Photos and article by Margaret Hopper

The Cobre school board directors came out of their closed meeting at 7:10 where they had discussed limited personnel, student identifiable information and a transfer of land. They began the public portion almost immediately, with all members present, Gilbert Holguin, Gabriel Guadiana, Frank Gomez, Frank Cordova and Toy Sepulveda, board president.

Moving an item to the top, Michael Alcorta and Bobby Marquez, shown at right, two former Cobre students, were introduced by George Peru. He reported that they and their social service group from WNMU had received a $1,500 grant from Freeport McMoRan and were donating that to the school for the hearing impaired. Many at the meeting remembered them as students and the applause was rousing.

Regina Gaysina, at left, of Albuquerque represented RBC Capital Markets, LLC, to help the board look at options on extending $5,000,000 or $7,000,000, amounts needed to update its bond financing. She presented the plans, showing the time effects, the interest rates, and how they would be positioned in the next few years to match present funding needs without increasing the taxes patrons would pay.

After much discussion, the board voted to approve a Resolution Authorizing and Directing Special School Election Procedures to secure Option One and $7.000,000 in funding to finish off some work needed on the buildings at Bayard and Santa Clara, as well as some lesser projects. The vote was a split of Cordova, Gomez, Holguin and Sepulveda approving the action and Guadiana voting against it. That same pattern continued on the vote to Authorize and Direct Special School Election Procedures to enact the change, as well as to approve working with RBC to help Cobre meet all the necessary conditions to make the election happen.

The agenda noted Second and Third readings of amendments to the Healthy Kids, Healthy Community policy work; Robert Mendoza, superintendent, asked that those be waived and go to the vote. Sepulveda explained that the policy was already in effect and these readings were on minor and procedural amendments to the policy, which should not affect the policy, itself. They were approved.

Alicia Edwards was back to finalize the Healthy Kids Healthy Communities work of getting the policies organized and into place to meet the PED mandates for the district. The local HKHC person, Vicki Smith, was not present, but she will get a copy of this finished work in the future, said Mendoza. The final work was approved by the board.

The board approved a Fine Arts Education Act application for the district, in the amount of $150,346.17. The application of the Title II amount of $22,504 was approved, along with the IDEA-B application for $362,766 and the Pre-school application for $14,113. The art teacher, Leslie Crumbley, spoke at a later time, saying she worked with up to 663 students in the K-6 grades during the year. She spoke of additional projects and conditions to do this.

The 2017-2018 Student Handbooks for Cobre High, Snell Middle and the Elementary schools were approved by the board, individually. The 2017-2018 Athletic/Activity Policy Handbook also was approved. The 2017-2018 Budget was also on the agenda, but Mendoza asked that it be tabled to the July 10 board meeting; they voted to do this.

The Copper Little League requested a use of facilities. George Peru said it was for hosting the boys’ portion, the All-Stars, during June 23 to June 27. Rominger Field and the Softball Field would be used in the tournament. The vote approved that use.

There was discussion on a plan to lease to Grant County the District’s San Juan Land, located along State Highway 61, for a term of 25 years for a nominal fee for the County’s use as a possible fire station or similar County government facility. Mendoza said what was needed was permission that authorized the Superintendent to negotiate with the County. Legal Counsel would be involved on both sides.

If a lease agreement followed, the board would again have the final vote on whether to approve it, and the resolution, or not. The present vote allowed negotiations to begin with county directors and members of the fire department, according to Mendoza. The board voted for that.

Under the superintendent’s report, Mendoza said he wanted to recognize the work of Dr. Walker and Dr. Carrillo, who wrote the Reads to Lead grant application. That award for Cobre was $521,149.86, the largest in the state. Cobre children were given an excellent opportunity through their efforts, he said. The next largest award was for about $300,000.

The first day of K-3Plus classes would be June 26 for staff. The students would come on June 27. The official beginning of the new 4-Day program would begin on July 1. The fundraiser information was also in that report for board use. Mendoza wrapped up the information and added that the next board meeting would be July 10, at the Administrative Offices. The board adjourned at 8:15.