CIBOLA COUNTY - While most children are out and about enjoying their summer break, school officials are busy planning for the next school year.

One of the items discussed at the June 23 school board meeting was program offered. Board member Sharon MacKendrick first asked Assistant Superintendent Gloria Chavez if music at Bluewater and San Rafael was included on the list, “Yes,” said Chavez. “The principal does not know yet but there will be music at Bluewater and San Rafael.” With some cuts possibly having to be made for a variety of reasons, it was once discussed to remove music from the two schools. MacKendrick immediately objected to the 'no music' offering and advised school district administration to look elsewhere to save money.

During the program update Chavez informed board members that the school is able to order 500 new computers and that they were not necessarily replacements, but additional to what is currently functional. Despite the new computer update, Board Member William Estevan was still concerned on whether the school district had enough computers in each school. Chavez told Estevan that she felt with the 500 new computers, she felt there were enough computers in each school.

The district program issue was only discussed and was not an action item on the agenda.

Applications on consent agenda

The board went on to approve a consent agenda of four items: Title I American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Stimulus Application 2009-2010; State Bilingual Education Application 2009-2010; Title III Application, English Language Acquisition 2009-2010; and Consolidated Application 2009-2010.

Board Member Jerry Smith raised the issue of tribal involvement and equity during the process. Estevan responded by saying “we tried, but Acoma says no and Laguna says yes, or vice versa. They need to get on the same page and then we can move forward.”

Jerry Smith went on suggesting Superintendent Kilino Marquez to provide him with a checklist of what the schools need from the tribes.

Marquez said, “Bottom line is, if the tribes participate, the schools would benefit…they [the children] would love it,” and agreed to provide a checklist.

House Memorial 75

During the 2009 Legislature House Memorial 75 was approved and requested by the Indian Education Division. The memorial requested funds to be released for a study on the public education situation in the Ramah and Pine Hill area. The memorial requires a task force to be created by July 1. The Grants/Cibola County School District is required to place two members on the task force of 11 - three from IED, two from the governing body of Ramah, two from and appointed by the Gallup-McKinley County School Board, two from and appointed by G/CCS Board and two from and appointed by the Ramah Navajo School Board.

Smith recommended that Estevan represent the board and for Superintendent Marquez to select a G/CCS staff member to fulfill the two position obligated by the board.

The board went on to approve several budget adjustments suggested by Ann Marie Gallegos from Budget and Finance and the 2009-2010 School Calendar.

The next regular scheduled board meeting is on July 21 in the boardroom on Second Street in Grants. The district is closed on July 3 and 6 in observance of Independence Day.