Community Schools Are Concerned About Their Survival

SAN RAFAEL, NM—Concern regarding funding and its impact on the schools of smaller communities has been expressed by some at the administrative level of the smaller schools. New Mexico is one of 35 states with a student-based funding model. Districts receive a base amount of funding per student with additional money or weights added to provide additional services and support to students with unique needs. (K-12 Funding 2024 - Education Commission of the States (ecs.org) ) Smaller communities have difficulty increasing their student body, which in turn, affects the funding for their programs. It also causes them to lose their staff, which also affects classroom instruction.

Ms. Beth Armstead, third year counselor at San Rafael and Bluewater Elementary Schools is one of those who loves her small community school and has concerns for its survival.

Armstead has lived in the San Rafael area for 26 years and shared, “The schools in San Rafael and Bluewater (and likely Seboyeta) are an integral part of the villages' history, families, and culture of our village. Often, we have many parents and grandparents who share that they attended these schools; Bluewater has class pictures displayed in our main hallway and San Rafael has mosaic tiles that many come by and say they created.”

Armistead shared that in the past the student body enrollment at San Rafael Elementary School had been greater, 200. Today there are 52 students, and Bluewater Elementary School has a student body of 66.

“There is a formula for the state, how they fund schools, and it is all based upon how many students you have. If some the funding is low, you're at risk of losing teachers,” Armistead said. That Is the present situation in these smaller schools that are no less important to their communities.

“A lot of our pandemic money is disappearing, and I think they're (district officials) just getting stricter now about following the recommended ratio for school, so you get extra funding,” Armstead added, “The operations money has to be used to hire teachers, staff, and we get a limited amount. I think that's why there's other pockets of money, but it's not to pay salaries,” Armstead concluded.

Are there opportunities in San Rafael for the students to further their education? Academically, the schools are doing well. They have the envied advantage of smaller classes, and a smaller number of students overall. This makes it possible for the teachers to give individual attention to their students. Still, the budget to pay for the smaller classes is becoming strained.

Bluewater Elementary School is a Blue Ribbon School. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Every year the U. S. Department of Education seeks out and celebrates great American schools, schools demonstrating that all students can achieve to high levels. Blue Ribbon Schools Program (ed.gov) ) The smaller schools address their financial situation partly by arranging students in combo classes. That means two grade levels mixed in one classroom under the same teacher. That is a problem, teachers will tell you, “I have to plan two curriculums, one for my kindergarten, one for my first grade,” etc.

“When we have two classes, it takes more time. The teachers don't get paid more, but the district’s view is that we have less students, too. The dedicated, good teachers are planning their curriculum based upon the grade level. Their music and art teacher goes back and forth from Cubero and Seboyeta,” explained Armstead.

“It is not unusual for any school, across the country, to have combination classes,” said Steve Maldonado, Grants Cibola County Schools Director of Business and Finance.

“Some people think that if we get a new school, that'll bring more students here, but that's not always true,” according to Ms. Armstead. “Also, some parents have chosen to take their students to other schools. Parents who live out in San Rafael, for instance, may choose to take their students into town, maybe because it's on their way to work.”

Director Maldonado gave information that may alleviate the concerns of the community schools. The budget is based on the overall district, not individual schools. The district must update the District Master Plan for all facilities every 5 years. This plan is reviewed by the Public Schools Capital Outlay Committee which then determines which buildings need to be updated based on its age, population using the facility, enrollment, and a few other criteria.

Currently, three schools are affected. Bluewater Elementary School is being renovated and will be ready for the 2024-2025 school year in August. Mesa View Elementary School recently broke ground on their new facility, and Mount Taylor Elementary School is next in ranking. A request for a proposal for architectural and design services for Mesa View will be made in July and then reviewed by the PSCOC.

When a school is ranked high in needing renovation and is chosen for improvements by the district, the cost is shared by the district and the state. The state assumes 74% of renovation costs and the district is budgeted for 26%. If a school ranks low in the assessment, but the district still decides that it needs updating, the district assumes 100% of the cost.

Jodi McGinnis, Porter of the office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, offered this statement regarding the funding issue: “This year the Legislature appropriated $59 million allocated in the State Equalization Guarantee to support community schools like those in Grants. This funding is intended to sustain programs, retain staff, and engage communities effectively. It empowers districts to leverage resources, strengthen partnerships, and provide comprehensive support for students' academic and social-emotional growth. By blending funds, districts maximize resources, ensuring the long-term success of these vital educational institutions.”

“I just want people in San Rafael and the rural areas to realize if they really want an elementary school close to their child, they need to help us by getting more students to attend here so we can get better funding and keep our teachers, and have appropriate classes provided for our students.”

