Bluewater school design moves forward
CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – The Grants/Cibola County School District board listened to reactions about hybrid instruction, the Bluewater Elementary School project update, and financial reports at the March 2 meeting.
Staff from one middle school and two elementary sites made presentations on the first week of hybrid instruction, which was implemented districtwide on Monday, Feb.22.
Principal Reyes Jaramillo, Los Alamitos Middle School in Grants, commented that students and staff were extremely excited to be back on campus for the first time in almost a year. Two LAMS teachers agreed and noted the positive remarks made by students.
Two teachers and the academic coach at Milan Elementary School each said students who were participating in the hybrid option seemed pleased to be back in the classroom setting.
The Mesa View Elementary in Grants provided the largest number of comments. The Pre-K teacher said, “It was an amazing week.”
Twelve of the 4- and 5-yearolds have remained in the virtual program and seven opted for inperson instruction explained the teacher.
Six students gave individual virtual reports. Each described their aspirations for the future, which included careers in law enforcement, wildlife protection, medicine, and social sciences, plus a description of the student council’s planned events.
Board Vice President Richard Jones thanked the schools for their presentations and said he was pleased to hear the positive reports which “support our decision to bring kids back into the classroom.”
Bluewater School
Vance Lee, G/CCSD facilities director, confirmed that the original plan focused on replacing the existing 22,879 square foot building with new construction of the same size. The state recommended a 14,000 square foot building because of declining enrollment. The current enrollment is 67, Pre-K through sixth grade.
Facilities Director Lee and Superintendent Max Perez were successful in negotiating approval for a larger structure, 18,171 square feet, designed to accommodate 100-120 students. The design committee plans to present their recommendations to the board in April. The district can begin advertising for bid proposals once the board approves the design, according to Lee.
The district’s 2017 Master Plan included replacing the aged Bluewater facility with new construction of equal size; the current proposal reduces the size by approximately 4,700 square feet.
Budget & Finance Update
Steve Maldonado, finance director, provided a detailed report on the recent audit, planning, and the process for reconciling accounts. The audit results are not available to the public until they are approved by the New Mexico Finance Authority, according to Maldonado. He pointed out that the district had reduced “fmdings” by 50 percent compared to the previous audit.
Important findings are determined from the audit process to ensure corrective actions are identified, implemented, and verified. Insignificant audit findings may simply need to be corrected by the auditee or another function in the organization. It doesn’t mean that these insignificant audit findings are forgotten, according to www.theauditoronline.com maj or-vs-minor-audit.
Director Maldonado highlighted data from specific funds including Operational, Transportation, Bond Building and Outstanding Bond Liabilities, Cash Balances and COVID-related federal funding. Cash balances for bond debt, TBK Bank, and Wells Fargo Bank totaled $21,675,323.
Outstanding liabilities (debt service) for the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2020 bonds totaled $12,280,000 as of March 1.
Maldonado concluded by identifying future financial challenges for the district such as the declining revenues paid to the state by the gas and oil industry, inconsistent guidance from the state Public Education Department, and other items that affect school districts such as Impact Aid legislation and the long-range effects of the Yazzie-Martinez lawsuit.
Next meeting
Tuesday, March 16, board teleconferencing meeting, 5:30 p.m.
Holidays
• March 22-26—Spring Break
• Friday, April 2 - District closed
Visit https://www.gccs.k12.nm.us/ or call 505-287-2603 for more information.