By Margaret Hopper

Cobre school board met Monday evening, September 14, at Hurley Elementary. The board met in closed session at 6:04 where, according to Toy Sepulveda, board president, they discussed student identifiable information, limited personnel and the superintendent's evaluation. No decisions were made in that meeting.

In the public session which began at 7:00 p.m., four members were present: Frank Gomez, Frances Kelly, Frank Cordova and Sepulveda. Robert Montoya was absent. While there was unfinished business scheduled, the board agreed to let the children go first with the Spanish language lesson which Marcela Shepard demonstrated, using a variety of students from first through sixth grades, showing different aspects of instruction at differing grade levels. The plan was to get them finished quickly, so they could go home and get some sleep for tomorrow.

Dr. Jose Carrillo's report on the New Mexico Assessment Inventory was the unfinished business. He named all the tests the school was using at various levels and in different subjects. The key was the report's recommendations. Robert Mendoza, superintendent, said he wanted the community to know that the school's options were limited by all the mandates regarding assessments, but that the district was looking at available ways to reduce the testing, and he hoped other districts would do the same.

Carrillo finished saying the state had emailed back that it had received this inventory and it had promised to get back to Cobre with its recommendations. When those returned, they would be given to the board for consideration.

In the public input period, Linda Pafford said the minutes were still not online by 5:00 p.m. today. and she also requested that the draft minutes be posted, too. The board and Mendoza said the site was being worked on since Friday and many changes were being made. It should be back up soon.

Rita Garcia with the federal parks service introduced a program, the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Centennial Anniversary 4th Grade Class Program, saying the Gila group wanted to do more community outreach than it had in the past. Her group wanted to adopt the grade four classes at Cobre and other schools in the district; this was also a presidential mandate.

Across the nation, fourth grade classes were the ones selected to carry the program, as they were of an age to learn concepts and ideas, and so many children still had not visited a major site. These children would be able to access the Internet, answer some questions, be given a pass or ticket which their families could use, and be introduced to the parks system. Those annual passes were worth $80.00. She said the program would give 4th graders, teachers and chaperones free transportation and lunch on the visit.

Mendoza commented that the road was difficult; a bus trip or even vans could be a concern. He smilingly suggested they move the Cliff Dwellings closer to Lake Roberts. Garcia countered that every van driver was well trained in defensive driving, a park service employee who drove the route daily, and the vans were new. They all wanted the kids to be safe. Later, Garcia asked permission to contact Cobre's 4th grade teachers to pursue the program's objective of getting the kids out to the site, to have a physical experience of the Dwellings. Mendoza gave that, carefully.

Item C on the administrative list was the donation of a BOXi T-200 Mobil Projector valued at $437.67 for Hurley Elementary from DonorsChoose.org. Principal Margaret Kessler noted that Marcela Shepard, the language teacher, had found this online, received it, and had used it in the demonstration with the kids earlier tonight. The board voted to accept it.

A second donation for Hurley Elementary was for 15 trees, valued at $750, from the Grant County Community Health Council. Kessler said there would be help and advice on planting, and there were fruit trees involved. The board approved that, as well.

Items E and F concerned the High School GRAD Program; one action to continue the program, the other to consider an $8000 grant for its continuance for the year. The funds were for parents/teens to help them reach graduation. Brian Miller was the GRADS teacher/coordinator in the past. The board voted to continue the program and accept the grant money.

That done, Mendoza asked the board to approve a BAR (budget adjustment request) to receive that funding into the budget for the program. It was approved.

On the superintendent evaluation topic, Mendoza mentioned the District Advisory Council (DAC) and introduced Brianna Martinez, a new member. Jose Rubio, senior student representative, was taking a Monday night class at WNMU to gain an associate's degree as a medic's assistant in a program by May. In his place, Hannah Burnette, a junior, attended and reported.

In the superintendent's report, Mendoza said he had approved a number of fundraisers that he had listed and was informing the board. The list was long, and he offered to explain any questions if the board had them. He gave the board their training report and information on the Region VIII meeting of the schools in their area that would be come for the fall meeting there at Cobre. Animas, Reserve, Deming, Lordsburg, and Silver would all be attending. He also gave the board the four elementary school calendars for their use.

This is Homecoming week, and he said the high school was preparing. On campus today, the young men were wearing bow ties and the kids were “dressed for success” and looked great. Tomorrow would be dressing by the decades; as some groups for the sixties, seventies, etc. On Wednesday, colors day, the freshmen would dress in white, sophomores in green, juniors in red, and seniors, black.

Thursday, they would paint the C on the mountain, and there would be a powder puff game at 7:00. Friday there would be early release and a homecoming parade at 2:00. The Tularosa game would be at 7:00. The dance would be at 8:00 Saturday to finish the week.

Hannah's report was about discussions the kids had on the amount of testing they were taking and recommendations regarding that; the Friday advisory classes, and how the schedule will change on Fridays; and, if the school were remodeled now, it wouldn't be as big as what they presently have.

In the second public input period, Frank Costales, a Central Elementary resident, informed the board of the shameful growth of weeds at school, the handle on the flag pole that wouldn't work, and of a single, distant gate on the playing field that was discouraging to kid usage. Lack of money didn't answer it. He insisted action be taken.

Robert Tovar, a veteran and parent also of a Central student, said he would offer a very ecological solution to the weed problem; he would put goats in that area to eat the weeds and fertilize it at the same time. No pesticides or chemicals—a very natural solution for weeds, brush, allergy-producing plants, getting rid of insects. To show his seriousness, he had prepared a contract and the conditions for their consideration and hoped they would use it.

At the next meeting, Mendoza said there would be a number of BARs and business topics. The meeting adjourned at 8:20.