sschool board 052118From left are Superintendent Audie Brown, Board President Mike McMillan, Excellence in Student Achievement Award recipient Kelly Lamb, Secretary Michelle Diaz, Board Member Eddie Flores, Vice President Ashley Montenegro, and Board Member Patrick Cohn

Photo and article by Hallie Richwine

The Silver Consolidated Schools Regular Board Meeting took place Monday, May 21, 2018 in the Silver Schools Administration Building. All members of the Board of Education as well as Superintendent Audie Brown attended.

The meeting opened to a packed boardroom, and the first item on the agenda was presenting the Excellence in Student Achievement Award. This year the Silver Consolidated School District Board of Education nominated teacher Kelly Lamb. Lamb has had a long career at Stout Elementary School and is an instrumental leader and mentor to many teachers.

The first presentation came from Director of Technology Benjamin Potts. Potts and Brown have discussed improving the telephone system within the school district for a couple of years. The inability to upgrade software or obtain hardware support leaves schools without service when there are problems with the system. Potts is currently looking for a solution that includes a backup for when lines go down. A previous bid was for nearly $100,000 but he thinks the market is more competitive now.

Next Michele McCain, Director of Finance, informed the board of the 2018-2019 budget. McCain explained that the state has a formula of dollars per student when determining the funding for the school year. The state also sets the limits for the teachers and overall staff. Given what the state mandates, the Silver Consolidated School District would have a deficit of nearly $300,000. “How can we cover this without having a negative impact on the students,” McCain asked.

One option was to eliminate the elementary physical education program. Another was to pull the counseling staff out of the elementary schools. The last option reviewed was the closure of the Opportunity High School.

McCain said the first two options require layoffs, but with programs being absorbed into the existing Silver High School structure, attrition could account for positions that would be otherwise eliminated. She said the budget committee looked at the overall impact on the entire district when they made their decision to move forward with the OHS closure.

McCain explained that there is already a projected shortfall for next year given the proposed changes in utility rates and potential increases in insurance.

OHS principal Peter Limardo and SHS principal Shane Coker shared their vision for the OHS reconfiguration. Limardo spoke first, “I hate putting a dollar sign on a child. Never ever put a dollar sign on a child.” He explained how the vocational track was the original model for OHS, and how that has gained popularity over the years. It especially works in a credit recovery setting. Limardo has been working with Coker to create a new model.

Coker said not every student fits the mold and wants to create programs that are flexible. He intends to keep online classes and will have former OHS staff working with former OHS students when the changes come. With shared electives and shared vocational programs, Coker seemed optimistic. He and Limardo are still working on how to retain the trust and safety students felt at OHS as they transition to the other institution.

Board member Patrick Cohn asked about the schedule for OHS. Coker said that even though last year was a four day a week schedule, the coming year was set for a five-day week. With flexible scheduling as an option, students will still be able to work as long as they still get their hours.

Secretary Michelle Diaz said she believes part of the anxiety is the unknown.

President Mike McMillan asked if the school will still be eligible to receive funding from Freeport McMoRan. McCain said those funds are held in a separate account for welding students’ fees and the district will not lose out on those funds.

McMillan also asked if there were any way for OHS to receive a credit for being a small school. Associate Superintendent Candy Milam explained that the school has its own yearbooks and own functions, but the determining factor is that there are no set boundaries for the two high schools, so they do not qualify for the small school credit.

Next to present to the board was Katrina Bustillos of the Silver Consolidated Education Association. Bustillos first applauded students who were present to share their opinions. She said they are still at the bargaining table and that there has been some confusion lately about the difference between “common planning time” and “prep time.” The former allows for teachers to collaborate when making lesson plans while the latter refers to individual planning work. Bustillos is hopeful they will have an agreement by the beginning of the school year.

Brown updated the board on security projects. He verified that Silver City Police Department Chief Ricky Villalobos is working to complete the school threat assessments in the correct format for funding applications. McMillan recommended filling out the funding requests for the maximum allowable amounts to ensure receiving adequate funding. Brown also shared the employee calendar for the 2018-2019 school year.

Next Milam reported receiving the grant for the pre-kindergarten program. This allows for up to eighty students, who will be four years of age by September 1, 2018, to participate in a full day of instruction. Milam said the program is first-come, first-served rather than income- or ability-based, and there are already sixteen children signed up.

“Do those eighty count as enrollment?” asked Cohn. Milam explained that since the instructional fees are covered by the grant, they do not affect the enrollment budget-wise, although they may in the future if other grants are not received.

When the Safety and Security committee reported to the board, member Eddie Flores said they were waiting for summer to get projects underway. McCain confirmed there will be an additional three armed guards for a total of five.

For the president’s report, McMillan reviewed the second reading for the proposed revision to the public comments criteria. Previously there were two parts of the agenda dedicated to public comments, the first being limited to agenda items and the second open to any topic. Now both sections will be for open comments.

McMillan said the year is wrapping up and congratulated SHS softball on their eighth consecutive state title. Montenegro commended Coker for making the school year special. Cohn said it was great to see the different graduation ceremonies. Flores thanked all the teachers, staff, and administrators for their countless hours of work. Diaz commended the OHS community for coming together to stand up for what they believe in.

During public comments twenty-one community members, including students and faculty, pled with the board to reconsider the closure and reconfiguration of OHS.

Among the public speaking out against the closure was State Senator Howie Morales. “I know the sacrifices each of you make,” he said, “I know the work you do is important. I’m here not as a State Senator, not as candidate for Lieutenant Governor, but because I was a teacher at what is now OHS.” Morales asked the board to consider all options. “I’m not trying to overstep boundaries, but I strongly believe that without this program this community would not be what it is today. Students go on to do great things that they might otherwise be unable to do, since 1992.”

The board ultimately voted to approve the closure of OHS even after the attempt was made by Diaz to table the issue for more research and discussion. The budget needed submission by Wednesday, May 23, 2018, and there was no way to submit an incomplete document.

The next Regular Meeting of the Silver Consolidated School Board happens June 18, 2018.

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