The Sedona-Oak Creek School District Board of Supervisors held its first regular meeting of 2025 on Tuesday, Jan. 7, where district officials introduced several new employees.
“Kelly [Freudenthal] “We are thrilled to be working with our students to ensure that our students receive the best possible results,” said Dr. Tom Swaninger, Superintendent of Schools. “I have known Kelly since we worked together at Queen Creek. and her husband [the] Cottonwood’s new police chief. And when I heard her husband got the job, it took me about 20 seconds to pick up the phone, call her, and tell her I had this job opening. ”
“We are very fortunate that [Freudenthal] We’re here for our kids,” Swaninger said. “She’s great with people…I consider her an expert in student behavior in classroom management…She’s going to do great things here.”
Swaninger also said the district administration has begun budget planning for fiscal year 2026, and that telecommunications provider Optimum, which donated $30,000 toward the purchase of Chromebooks for West Sedona School students in December, He expressed his gratitude. He added that he and his staff plan to meet with SRRHS students interested in bringing back tackle football and expects a decision to be made by next month.
Student Representative Emily Frey announced that the Interact Rotary Club will host its next district meeting in the spring at Verde Valley School in Oak Creek Village.
“Usually it’s in Phoenix, so I’m really looking forward to it because I can only bring a few students, but now it’s getting closer,” Frey said.
The board also announced that Mr. Frey will attend the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and major in biology.
“Emily, I couldn’t be more proud of you. I’m proud to be part of the village where one of your teachers was. Good luck,” WSS teacher Deb Saunders said.
Sanders, along with WSS first-grade teacher Patti Falsetto and Verde Valley School principal Ben Lee, are members of the Sedona Sister Cities Association School Board and the founder of a cultural exchange with schools in Canmore, Alberta, Canada. We are considering. Sedona sister city project.
Ms. Falsetto’s first-grade class at WSS held a joint online class with Terry Williamson’s first-grade class at Elizabeth Rumel School in Canmore on Nov. 25, but WSS also has kindergarten and second-grade students. A similar program is planned for the target population. Alpenglow School, a Waldorf-inspired public school in Canmore, is a second-grade student at Running River School, a Waldorf-inspired Sedona school held at Christ Center Wesleyan Church. We also plan to hold class exchanges with students.
“We want to expand this beyond elementary schools to middle and high schools,” Sanders said.
Through a November ballot proposition, voters approved the district’s option to potentially sell the former Big Park Community School to a private buyer.
“We don’t have a real estate agent or an appraiser yet,” Swaninger said, adding that there are no plans to acquire either at this time.
Swaninger said during the meeting that SOCSD does not need additional permission from the Arizona School Facilities Commission to proceed with the sale of BPCS because School Facilities Commission funds are not used to maintain the property. said.
Board President Randy Hawley and Vice President Lauren Robinson will both be up for re-election next year, and the Board will continue to meet on its current schedule on the first Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. at the Sedona Performing Arts Center. chose to do so.
Sedona Red Rock High School Principal Heather Isom recognized outstanding students and staff from both campuses with monthly awards. Ariana Koehler was named Middle School Student of the Month, Alexis Landaverde was named High School Student of the Month, and Lana Casca and Kameren Moyer were named Student of the Month. Nicolas Harmen was named Player of the Month. Sarah Horton was the WSS Staff Member of the Month and Andy Ellis was the SRRHS Staff Member of the Month.
