GRANTS, N.M. - The GCCS district has implemented a monthly data review process with its safety committee to track and compare safety incidents reported at the Grants/Cibola County School board Meetings.
According to Amanda Gallegos-Ortiz, HR quality assurance, security, Title IX, between August 10, 2026 and September 10, 2026, there were 320 incidents district-wide, with 142 resulting in disciplinary actions and 83 classified as major incidents. The primary concerns included fighting, defiance, disrespect, disruptive behavior, inappropriate language, and possession of vape. Notably, 23 students had repeat incidents, contributing to 55 of those records.
Gallegos-Ortiz expressed commitment to addressing these repeat offenders to prevent longterm suspensions, saying, “That area is where we want to try to concentrate… to see what we could do to help them so they’re not becoming repeat offenders consistently throughout the school year.”
Larry Chavez, director of student support, shared optimism about the impact of restorative practices, saying, “Hopefully as we continue to implement restorative practices, we’ll start to see these disciplinary records decrease.” The district is reportedly adopting a consistent “student discipline matrix” across all school sites and is focusing on restorative practices for younger students from Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Chavez also mentioned that vector training is being provided to address issues like suicide prevention and drug use.
To further enhance safety, the district is conducting surveys to gather input on bullying prevention and has law enforcement present at schools. Vape detectors have been installed in all restrooms, leading to a decrease in vape detection in these areas. Security measures include metal detecting wands for student searches when necessary.
Emergency preparedness remains a priority, with Gallegos-Ortiz noting, “we continue to do drills across our school sites. That is going very well.” The focus is on improving classroom lockdown readiness, ensuring emergency equipment is available, and enhancing substitute teachers’ knowledge of these protocols. A raid panic button system is also in place for incidents, including false alarms.
Gallegos-Ortiz said, “Our overall focus [is]… prevention, consistency, preparedness, and partnership with our law enforcement agencies.”
Upcoming
September 28 - October 3: Grants High School Homecoming Week September 28 - October 1: Laguna Acoma High School Homecoming Week September 29: NMSBA Region IV Meeting, Socorro October 6: GCCS School Board Work Session.