The Regular Meeting of the Cobre Consolidated School District Board of Education began on Monday, March 26, 2018, following an executive session which lasted approximately one hour. All board members attended with the exception of Gabriel Holguin.

No action was taken during the executive session and the only unfinished business was the 2018-2019 calendar.

Joyce Barela represented the calendar committee and reported their findings to the board. Two final calendars were taken back to the respective campuses and 78% of the responses were for Calendar B. San Lorenzo preferred Calendar A and the high school deferred their vote because the difference, the summer program, did not affect them. The difference concerns when the K-Plus program starts and ends. Calendar B allows more time between the end of school and the beginning of summer school, and fewer days at the end of the summer program before the fall semester begins.

Administration recommended Calendar B as recommended to them by the calendar committee, and the board voted unanimously in favor of their choice.

Administration had nothing to report other than the district financial reports, which were approved, the only board member in opposition being Gilbert Guadiana.

During the Superintendent’s report, Robert Mendoza reminded the board that spring break begins Friday and goes through the following week. “It’s well deserved for the kids, hopefully they will come back ready to finish the year,” he said.

Mendoza also reminded the board of the upcoming Region VIII meeting in Animas.

The student representative was absent but Mendoza attended the student meeting and said they are excited about faster internet accessibility. As of July, the school district expects to improve their internet speeds and when the new contracts are signed they will be brought before the board for review. The San Lorenzo students especially benefit from the upgrade.

During public input Guadiana took the time to explain why he votes in opposition to the board regarding financial matters. “What is important for people to understand,” he said, “is that the budget process is in violation for a number of reasons, including having no budget committee and no information on the website.” He further explained, “Without complying with state regulations on input we are unable to do our due diligence with fiscal management, and I vote in objection to the current status.” Guadiana expressed reservations about the board’s fiscal responsibility and said he hopes to see a budget committee formed in the coming year.

The next Regular Meeting of the Cobre Consolidated School District happens Monday, April 23, 2018 at 6 p.m. at San Lorenzo Elementary School.