GRANTS, NM -- The November 11, 2024 meeting of the Grants Cibola County School Board opened with a moment of silence to recognize the passing of coach Otero who was the Cross-Country coach at Laguna-Acoma Junior, Senior High School for thirtyeight years.
A memorial to honor Coach Otero is being planned by the high school.
The House System, which has been adopted at several schools, with a few others considering joining the program, is reported successful at those schools. It has created a spirit of friendly competition and a nurturing environment with older classes teaming up with a younger class of the same house to work together.
Early in the meeting, the board addressed the topic of initiating an effective hall pass system, e-passes. By using student cell phones, or Chromebooks, with a program that will be tracked by the teacher, students will be assured of being in their classroom and not loitering about the school’s premises.
LAHS is reported to be using this system successfully with a separate Chromebook in the classrooms to generate the hall pass.
Proficiency, a running topic of concern was raised by Ms. Hunt-Dailey, a GCCS board member and teacher with GCCS. A reported increase of 15% to 17% representing an increase of five to seven students to proficiency was discussed.
“As a teacher, I can't call them gains because they're not proficient. Now I can see once they're near in proficiency and then they're making gains and then I can see that kind of data being useful. But if we're way below proficiency, the gains don't seem to be as pertinent as we would hope they would be,” said Ms. Dailey.
It is reported that students are tested with the STAR test for reading and math which is a monthly assessment the New Mexico Measures of Student Success and Achievement (NM-MSSA) will be given in December, and an exit ticket at the end of the week. A move of the exit ticket to the beginning of the week is being considered so that the results can be used for reteaching during the week. These tests are chosen because they align with the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
Board member, Mr. Lane Widner, introduced item C on the agenda, a slideshow presentation by Dr. Delton Martin to clarify the newly adopted New Mexico’s Multi-Layered System of Supports (MLSS), “a comprehensive system that provides evidence-based supports and interventions for students who need extra help in school.”
A few simple, brief points from the presentation are: What is MLSS?
• A comprehensive framework for academic and behavioral support.
• Aims to meet the diverse needs of all students • Utilizes data-driven decision-making and evidence-based practices
• Focuses on early intervention and prevention • A proactive approach to support all students
Key Components:
Tiered Support
• Tier 1: Universal support for all students
• Tier 2: Targeted support for some students
• Tier 3: Intensive support for a few students Benefits for students
• Early identification of learning and behavioral needs
• Timely and targeted interventions
• Improved academic outcomes for all students
• Reduced referrals to special education
More information about MLSS can be found at New Mexico’s Multi-Layered System of Supports (MLSS) – New Mexico Public Education Department.
The next presentation was also given by Dr. Martin about I-Ready, a math and reading program that is already in place across elementary schools in GCCS as part of Title I. I-Ready is a support tool for the teacher to help them know the standards needed by their students.
The I-Ready system is adaptive, meaning it adjusts to the student’s responses. Teachers access their students’ lesson results and analyze the work. In can help them to know which standards they will have to teach for them to be at grade level.
“Ready Reading and Ready Math provide instruction while I-Ready’s diagnostic formative assessments help identify student needs. The two are designed to complement each other.” (Dr. Martin’s slide presentation) At this point, Ms. Daily expressed concern for the cohesiveness of MLSS and I-Ready and that teachers already have several assessment programs they need to learn and use in their classrooms.
Dr. Martin addressed the question by saying while students are working on their adaptive program the teacher is in the classroom working with individuals “we do stress that teachers teaching is better than students being kept online most of the time. It's (I-Ready) just a tool that they use to diagnose student weaknesses and help them master individual standards.”
In a brief report regarding the Executive Session Board Meetings held on October 8 and 29, President Lee stated, “a public body May sometimes need to meet in a special meeting to discuss only a matter that is covered by one of the exceptions defined in section 10-5-1 of the New Mexico open meetings act under those limited circumstances the public body must give notice of the meeting to its members and to the public in accordance with its policy regarding notice of special meetings.”
“The purpose of those special meetings on October 8th, that meeting was (a) discussion of limited personnel matters pursuant to NMSA 1978 section 10-15-12 of the new Co-Open Meetings Act specifically for the board to discuss and prepare the superintendent's formative evaluation. The board met for only 20 minutes in executive session that evening. And then the second executive session was on October 29th. That was (a) discussion of limited personnel matters pursuant to NMSA 1978 section 10-5 -1 H2 of the New Mexico Open Meetings Act specifically for the board to discuss, prepare, and finalize the superintendent's formative evaluation and also so that the board can present to and discuss with the superintendent the superintendent's evaluation and goals for the next evaluation period. That meeting was 2 hours and 50 minutes and only the items listed were discussed and no action was taken.”
Superintend Lane Widner presented the Fall Tribal Consultation Plans involving the three tribes in GCCS, Navajo, Acoma Pueblo, and Laguna Pueblo. Widner reported that by Federal funding requirements the board meets with tribal leaders twice each year, in the fall and in the spring. They met with the Department of Dine’ Education on November 8th. Two representatives from the Pueblo of Acoma were also present at the meeting.
A second meeting with Acoma school representatives is scheduled for the near future to present further information on their Acoma students. A meeting with Laguna tribal leaders was held two weeks ago and another meeting is scheduled for next week.
There will be ongoing consultations with tribal officials. A relationship has been forged with the Dine’ Baca/Prewitt Chapter. GCCS is encouraged to make efforts to establish relations with Tohajiilee and Ramah Chapters.
There was a brief discussion regarding Pueblo tribal arrangements to keep everyone informed and up to date.
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to renew the I-Ready program for $71,261.00.
“A motion to approve a donation from tribal agriculture Fellowship for the National Association Agriculture Educators conference for Mr. Amador Gonzalez to attend in San Antonio Texas on December 3rd through the 7th 2024.”
“The donation is for up to the amount of $2,432.41 for flights, hotel, and conference registration.” The motion passed in a roll call vote.
Mr. Gonzalez made the following statement: “I am the agriculture teacher and FFA adviser at Grants High School and this donation is coming from the tribal Agricultural Fellowship which is a program that focuses on promoting agriculture and agricultural education and advancements in agriculture with youth and various individuals from Native American communities. Because I teach in a predominantly Native American location I have been selected by the organization to receive this donation to attend the National Association of Agricultural Educators Conference in San Antonio next month.
“This conference will allow me to attend various professional development workshops related to fundraising, classroom management, new innovations in agriculture as well as the opportunity to meet with individuals including the national adviser regarding the recent changes to career clusters.”
A meeting for Tuesday, November 19 was announced, and also that the district will be closed for the Thanksgiving break November 25th through 29th.