By Margaret Hopper

The Cobre school board met at San Lorenzo Monday evening, March 9, with all five members present. The closed session began at 6:00 p.m. where president Toy Sepulveda said they discussed student identifiable information, food contracts, goals for the superintendent. No decisions were made there. The open session began about 7:25. First action was the swearing in of the reelected board members Frank Cordova and Sepulveda. Hector Grijalva, judge, performed the swearing and signed certificates for the district.

The reorganization of the board followed. All present officers were retained in their present positions; Frances Kelly remains board secretary, Frank Cordova is the vice president and Sepulveda returns as the board president. Another unfinished business topic was the Calvary Chapel request for use of facilities, which Sepulveda said they were to call back on, and lacking the contact, it was tabled again.

As the board approved the minutes of February 9, Linda Pafford, Mimbres, asked that additions be made to the record to show more information. She was asked to present this request in the public information portion, which followed next. The board went ahead and approved its present agenda and the past minutes.

When that part opened, Pafford again asked the board to offer more information on certain topics, such as her request that, rather than say she gave the board her concerns, the report should list those concerns, such as objections to PARCC Testing and other topics she had mentioned.

Michael Koury, principal of San Lorenzo, passed out a packet of information to board members, which he said included PARCC Test math problems for 5th graders, which were inconclusive and difficult to place in perspective. He spoke of many changes recently, time changes, first day of testing, and his efforts to give students opportunities to review math facts after they finished their meals in the gym/cafeteria. He described a practical problem he gave the kids for developing their thinking skills.

The board approved a $930 donation from ADEB Fierro which would go to Central Elementary in Santa Clara. A request for use of facilities was requested by Evening Light Tabernacle for a period in July, covering the 10th, 11th and 12th. Another request was by New Mexico Region Special Olympics for a track field at the high school on Saturday, April 25.

Superintendent Mendoza spoke about some student fundraisers and asked Chris Rottman of Snell about the fundraising efforts of Judy Morris' group for the California trip. Rottman told of their progress and noted that a few more businesses would be contacted for donations; one bus driver was offering his services and the bus trip to El Paso as his donation to the kids.

Mendoza asked that the next board meeting, March 23, be moved to March 30 to avoid a scheduling conflict. During spring break, April 6 to 10, students would be off, and the Central Office would also be closed on Friday, April 3. Because of PARCC Testing, the student representative had not been asked
to come to this meeting, as high school would start testing tomorrow. Students needed their rest.

Dora Simpson, a parent, read a letter addressed to the superintendent, administrators and school board from "concerned parents, teachers, taxpayers and students," scolding them for complying with the PARCC Test and asking them to stand against it and the state. Further, the letter asked for a written policy that would protect all students and parents from punishment or retaliation for opting out of the testing.

Next, the letter asked the district to send a letter to all parents explaining the PARCC and how its findings would be used, as well as answer how students with disabilities would be accommodated. Rottman of Snell was urged to write a letter to parents "clarifying exactly what he meant about the students' electives and activities if they opt out of testing." Another point asked that people write and call PED, the governor and legislators to stop the testing, give no penalties, make better choices, and help the group fight.

Frances Gonzales, who recently ran for a board position, addressed her letter to the superintendent and school board. She wrote of concerns that testing results would be sold to third parties. The letter stated that the superintendent and curriculum director should have informed the parents in writing about the test, implications for diplomas or certificates of completion, and have forms for opting out. While it might be a little late, they could still do it. She said she thought parents and students had the right to opt out and be free of any penalties. Regarding students with disabilities, and ELL students, there could be accommodation issues that could hold the district liable and culpable, she wrote.

Pafford added that she remembered other points in which the minutes were remiss, and cited regulation numbers the board should address in making better reports. Also, the February 9 student representative,
Hannah Burnette, had mentioned an attachment and it wasn't included on the minutes.

A mother addressed the board, saying her daughter who had opted out of testing said she was returned to the homeroom with nothing to do and had to just sit there. Another daughter complained about the food. Gilbert Guadiana said he had worked on the committee for next year's calendar. He said he had heard that 20 percent of the students' fundraisings were diverted elsewhere. That was denied; he said he was glad to hear it.

Juan Vivas, district director chef of Southwest Food Excellence, which creates menus and trains local staff, said he had come to Cobre from Arizona to work with the food staff and others. He was the main planner for Cobre and would work with the preparers to improve flavors. Since federal guidelines had not allowed salt in the food, he would look for ways to use spices and other helps to improve the taste. He was there to help students, too, if there was an opportunity to teach them about food.

The meeting closed about 8:20. The next meeting will be back at the District Office in Bayard.

After the meeting, Sepulveda offered a different position on what was appropriate for protest. He had a paper stating the consequences according to the Code of Conduct. It also mentioned federal and state law requirements of student and parental participation; they, and the schools, do not have the ability to opt out. The New Mexico Public Education Department had sent a reminder that "the law does not offer an exemption or a right of refusal to take the test."

According to Sepulveda, they will allow people to speak, and they will listen, but that doesn't mean the board or the school can do what pressure groups demand. Further, the PARCC is not an additional test. It replaces the Standards Based Assessment, (SBA) which all students took in the past. Sepulveda said these opinions and demands should be offered at state level, as those at local levels could not make the changes. They could only listen, and they did.

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