GRANTS, N.M. — Two Grants Cibola County School Board meetings were held, one which took place on the 6th lasting nearly 2 hours and the other on the 14th spanning about four hours, most of which was in executive session.
Graduation Statistics
Early College High School - 9 (10) Cohort 2024 - 0 Early Graduates (Cohort 2026) - 1 Life Skills Returning - 0 80% on track 20% credit recovery 0% possible retention Grants High School - 165 (170) Cohort 2024 - 5 Early Graduates - 3 Life Skills Returning - 4 153 - 93% on track 8 - 5% credit recovery 4 -2% possible retention Laguna Acoma High School - 52 (53) Cohort 2024 - 1 Early Graduates - 0 Life Skills Retuning - 0 48 - 91% on track 3 credit recovery 2 - 1% possible retention
New Partnerships
Since Covid, more than sixty students have continued to do school online, but there hasn't been an online option in the Cibola County Schools, until now. GCCS has partnered with the Pecos Cyber Academy, a state funded charter school that is online, giving online students the choice to return to a GCCS schooling.
Additionally, the schools have partnered with the Cook Center Human Connection. This is a federal grant for mental health and suicide prevention. About 20 school districts in New Mexico have already partnered with this. The Cook Center provides mental health councilors whose goal, according to Superintendent Lane Widner “is to eradicate suicide and depression.”
Executive Session Subjects
During the several hours of executive session, Superintendent Widner updated the Board on employee changes, non-renewals, transfers, promotions, demotions, new positions, individual qualifications, and all other employee movements and contemplated movements and their effects on the Organizational Chart and Strategic Plan for School Year 2025-2026.
Next, the Board discussed Superintendent/Board Relations.
No action was taken during this closed discussion.
Student Successes & Recognitions
The state champions in their powerlifting division includes Gary Chavez, Olivia Toivanen, and Savannah Ortiz. The girls powerlifting team placed third in the state.
Results from the state science fair and ISEF qualifiers shows that 2nd place in robotics software and technology was placed by a student in Cubero elementary and 1st place in animal science was won by a student in Milan elementary. Additionally, several students received CO2 gas awards.
Stevy Elkins, the GHS principal, received the social emotional plaque for hosting events for the students and community.
Another social emotional learning plaque recipient was Lorenza Martinez from Los Alamitos Middle School. She is the administrative assistant and front office staff recognized for greeting everyone who enters.
The edu-champion belt recipient was Aiza De Los Santos, for bringing kinderfest to Mt. Taylor Elementary. Kinderfest is an event where kindergarteners from around the district come and present their talents whether it is coloring, singing, dancing, poetry, etc.
Upcoming
May 23rd is the last day of school.
May 27th: 2nd annual staff appreciation gala with dinner and recognitions.
The Grants High School basketball girls were granted permission to travel to Colorado on June 13th and for the rest of the weekend for a basketball camp that will offer a college experience. The money for this trip has already been fundraised and parents are to take the students to Colorado and back.
Board Meetings for the rest of 2025: July 1st & 15th, August 5th & 19th, September 2nd & 16th, October 7th & 21st, November 6th & 18th, December 2nd & 16th.