GRANTS, N.M. – The Grants/Cibola County School District board held their second meeting of the month, which included updates on returning students to classrooms.
Academic Director E. Renee Sanchez reported that G/CCSD implemented an interview-style process for surveying families prior to making any re-entry decisions. She explained that every principal had set up a system to contact each parent by phone.
“The goal is to contact 100 percent of our families to get a picture of what every school and every grade level looks like after the survey results are complete,” said the academic director.
She added that 70.7 percent of families had been contacted as of Sept. 15.
Fifty-five percent of parents/guardians said they would feel comfortable having their children return to classes on the 50/50 model, which includes half time in the school building and half-time utilizing distance learning. Fortyfive percent said they were uncomfortable with the 50/50 re-entry option.
Superintendent Max Perez commented that the district can bring Pre-K through sixth grade students back as part of the 50-percent plan; he stressed that parents/guardians always have the option to continue distance-learning no matter what the district decides about re-entry. Secondary level students will not be able to participate in the 50- percent plan until G/CCSD receives approval from state officials, according to the superintendent.
The academic progress report noted that all secondary students have received devices for distance learning, third through sixth graders have been assigned devices, and the district has distributed more than 250 Jetpacks to families who do not have reliable internet service. Statistics indicated a 15-19 percent absentee rate; the data was incomplete because some households lack internet connectivity, according to district staff.
Director Sanchez added that the district is developing graduation support systems for seniors and any students needing credit recovery services.
Impact Aid funding
The legal issues between the U.S. Department of Education and the New Mexico Department of Public Education about how federal Impact Aid monies are allotted has resulted in the NMPED claiming that the new funding formula is contrary to the Public Schools Finance Act.
The NMPED has asked for reconsideration of the Fiscal Year 2020 Impact Aid as part of the determination for FY 2021 funding.
The legal process to resolve the Impact Aid issue between the federal Department of Education and NMPED is continuing, according to G/CCDS officials.
NMSU-Grants
Dr. Mickey Best, former NMSU-Grants Branch president, explained that changes resulting from the pandemic include elimination of the campus president position.
Dr. Ken Van Winkle, who had previously served as NMSU-Alamogordo campus president, has accepted oversight of three campuses, including NMSU-Grants, for the current academic year.
Early graduation request
Lane Widner, Grants High School principal, said Brianna Darby is an excellent student who needs 11 credits to complete her high school education. Darby is planning a career as a veterinarian and hopes to specialize in equine medicine. The board unanimously approved Darby’s application for early graduation.
Board President Dr. Guy Archambeau, members Dion Sandoval and Richard Jones, 15 department directors, and a large audience participated via electronic communications. Vice President Emily Hunt-Dailey, Secretary Ron Ortiz, Superintendent Perez, and two other staff were present in the boardroom for the Sept. 15 meeting.
(The board held their first meeting for October last night, Tuesday.)
Upcoming meeting
• Tuesday, Oct. 20, boardroom, district office, 413 Roosevelt Ave., Grants, 5:30 p.m.
(The G/CCSD board meets the first and third Tuesday of each month. Agendas are posted on the district website under the Board of Education tab.)
Visit gccs.k12.nm.us or call 505-285-2603 for more information.