Mesa View, GHS Bleachers, and Recognition of Retired Board Member
CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. On February 17th, the Grants Cibola County Schools held a board meeting that convened for three hours. During this meeting they discussed the need for furniture at the new Mesa View Elementary, the bleachers that were donated to Grants High School, and recognized recently retired board member Dr. Guy Archambeau, as well as the SEL award and Edu-Champion belt recipients.
Mesa View Furniture
“We are in the final steps of almost finishing our new building at Mesa View Elementary,” Superintendent Lane Widner said. “We are supposed to take ownership of that building… [by] the end of May.”
Widner explained that Cooper Jones, the school district’s financial director, has been tasked with creating an RFP “that will furnish the schools.” This will be for furniture, fixtures, and equipment, specifically furniture for classrooms, life skills rooms, therapy rooms, and administrative areas.
GHS Bleachers
At the end of 2024, the Zuni school district approached the GCCS finance committee with an offer to donate a set of bleachers. The board discussed the proposal last January. Superintendent Wider explained, “We decided and talked about it as a board that it would be great to have these bleachers and we would love to have them… So we went as far as getting them disassembled and brought too Grants.”
He went on the explain that the big pile of “rubble” on Second Street is the disassembled bleachers from Zuni, and that they intend to have it assembled on the south campus of Grants High School. This would make it the permanent bleachers at the soccer field.
However, this is a costly endeavor. The previous year was double the now estimated price of $121,345.25. Cooper Jones explained that these bleachers will not only be ADA compliant, but also wheelchair ramps. The reassembling of the bleachers will consist of engineering and ground work, which he explained is the majority of the costs. “I anticipate that this [estimation] is accurate.” Jones said, before the board approved it.
Recognition of Retired Board Member Dr. Guy Archambeau
“Tonight we have a special recognition,” Superintendent Winder said. “We are going to recognize Dr. Guy Archambeau for his years of service on the school board. He resigned from our board six weeks ago and we have wanted to get him back and recognize the legacy that he has left with [GCCS].”
Widner continued, “[I] want to present Dr. Guy… with this plaque. I’m very proud and appreciate everything I learned from him.” The plaque read: To Dr. Guy Archambeau in recognition of your dedicated service, steadfast leadership, and unwavering commitment to the students, staff, and the community. Your guidance has strengthened our schools and enriched countless lives. With gratitude, the Grants Cibola County School District.’
Board Vice President T. Walter Jaramillo said, “He was also an educator here. He was a principal… He was a role model. A lot of the kids graduated through him and then he became a school board member… I’ve always known him and his family and they’ve always been interested in the future of all the kids.”
Board secretary Courtney Clawson said, “I didn’t get to serve with you or work with you at all, but thanks for your time spent here and all the hard work you put into the school district.”
“He taught my kids in elementary school,” board member Monica Salazar said. So, thank you for that and for all the work you did on the school board.
Board member Donalyn Lorenzo said, “Thank you… I look forward to learning from you and hopefully we can connect.”
Dr Archambeau reflected on his long career in education, that had begun in 1970, also saying, “I spent all these 10 years on [the board] because I was still committed. And so my commitment has always been powerful; very strong. I’ve always [asked] lots of questions, not only of ourselves but the state, legislators, and the leaders. Although, I say we’ve got to do more and one of the ways we might do that is by develop[ing] policies and strategies and that boards are supposed to be involved with… I do wish you well in the years to come. For some of you to pursue the same goals that we’ve always had for our community, and that is to ensure that all children and all parents, every child is going to succeed… I wish, [I] hope that all of you who are staff, that you continue to pursue the goals that you set for this district… So let’s look forward to a good year and a good half of this coming year and wish you well.”
After thanking him, Francie Lee said “I need to tell Dr. Guy, this has been quite the ride for two years and I want to thank you for all that you taught me about boardmanship and being a productive board leader… I will never be able to fill your shoes, but I am thankful for the guidance and everything that you did, and your dedication for this school district. And we are all so thankful for what you have shared and taught not only the children, but us sitting here in this room and in the district. Thank you so much for your service on the board and in the district.” Recognitions
The first social emotional learning (SEL) award recipient was Jessie Rivera, a GHS teacher and advisor for the Skills USA program, who also teaches construction trades. Widner explained, “He teaches our kids plumbing, electrical wiring, they’re building mini sheds… I wanted to recognize Mr. Rivera for taking 40 kids out of Cibola County and getting them some experience and they are learning the legislative process.”
The next SEL award recipient was the Cubero and Seboyeta elementary school music teacher Agnes Mercado. Widner said, “She is just phenomenal. They have major productions and events at their school… Ms. Mercado is truly involved in the production and teaches her kids the dance routines and they’re singing and they’re doing solos and they’re acting… She is providing really positive experiences for her kids and teaching them the arts.”
Lastly, the Edu-Champion belt recipient is Rose Gingrich. Winder explained, “Rose works in our data office. She has all of the data for the school district. So… all of the reporting that we do to the state; Ms. Gingrich does that… She often is very quietly sitting in her office for hours and hours and hours looking at spreadsheets and looking at data and cleaning our data before we submit it to the public education department… We had a big, big reporting time come up recently…. She really praises herself on submitting good data and accurate data and really kind of problem solving to make sure our data is good.”
Upcoming
February 28: GCCS Board Retreat March 3: Regular Board Meeting March 17: No Board Meeting - Spring Break March 24: Meeting Moved from March 17 due to Spring Break