GRANTS, N.M. – On March 19, the Grants Cibola County School board held a meeting convening for a little over two hours. During this time, the board discussed the budget and the Yazzie v. State of New Mexico Lawsuit.
Workday Increase and Teacher Compensation Concerns
When it was time for citizen comments, district teacher Zachariah Hawkins stepped forward.
“My comments relate to the proposed 2026-2027 budget and the pay schedules connected to that budget,” he informed.
He went on to explain that teachers will see a 6.67% increase in their workday, totaling an additional 92.5 hours per school year. 'Many teachers are concerned that the proposed $1,000 pay increase will not cover the additional time spent at work,” he continued. “The state is providing a 1% pay increase. Depending on the teacher’s pay scale, after accounting for the extra 11 to 12 work days, some teachers may only end up receiving about $200 more for this large increase required work time. That comes out to about $17.50 per day for the added work. If the pay is not adjusted correctly, teachers could be missing out on about $4,000 in pay per year depending on their pay scale.”
He requested that the board seek clarification before the budget approval on how the additional 0.5 hour workday increase will be compensated.
Budget
Executive director of finance for GCCS, Cooper Jones, explained that GCCS’s budget process is underway, with preliminary budget approval serving as a placeholder to inform the Public Education Department of the district’s progress. The final budget approval is set to take place on June 2. The budget is designed to ensure compliance with PED regulations, facilitating the smooth progression of district initiatives.
There is ongoing uncertainty regarding the rescheduling of a consultation, with doubts about whether it will occur before the final budget approval on June 2. Jones explained that the budget is sched- uled for submission after the next meeting, during the week of June 18.
Yazzie-Martinez v. State of New Mexico Lawsuit
In the meeting a brief overview was provided regarding the Yazzie-Martinez v. State of New Mexico Lawsuit, with attorneys Preston Sanchez and Alisa Deal. Preston Sanchez explained, “We filed [Yazzie/Martinez] in 2014 … because public school students in New Mexico, particularly English language learners, low-income students, Native American students, and students with disabilities, were not receiving a sufficient education as required by the New Mexico Constitution.”
The lawsuit addresses the academic underperformance of public school students across New Mexico. The legal guidance the board sought, explained that data has revealed significant issues, such as low proficiency rates in math and reading, less-than-ideal graduation rates, and substantial achievement gaps among various student subgroups.
The lawsuit highlights the academic studies of low-income students, English language learners, and students of color, who are found to perform worse than their peers. It was explained that public schools in New Mexico are reportedly underfunded by approximately $600 million annually, negatively impacting resources and educational opportunities for students. This lack of funding results in inadequate resources for necessities such as substitutes, transportation, and school buses, leading to poor academic outcomes that leave students unprepared for college and the workforce.
The legal action stems not only from current funding challenges but also parallels the 1996 case of Zuni v. The State of New Mexico. The Yazzie lawsuit was consolidated with the Martinez plaintiffs in 2015, aiming to address the needs of affected student groups.
They explained that the Yazzie plaintiffs represent five diverse families, encompassing English language learners and low-income, Native American, Hispanic, Black, and students with disabilities.