GRANTS, N.M. — The Grants/Cibola County School District board approved Superintendent Max Perez’ recommendation for the construction of secure entry vestibules at four district elementary schools: Cubero, Mesa View, Milan and Mt. Taylor.
Financial Update
Chief Financial Officer Steve Maldonado reported that a team of four from Manning Accounting and Consulting Services, LLC, Kirtland, New Mexico, spent a week onsite and continues to work towards completing the G/CCSD audit, which is due Nov. 15. The total budget for the 2019-20 school year was $72,141,341; the operating budget was $41,204,791.
The total budget for School Year 2020-21 was $71,688,054; the operating budget was $39,741,258.
The operating budget [data] is used from the State Equalization Guarantee, 90 percent of this operating budget goes towards salaries, according to the CFO.
He acknowledged that the audit results will be published in mid-December.
Cash-in deposits have resulted in $10,956,552 since the beginning of the academic year; cash-out deposits resulted in $12,419,299 and $8,108,460 went towards expenditures and payroll. The district applied $4,310,839 to encumbrances.
The pandemic means the cash-out column is higher than the cash-in category. Student enrollment has dropped; the New Mexico Association of Superintendents has been pushing for a “hold harmless” designation for G/CCSD for any amount lost because of the lower student enrollment numbers. District officials have proposed using the numbers from last year as a base for the holdharmless status until 2023.
“This would make a significant difference in the District’s funding for the next two years,” added Maldonado.
District thanks Pueblo of Acoma
Superintendent Perez recognized the Pueblo of Acoma and the leadership of Dr. Melissa Riley,
Acoma Department of Education, for their support which included supplying 25 Jetpacks to Acoma students during a time when the delivery of the district’s order for the wireless Internet connection equipment was delayed. Superintendent Perez also expressed his appreciation for the efforts by Acoma staff in training to proctor the SAT exams.
“This ensures that our students are able to take the SAT test without leaving the Pueblo lands,” explained the superintendent.
Superintendent report
Superintendent Perez presented a spreadsheet for each school that showed enrollment, number of students in class and those who are working remotely via technology, and students who are taking the bus. There are 80 students districtwide currently registered to ride the bus. District officials have scheduled school inspections by the fire marshal to ensure that each building meets safety standards.
Indoor air quality
Superintendent Perez reported at the Oct. 20 meeting that district employees have been installing MERV 8 filters in all the schools.
The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values system designates an 8 as an air filter that efficiently traps most indoor particulates that could debilitate those with asthma and allergies, or even cause longterm respiratory problems. The highest-ranking filters, MERV 13 to 16, are effective at controlling airborne bacteria, most tobacco smoke and pollutants released through sneezing. Applications include general surgery suites, smoking lounges, and commercial buildings with superior HVAC systems.
The National Air Filtration Association categorized MERV rankings from one to 16; filter efficiency increases as the MERV number rises. Filters are tested against 12 size ranges of particles, with the smallest at approximately 0.3 micrometers, and the largest around 10 micrometers.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers created the MERV system in 1987 as part of the update to their filter testing standard that was initially published in 1968. The ratings are based on filter efficiency in trapping common airborne pollutants within specific size ranges, according to https://cleanair.camfil.us/
Upcoming meetings
The G/CCSD board meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Agendas and electronic meeting access 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.