenda.

The board will also hear a monthly budget recap and an update of the Ready Now Yuma program.