The Grants Cibola County School Board held a meeting on the 20th, which went on for over 2 hours. In this meeting the general obligation bonds, school budget, and Grants FFA were discussed.
General Obligation Bonds & School Budget
According to Carissa Stone, the district sold $5,000,000 of General obligation bonds with the New Mexico finance authority.
Issue Size: $5,000,000 Pricing Date 4/28/2025 Closing Date 5/23/2025. Once it is closed, the district is able to spend the funds on authorized projects.
Maturity 2025 - 2038 Optional Call Date 5/23/2035 at Par True Interest Cost 3.072% Total Interest $686,348.83 Total Debt Service $5,686,348.83
The district received $500,000 of disadvantage funding at 2.000%.
Cooper Jones explained that staffing and positions is the largest majority of the school’s budget. The district is exceeding their numbers by nearly $2,000. Additionally, within this school year, it is estimated that 60 to 70 students have left the school, most of them for online schooling, which became increasingly popular since Covid.
Grants FFA
Three weeks ago, during the FFA banquet, Grants FFA was presented with a check of $1,100. This donation, from Sam and Marita Wilson, two 1979 GHS FFA graduates who had their FFA time cut short, causing them to want to find a way to give back to FFA, collected money from their former classmates at their class reunion in 2024, with the intention to give it to Grants FFA. This money will be used to fund the FFA’s trip to the State FFA Convention, which the board approved.
Grants High School FFA have state level competitors and win awards. Several of its members graduated this year. GCCS President Francie Lee said “Keep representing us well. You all have done an amazing job. Congratulations to seniors, we’ll miss seeing you here next year but know you are onto good things.”
Karisa Cook, a member of Grants FFA, explained what it takes. One must be a member for two or more years, with 24 hours of community service, leadership abilities, giving a six minute speech, and more.
Monica Luise, a State FFA creed and National FFA creed in Spanish qualifier will be competing this week in English. Per the board’s request, she presented the FFA creed: “I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds; I believe in the future of a strong agricultural industry, for the nation and the world, and believe in a way of life that can be maintained in the face of adversity and challenge.
I believe that agriculture offers opportunities for leadership and service to others, and that these opportunities sswill help me to be a good citizen.
I believe that agriculture is the backbone of our nation, and that it provides the foundation for a healthy and prosperous society.
I believe in the power of the FFA organization, and the positive impact it can have on students, and the agricultural industry.
I believe that our agricultural industry can be a model of innovation, and that it can help to solve some of the world's most pressing problems.
I believe in the future of a more sustainable, and just world.
I believe in my own ability to make a positive contribution to the world.
I believe in the value of hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
I believe in the power of our agricultural industry to make the world a better place.”
Superintendent Lane Widner asked “Have there been moments as an FFA member that you have felt discouraged and how did you overcome those moments?”
She replied “There’s been moments when I feel like I don’t want to do something because I don’t feel like I have the capability to do [it]. But FFA has shown me that these skills will help me in the future. This is something good for me. It will help me improve and by going to these events and by doing all this stuff it will help me in the future to be ready for whatever I do.”