Honoring NMSBA winners
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Max Perez G/CCSD Superintendent
CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – The May 4 Grants/Cibola County School District meeting focused on fiscal planning, the Bluewater Elementary School project, and recognizing community members’ outstanding contributions.
Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget proposal
District Business and Finance Director Steve Maldonado utilized a PowerPoint presentation to illustrate details of the Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget.
The board unanimously approved the proposed $78,835,812 budget. Finance Director Maldonado submitted the document to the New Mexico Public Education Department on May 5.
His additional presentation focused on budgetary items for each of the district’s 11 campuses (elementary, middle schools, and high schools). He pointed out that staffing changes, predicting shifts in enrollment, and physical conditions of individual buildings affect the district’s budgetary decisions for each facility.
Amending Perez’ contract
The board entered into executive session for approximately 30 minutes to discuss personnel issues including amending and extending the contract for Superintendent Max Perez.
President Ron Ortiz asked for a motion and the five-member board unanimously approved extending Perez’ contract by one year and “a 1.5 raise” with a July 1 start date after returning to Open Session.
The board also unanimously approved the 2021-23 Collective Bargaining Agreement after returning from closed session.
Bluewater School
The plan for the Bluewater Elementary School, which was presented by FTB Architects (Fanning Bard Tatum), Albuquerque, includes an August construction start date for the 22,959 square-foot facility; projected completion is slated for July 2022. The goal is to have students and staff in the new facility by the start of the 2022-23 school year.
The existing buildings are scheduled for demolition following completion of the new complex. The collaborative endeavor by the Bluewater building committee and architects produced the schematic design for the 15-acre site that features a main entrance on Center Avenue.
The FTB architect enumerated some of the changes that were incorporated following the April 6 presentation to the G/CCSD board. He highlighted the addition of perimeter fencing along with security gates, a booster tank to supply water for fire suppression, and the soccer field will utilize artificial turf.
Board members had a few questions and offered some suggestions. Member Emily Hunt-Dailey asked about adequate spacing for students in classrooms and if the plans incorporated the COVID safety regulations. The architect responded that the 750-square-foot classrooms are designed for 20- 25 students and comply with pandemic health standards.
Member Dr. Guy Archambeau expressed concern about the lack of natural lighting in hallways. The design incorporates extensive windows in most interior spaces and the gym has four large windows on the northside. The hallway ceilings are reserved for infrastructure such as electrical conduits, et cetera explained the architect. The new school will incorporate pitched rooflines along with some areas of relatively flat roofing, which will slow the movement of water and snow from the pitched roofs and protect walkways and the main entrance from wintry accumulations.
The project is on schedule and the architect predicted that construction documents will be finalized in early July.
Honoring NMSBA winners
Superintendent Perez announced the district’s recipients of the 2021 NMSBA Student Achievement Award. The New Mexico School Board Association honored 219 recipients who represent 58 of the state’s 89 school districts.
This year’s awards include six Cibola County community members: Francie Lee who volunteers at Milan Elementary School, April Cash who is a parent volunteer and has assisted at the district office when it was short-staffed, Linda Sanchez who serves as Los Alamitos Middle School Student Success Advisor, Shaun Ray, Pueblo of Laguna council member who facilitates collaborative efforts between G/CCSD and the Pueblo, Jackie Sanchez who serves as principal for Laguna-Acoma Middle and High School, and Dr. Melissa Riley, Pueblo of Acoma Department of Education, who facilitates collaboration between G/CCSD and the Pueblo. The recipients used telecommunications to join the May 4 meeting and expressed their appreciation for the recognition, which includes a plaque.
Upcoming events and meetings
• Tuesday, May 18, board teleconferencing meeting, 5:30 p.m.
• Friday, May 21, Grants High School graduation, 5 p.m.
• Saturday, May 22, Laguna-Acoma High School graduation, 6 p.m.
• May 26, end of Spring Semester
Visit https://www.gccs.k12.nm.us/home or call 505-285-2603 for more information.