GRANTS -A planned out-of-state trip for Los Alamitos Middle School students was approved by the Grants/Cibola County School Board at its Feb. 17 meeting.

In late March, 45 students will travel to Flagstaff, Ariz., for a science and engineering competition at Northern Arizona University.

LAMS Principal Joan Gilmore and teacher Rosella Garcia told the board that the students will take advantage of the local Flagstaff area to increase their awareness and knowledge in the areas of math, science and engineering.

A trip to Lowell Observatory will feature “The Lives of Stars and Pluto Telescope Tour,” which will allow the visitors to see the 13-inch telescope used to discover Pluto.

During the visit to NAU for the competition, the students will hear an engineering presentation, a lecture on astronomy and rockets and take a green building tour, according to Garcia.

The competition will allow students to practice their problem solving skills and meet NAU faculty and students.

The middle school students will then head to the Grand Canyon to take advantage of a program titled “Dynamic Earth,” which will feature exploration of a fossil site and learn how scientists determine environments in the geologic past. Included in the program is a hands-on rock identification activity, examination of the colorful rock layers of the canyon and a quiet reflection activity on the rim.

On the way back to Grants, the groups will visit Meteor Crater for more geological education. The students are all members of the Math, Engineering and Science Achievement Club at the school.

Superintendent Kilino Marquez reported that Grants High School had been approached by Ford Motor Co. to participate in a fund raising test drive program. The car company would donate $20 to the school for every test drive up to $6,000.

Marquez expressed reservations about liabilities for the school district. “Would the test drive involve leaving the campus? Will it be available only to licensed drivers? What would our liabilities be?” he asked. The board advised obtaining more information on the offer.

Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Gloria Chavez announced that the district calendar had been approved in record time. “We worked with Head Start, St. Joseph's School, Sky City Community School, St. Teresa's Catholic School and the Laguna Schools to coordinate our calendars,” she said. “We have to consider early release days and the number of contract days.”

She pointed out that a student's school year is based on the number of minutes spent in the classroom, while staff's school year is based on 180 days of work.

Marquez noted that there may be a possible change coming from Santa Fe requiring 180 days of instruction. “We must always remember that we are part of the collective bargaining process with the unions,” he said.

The board honored outgoing member Mark Thompson by presenting him with a plaque, a cake and a stuffed tiger. Board President Dion Sandoval explained that he had given Thompson the nickname “Tiger” because of his passionate advocacy on behalf of the east side of the district.

Because Thompson has been name First Lt. Governor of the Pueblo of Acoma, he did not seek re-election in the recent school board election.

The next school board meeting will be held March 3 at 5:30 in the boardroom.

Los Alamitos Middle School will hold its winter concert on Feb. 24.

There will be an early release day on Feb. 23.