Would fundraisers, like bake sales or something similar, be of help to the situation?

“The schools have not held any big sales after Covid,” added Armstead. “Saint Teresa of Avila, a Catholic school, is doing well, and I know they do fundraisers. Maybe we need to learn something from them because there's about a hundred students there. Maybe there's something else we can be doing.”

Novella Crowther is the San Rafael Elementary School Secretary and a resident of the Bluewater community.

“For the 2024-25 school year the principal and I both feel we're going to have an influx of students in our school. We had three last year in kindergarten that started the year. People do move in and out of Grants, and we've had three new students come in just this past month,” said Crowther.

“Most of San Rafael’s students live locally. The three new students also just moved into the area, so they're all in San Rafael. We have a few that are from the Grants area, or even Milan,” she added.

“The attraction to San Rafael for the families is less people in the classroom, so it gives more of an opportunity for that one-on-one instruction. “The students need attention,” she said.

Crowther, who retired from the medical field 40 years ago added, “Right now, we’ve never had more than 63 (students). I know when a couple of my children were coming here, they had almost double that,” she added.

Secretary Crowther shared that school officials discovered the reason why parents are taking their students to other schools; “They’re shopping around for the best education. A new school is an attraction for families also. Let a new school open up and you're going to get an influx of probably 25%.”

According to Maldonado, smaller community schools have the same operation costs as the larger or newer schools. A school, though newer, but with a larger student body, according to the economy of scale spends the same on each student, but there are more students. According to the budget, a larger school has approximately $9,000 to spend per student. The operation costs for the community schools are, on the scale, $26,632 per student for Seboyeta Elementary School, $20,383 per student at San Rafael, and at Bluewater $19,107.

“It is a mistake to believe they are in danger of closing based on cost levels,” stated the Director. “We don’t allocate a certain amount per student. We budget the cost per student. Schools with higher volume cost more to operate. We supply all schools with materials, all teachers receive the same pay, students receive a free lunch, and soon they will have a dinner before going home. All schools have a principal, counselors, a custodian, cook, secretary, nurse, and special education therapists.” The schools all receive the same services, but the funding is spread over more, or fewer students.

Some parents feel that a newer school has educational advantages, but “the proof is in the pudding,” Crowther added.

“If you look at the stats, our sister school, which is Bluewater Elementary, and here are two of the highest in ranking within the district. And I think that's because of our low attendance because there is that one-on-one attention,” said the secretary. “Also, there's a different type of discipline than in a larger school, because things are noticed more readily.”

It is understood that the state funding schools receive is geared to how many children are in the school. “In any given school, none of us get the same amount,” Crowther continued. “The funding is geared per student, per individual school, and it's not a lot. But then, we kind of complicate matters too. With our kids, their breakfast and lunches are no charge, so that's a benefit for the families in the community. We also, being realistic, know that our attendance has to come up a little more before they'll consider that (more funding).”

Regarding building a new San Rafael Elementary School Crowther said, “I get sentimental about buildings, I would rather fix it then raise it.”

“At this time, San Rafael Elementary School has a lower ranking and is not funded for renovation,” said Maldonado.

In a written statement, Francis Lee, President of the Board of Education, offered this comment: Subject: Update on Funding for Our Grants Cibola County Schools: Thank you for your inquiry regarding the outlook for funding for small community schools, particularly for our Grants Cibola County Schools, in the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. As the president of the school board, I understand the paramount importance of ensuring stable resources for all our educational institutions, especially those serving rural areas. GCCS is certainly a district that serves our rural communities. We recognize the critical role these schools play in our community, providing quality education and fostering a strong sense of belonging among students and families.

I am delighted to share that our Grants Cibola County Schools are securely funded for the 2024-2025 school year. Through strategic planning, budget allocation, and ongoing advocacy efforts, we have ensured that our schools have the necessary resources to continue providing excellent educational opportunities for our students. We certainly may thank our district’s superintendent and administrative leaders. They have done an excellent job of getting the district into secure financial operating status and funding for the 2024-2025 school year. The board and the administrative leadership have worked hard to ensure the GCCS District continues to plan the resources to fund the necessary programs and facilities to provide for our students.

While the future funding landscape may pose challenges, rest assured that our commitment to supporting our Grants Cibola County Schools remains unwavering. We will continue to actively engage with state and local authorities, advocate for equitable funding, and explore every option to sustain our schools for the long term.

In conclusion, I am confident in the security of funding for our Grants Cibola County Schools for the 2024-2025 school year. With our community’s continued support and dedication to our schools, we can navigate any challenges that may arise and ensure a bright future for our students.