Duncan Unified Board approves package of policies, hires and routine motions; clerk excused from cheer vote

The Duncan Unified District (4228) Governing Board on July 14 adopted a series of administrative policies, approved multiple personnel appointments and passed several routine motions before adjourning at 7:27 p.m.

President Mike Sweetser called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. After roll call, Clerk Holly McCluskey moved to accept the consent agenda, covering routine minutes, payroll and expense vouchers and auxiliary financial statements; Member Wade Wagley seconded and the motion passed on a roll-call vote with all five members recorded as voting yes.

The board adopted a package of superintendent/administration policies (Motion No. 5 25-26). The policies listed by the superintendent included CA, CB, CBA, CBCA/CBCA-R, CBI/CBI-EA, CCB/CCB-R, CFD/CFD-R/CFD-E, CHD, CK, CM, IJNDB/IJNDB-R, JLF and JR/JR-R. President Mike Sweetser moved the adoption and the motion carried on roll call with all members voting yes.

On personnel actions, the board approved two hires after the superintendent said one offered position had been declined: Faye Gruwell for elementary special education and Alison Didio as elementary music aide (Motion No. 7 25-26). The board also approved a slate of long-term substitute teachers (Melisa Merrell, Kristin Hoglan, Kaycee Wallace, Victoria Johnson, Meghan Wagley and Wendy Ford) under Motion No. 8 25-26, and later approved substitute teachers Orpha Bell, Sherry Brady, Terrill Rowley, Jacqueline Sanchez and Makenna Merrell under Motion No. 11 25-26.

The board approved the districtwide list of 2025–26 fundraising events as presented (Motion No. 6 25-26). It also approved facility use for Greenlee Cheer Elite (Motion No. 9 25-26); Clerk Holly McCluskey requested to be excused from that item because of her involvement with Greenlee Cheer Elite and was recorded as excused for that vote. The board approved two volunteer athletic appointments — Chad Penry as high school football coach and Seth Harris as district athletic trainer — under Motion No. 10 25-26.

Business Manager Joann Boyd explained the district’s use of sole-source vendor approvals for recurring services; the board approved the sole-source vendor list (Motion No. 12 25-26) on a roll-call vote.

The meeting concluded with Superintendent Eldon Merrell presenting a fiscal policy packet for first reading; those policies (DA, DB/DB-R, DBF, DBJ, DD/DD-E, DFA, DG, DGD, DI, DIB, DIC, DID/DID-R, DIE/DIE-R, DJ, DJE/DJE-R, DJG/DJG-R, DK/DK-EA/DK-EB and DN) were informational and will return for future consideration. With no further business, President Sweetser adjourned the meeting at 7:27 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Motion No. 4 (consent agenda) — passed, all members yes; Motion No. 5 (policy adoptions) — passed, all members yes; Motion No. 6 (fundraising events) — passed, all members yes; Motion No. 7 (hires of Gruwell and Didio) — passed, all members yes; Motion No. 8 (long-term substitutes) — passed, all members yes; Motion No. 9 (Greenlee Cheer Elite facility use) — passed, McCluskey excused; Motion No. 10 (volunteer coaches/trainer) — passed, all members yes; Motion No. 11 (substitute teachers) — passed, all members yes; Motion No. 12 (sole-source vendors) — passed, all members yes.

The board’s next regular meeting was reported to be during the second week of the school year; no public comments were offered at this meeting.