Tuba City superintendent wants to improve district

TUBA CITY, Ariz. - Tuba City Unified School District (TCUSD) Superintendent Bill Higgins was always told by his parents to leave the campsite better than when they found it when camping. That is his motto in life and his work ethic as superintendent.

Higgins took the reins as superintendent approximately three years ago. The district's budget was in the red by almost half a million dollars, but by the end of the year he was able to help turn the budget around, adding about $484,000 to the budget.

Higgins grew up in East San Diego where the population was primarily lower income families so he knows the struggles that most low-income families endure. He is easily discernable by his Santa beard and his SANTAH license plate. He taught on the Nez Perce Reservation for 10 years and is writing a dissertation for his doctorate at Washington State University with the topic of "Parental Decision-making for Native American Students."

He also received the National Indian Education Principal of the Year from the Catch the Dream/Exemplary Institute.

Higgins enjoys being in Tuba City and the "mix of people" and he appreciates the culture of both the Hopi and Navajo.

He lived on a farm in Washington in a small town. When he arrived there was no gang activity. Within a few years, however, the kids started wearing gang apparel, making gang signs and getting into trouble. He sees this as an influence from the metropolitan areas close to small towns.

He has started a project to fence in all the TCUSD property and says that he wants to keep out critters and cows and wants to make the school properties safer.

Regarding the budget crisis affecting the schools, he is aware of the affect of layoffs on the community and is sensitive to the issue. He sees people every day that are affected, while he is shopping, eating and around town.

According to Higgins, if cuts are not made "the school will not survive."

Fortunately Prop 100 passed, which doesn't give more actual funds to the school but doesn't increase the shortfall either.

In addition the state withheld $830,000 of federal funding given to schools on Indian reservations and military lands, which may not have been legal, so he hopes to get that funding reinstated. Higgins is also hopeful that the state will deliver on IOUs being issued for approximately $2.5 million. He says some cuts that are being done now should have been done in 2000. He stated that "someone always has to come around and fix things" so he is committed to TCUSD.

Higgins says it is a good school with good folks and he especially likes the town.

That same day, Higgins was scheduled to meet with the principals of the schools to discuss programs that may be cut. He was especially fond of the music program since he plays music and still has his horn.

One of his children went to college as a music major and became a teacher so music is very important to him.

He assured that programs such as the Hopi language program are fundamental and will not go away. As he states, "I wasn't here then but I am here now and it is my fight" to keep programs intact. He will move along eventually but while he is here his vision is that "there are no gaps and to make sure the school is operating in the black" leaving it better than he found it.

Higgins has an open door policy and encourages people to talk to him. You can e-mail him at higgins.higgins1@gmail.com or bhiggins@tcusd.org or call (928) 283-1002 to schedule an appointment.

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