GRANTS, N.M. - The Grants Cibola County School Board held a three hour special board meeting on January 12, in which they discussed the recent resignation of a board member and options for filling the vacancy.
Board Member Resignation
At the previous, January 6 meeting, Board Member Dr Guy Archambeau formally requested resignation, reading his letter of resignation, “Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from the Grants Cibola County Schools Board of Education representing district 5, effective January 20, 2026. This decision is necessitated by family medical reasons that require my full attention. It is made with careful consideration and respect for the responsibilities entrusted to this office in my election in 2014… I respectfully request that this resignation be entered into the official record and that the board proceed with the vacancy process in accordance with applicable New Mexico law and board policy. And thank you for the opportunity to serve.”
In this January 12 meeting, Board President Francie Lee reread the letter, before the board approved Archambeau’s resignation.
Vacancy Statute
According to the New Mexico School Boards Association Board Vacancy Statute that was shown at the meeting, a vacancy in a local school board is filled by a majority vote of the remaining members at an open meeting with a quorum present. A qualified appointee serves until the next regular school district election, when an election will be held to fill the unexpired term.
Additionally, if a vacancy is not filled within 45 days from the date of resignation to fill the vacancy, then the board will appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy until the next regular school district election.
Applying to Fill Board Vacancy
Interested applicants can visit the Grants Cibola County Schools Board of Education webpage at https://www.gccs.k12.nm.us /page/board-of-education for all the necessary information, forms, and links to apply for the position of District 5 Board Member.
If using NMVote.org, it is required to fill out a Declaration of Interest and have it notarized.
A physical copy of the application must be mailed or hand-delivered no later than January 26. Emails are not accepted.
Interested applicants can also contact the GCCS Superintendent’s Office at (505)285-2603. Applications are open now until 12 p.m. on January 26, 2026. Qualified applicants will be contacted for interviews on January 29 during an Open Meeting of the GCCS Board of Education at 5:30 p.m. in the Earl Chavez Board Room.
Vacancy Appointment Timeline
January 12: Special Board Meeting accept resignation and timeline January 14: First notice in the paper and District Website January 21: Second notice in the paper January 22: Regular Board Meeting
January 26: Deadline to submit resume and supporting materials at 12:00 p.m.
January 28: Applicants notified of Interview Thursday January 29, 2026 January 29: Special Board Meeting Interviews and action to select and appoint February 3: Installation of Appointee at GCCS Regular Board Meeting