Two new members will join the Tombstone Unified School District this year.

Within the last two months, two board members resigned. Steve Reeder announced his resignation at the December board meeting, and Mike Hayhurst submitted his resignation on Jan. 13.

Though Hayhurst has resigned from his position on the board, he will continue to coach varsity football at Tombstone High School.

Last week, Trudy Berry, Cochise County School superintendent, appointed two new board members: Jimmy Dotson and Fred Yale. Both members said they will run for full terms in the November election.

Dotson served on the board from 2004-2008 with experience as a president and board member. Berry said, "I feel that he has a good working relationship with the school employees and will do a wonderful job on the board."

District Superintendent Karl Uterhardt is excited to have Dotson back on the board. "He's a very level-headed guy that wants what's best for the kids and the schools," Uterhardt said.

Dotson has had four of his own children graduate from Tombstone High School. His wife was a past board member. Aside from being on the board, he is a superintendent at the Cochise County Highways Department.

Dotson said that his main desire was to help and get more involved within the school system. "Being able to help out over the years as all four of my kids graduated from Tombstone High School, I know how people take and complain, so I say get involved."

He said he agreed to join because he wanted the board to have experienced members. "I know it takes a couple years to really get what's going on, so by somebody new getting elected, I thought I could help out by just going back on the board and helping."

A goal he has is to "focus more on the budget and do everything we can."

Dotson wants to focus on selling the old high school building and helping improve academic shortfalls through this.

"The past years have had some shortcomings and the student count was going down, so over the past couple of years we've added some academics classes to get students back."

When asked about recent athletic facilities Dotson felt that once the old high school building sells that the money could help improve the football practice field and other sports facilities.

Fred Yale is a former teacher at Tombstone High School, he taught math and physical education. From working in the district he knows many school staff members and has kept in touch with the school district.

"I've been teaching for a long time, but for the better part of my life I've been coaching and teaching," Yale said.

Yale currently teaches at PPEP TEC High School in Sierra Vista as mainly a math teacher for grades 9-12.

Originally from New Haven, Conn., he has lived in Tombstone for the past seven years.

Yale enjoys the small-town feel of Tombstone.

"No street lights, no Walmart, and I live just three miles out of the center of Tombstone."

This will be Yale's first time as a board member and he is coming in with a "we can do anything" positive attitude. "I have been working with kids for a long time and I'm just getting on the board to see the kids get through high school and grammar school the best they can. Whether it's through sports or academics, I'm just for the kids."

One main goal Yale has is to get things the school needs regardless of the budget.

"Everyone is out there for the kids so its easy sailing, there are always bumps along the way but money isn't always everything. Its only money, if you want to do things there are ways around it. We will all chip in a buck and get new uniforms."

Yale's main stance on board issues seems to revolve around setting goals and achieving goals, one way or another.

"The main question is whether you want things to get done. If you want to do it or if you don't want to do it?" Yale said.

The district's next meeting will be 6 p.m. Feb. 10 in the Huachuca School Library.