District 1 to ink pact to help special needs preschoolers
The Yuma District One governing board plans to sign an agreement Monday that will benefit more special needs preschoolers in the area.
The board plans to meet at 5 p.m. Monday at its boardroom, 450 W. 6th St., which is in the district’s administration offices.
An intergovernmental agreement with Arizona Western College would allow the two entities to jointly operate an inclusion preschool classroom, said Jamie Sheldahl, the district’s superintendent.
“The program will allow us to serve more preschool age students with special needs, and it will allow AWC to serve some students who are currently on the waiting list at their Child Development Learning Lab,” he said in an email to the Yuma Sun. More information will be released at the meeting.
Board members will also hear updates from the Child Nutrition Department director Lisa Thrower, a monthly financial report from Denis Ponder, and hear a presentation from Dr. Susan Alka about the district’s new principal cohort.
Alka has been facilitating a collaborative group that consists of principals who are in their first three years as building principal, Sheldahl explained.
“Since we have only a handful of assistant principal positions, our principals often enter administration without the opportunity to learn on the job under the mentorship of an experienced principal,” he said.
The group allows the district’s principals to learn from one another, and allows the district to keep them up-to-date regarding foundational knowledge relative to topics like scheduling, budgeting, legal issues etc.
In other business, the board will consider approving an IGA between the district and the city for stormwater runoff retention and facilities. Sunrise Elementary is to be the “showcase” school.
The board reserves the right to convene into executive session to discuss personnel matters or to consult with the school district’s attorney concerning any item on Monday’s agenda.
A copy of the agenda background material provided to board members (with the exception of material relating to possible executive sessions) is available for public inspection at Yuma School District One Administration Office, 450 W. 6th St.
Persons needing an accommodation in order to observe the board’s meeting are asked to make arrangements with the district office as soon as possible before the meeting.