68-Page Report Notes Unstable Leadership as Reason for Failing Students trict either because of retirement, quitting, moving to another district, or other causes that would have them leave the district. The report states, “Prior to the pandemic, data from the U.S. National Center of Education Statistics found an annual teacher turnover rate of 16 percent. In FY22, teacher mobility and turnover in [GCCS] was 31 percent.”
A 68-Page report released by the Legislative Education Committee in March details issues at Grants Cibola County School District. This report calls on the New Mexico legislature to change laws so other districts do not have the same issues as GCCS.
The report states that GCCS serves approximately 3,200 students and employs approximately 500 staff; but has been struggling to recruit and maintain despite bonuses offered to new employees. These staffing struggles are compounded by a loss of student population, which has surpassed statewide trends.
From School Year 2012 to School Year 2022, GCCS has lost 13 percent of its student population, compared to the statewide trend where seven percent of student population was lost; in this time, there were no charter schools opened in the Grants-Cibola County area. The report states, “From SY12 to SY22, [GCCS] lost 461 students and Central lost 1,395 students… However, since 2010, birth rates have declined in the counties of both districts at a faster rate than statewide (31 percent in San Juan, 28 percent in Cibola, and 21 percent statewide). Outmigration has also likely played a role. In nearly every year since 2011, more individuals have moved out of both San Juan and Cibola counties than have moved into them. According to the University of New Mexico’s Geospatial and Population Studies program, San Juan and Cibola counties are projected to lose population by nine and five percent.”
The news is not all bad for GCCS’ student enrollment, “Preliminary 40th day school district enrollment counts indicate some students are returning to the districts. In FY23 in [GCCS], enrollment grew by approximately 300 students” more time will be required to see if these trends hold.
A large chunk of GCCS’ lost student population comes from job losses and declining birth rates, “In 2020, the Escalante Station, a coal power plant near Prewitt, New Mexico, closed with a loss of 107 employees. Grants district officials report 100 of these jobs were from Cibola County. The Ciniza Oil Refinery in Gallup closed the same year, resulting in a loss of 200 jobs but it is unknown how many of these jobs impacted Cibola County… these closures impacted the ability of [GCCS] to generate local revenue.”
Student population is not the only issue GCCS is encountering, staffing has been a serious issue for the district since at least 2018. The report found that the district exceeds the national average of 18 percent on staffing turnover by over 30 percent.
The report looked at mobility and turnover of GCCS teachers. By mobility, the report means teachers who moved into other, non-teaching roles like in administration; by turnover, the report means teachers who left the dis-
GCCS has been working to address teacher shortages and turnover by offering sign on bonuses for teachers, and filling the positions with longterm substitutes. From July 2021 to June 2022, GCCS employed 15 longterm substitutes. GCCS offers $6,000 sign-on incentives for certified teachers, with science, math, SPED, and certified counselors being eligible for an additional $5,000 bonus. Other stipends are also available for teachers who choose to work at more rural schools in the district. The report states that these efforts are not enough to address the teacher shortage because other districts like, “The Gallup-McKinley school district (just south of Central and north of Grants-Cibola) offered sign-on incentives for new classroom teachers in SY23 ranging from $18,000 (for any new teacher or counselor) to $22,000 (for new teachers or counselors who were graduates of the district) paid over two years. The district also offered relocation expenses between $2.5 thousand to $4.5 thousand.”
The report attributes a lack of teachers and school principals for the reason academic proficiencies at GCCS have fallen. In School Year 2022, 38 percent of principals and assistant principals were new to their position. This trend has improved since School Year 2021, but has surpassed the 18 percent national average. The report states, “Research notes principal leadership accounts for one quarter of all school effects on student achievement, second only to instruction in influence. Given the pivotal role school leaders can play in boosting achievement, ensuring their stability is critical… A study published by the Learning Policy Institute and the National Association of Secondary School Principals found five major factors contribute to principal turnover: inadequate preparation and professional development, poor working conditions, insufficient salaries, and lack of decision-making authority.”
The report calls on GCCS to “Provide targeted supports to reduce principal and teacher mobility and turnover; and spend budgeted funds on professional development for teachers and school leaders that is evidencebased and uses data to guide instruction; Determine the impact of their student success advisors to improve student engagement and achievement.”