Incoming superintendent Jim Fraley had a short introduction to Yuma-1 Board of Education meetings Monday night.
He was in attendance at the regular monthly meeting at the District Office, as the board whipped through its agenda in about 30 minutes. That is one of the shortest board of education meetings in recent memory.
All five board members were in attendance, John Deering, Tyson Brown, Lindsey Galles, Terri Cooper and Heath Roundtree.
Retiring superintendent Dianna Chrisman presented a superintendent transition support plan formulated by her and Fraley, who officially takes over in July. The plan involves him beginning a week in advance to work with Chrisman as the transition takes place. Chrisman will be available as a consultant for background information and such for up to 20 days if needed between July and September.
Chrisman provided a budget update for the 2025-26 fiscal year that begins July 1. She said the latest information from the state Capitol is the district will receive the same funding as this fiscal year, despite a declining enrollment. Chrisman said that means the district does not have to look at cuts but recommended putting money away, only to use on one-time expenditures, as there could be deeper cuts in a couple of years.
She also went over an administration plan with the board. Chrisman said it was a good time to look at some changes with enrollment going down. There are two openings at Yuma Middle School, principal and dean of students. Current YHS/YMS Athletic Director Presley Papachek will be moving into the YMS Dean of Students role being vacated by the retiring Kent Chrisman.
Papachek will deal with the YMS athletic/activities director duties, and current administration at YHS will handle the same at the high school. Superintendent Chrisman said it will create a savings of about $100,000.
The board unanimously approved the 2025-26 certified contracts. The board was told aggregate pay raises will be about $50,000.
A proclamation declaring May 6-9 as Staff Appreciation Week was approved.
The approved Consent Agenda included the following recommended hirings: Zuseth Rodriguez, nurses aide; Brian Black, YMS head track coach; Tyson Brown, substitute bus driver (mini bus); Michelle Reyes, YMS assistant track coach; Joe Oss, YMS assistant track coach; John Horn, maintenance assistant; Kayla Jones, secondary student support and intervention coordinator, and; Presley Papachek, YMS dean of students. It also included the separations and resignations of Tammy Law, YMS junior high science teacher, and Dannica Kalcevic, YHS special education para.
Activity trips included the consent agenda were the football team going to Gunnison for a camp in July, and the boys wrestling team going to a camp in Gunnison in June.
The board’s next meeting will be May 12.