By Margaret Hopper

The December 12 school board meeting for Cobre Consolidated District had been planned to meet at San Lorenzo, but was moved to meet at the Administration Office in Bayard, perhaps because of weather conditions potential. The board entered executive session at 6 p.m. and returned to open session at 7 p.m., with the report that they had discussed personnel issues and litigation, but that no decisions had been made.

Board President Frank Cordova said they would be creating a new sign-in sheet that asked for additional information and that would allow the board to group similar topics together and perhaps impose reasonable time limits to a given topic. The public could expect a different format in the future. He repeated that anyone who wanted to speak at the public input times should be registered on that form, and at the first input session, the topics should address materials on the agenda.

Because one use-of-facilities request had been tabled at the November 28 meeting, the agenda was amended to include the topic on the 12th.

Dora Simpson, program facilitator for the Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities nonprofit organization, asked permission to run a nutrition survey with students in the fourth, seventh and ninth grades, and to meet with the food services director. Simpson said food service directors of other schools had met with similar HKHC groups, but the one in Cobre had not chosen to do so, and the volunteer group hoped she would attend some of their Thursday meetings in the future.

The targeted grades were chosen to allow follow-through over longer time periods, and the survey asked about student preferences for meals being served and comments on what changes they would like. They had had many responses from students and parents and hoped their efforts would be considered helpful. Cordova suggested that Corina Castillo, student representative to the board, help with the ninth grade survey. Corina was given a copy of the survey and other materials.

Another request for use of facilities involved Jerry Martinez, football coach and basketball coach for the girls' team. He had asked for gym use on Wednesday nights. The board voted to allow this usage. Monica Calderon's tabled request for use of the Bayard elementary gym was tabled again, as the rental agreement had not been completed, according to Acting Superintendent George Peru. He said he thought it should be based on the number of those signed up for the class, and he should have the figures by the next board meeting in January. As a rental, he thought any funds collected could be placed in the athletic program budget.

Peru also reported on the superintendent vacancy search. He said the committee had finished the application review and at the Wednesday meeting coming up, the board should determine details about the interview process, how they would proceed and similar questions. Cordova said the board had consulted a lawyer in Albuquerque who told them that things must be done in a public meeting, and gave some guidelines about it.

Central Elementary will have a new address when it is completed, said Peru. The old number, 600 Prescott, was not accurate, and by moving the school entrance to   211 Cedar Street, that will be corrected. Dr. Bruce Hegwer, Southwest Regional Educational Cooperative Director, had conducted a training session for Cobre's administrators on the teacher evaluation process.

The 80th day total membership number of 1338 includes the SEG (State Equalization Guarantee) members and the regular education prekindergarten students. Without those 52 pre-K students, the count is 1286, down 27 students from the 80th and 120th day averages last year. The figures have been completed and are now in the certification process. Because the pre-K students are grant-funded, they are not included in the SEG count.

Peru reported three resignations. Adam Garcia and Zeke Chavez are leaving the technology department, and Camille Amador, math teacher, is leaving the high school. He said the District was in the process of filling the positions.
Corina Castillo reported on a variety of student activities coming up. She included information on the Anti-Bullying Program which will start January 9.

In the second public input section, Bonnie Gomez thanked Coach Pat Abalos for his help with the Diabetes Walk a few weeks back. Frank Cordova remarked that some school districts didn't have a public information section in their board meetings.

At the New Mexico School Board Association Conference, Frank Cordova received an award for his 24 years of board service to Cobre. Other awards were given Monday night to board members for classes board members had taken at recent training sessions. Cordova mentioned an online course on concussions, which he and others had taken to identify students with such symptoms and get them help as soon as possible. To encourage others to take the training, he offered handouts with background information and the web address www.nfhslearn.com of National Federation of State High School Associations. Board member Frances Kelly received awards for the concussion training and for 24 hours of Level 1 Leadership Development. Freddie Rodriguez and Cordova also received training awards for their 20 hours of effort. Cordova noted that while training is mandated, not all school board members get it.

Noting that this was the last board meeting in 2011, Cordova thanked attendees for coming and wished them the best of holidays. The next meeting will be held on Jan. 9.