Gabrielle Begay conducts the meeting of the Cobre Consolidated Schools Board of Education after being elected as board president Monday evening. Serena Murillo stepped down from president due to health reasons.
The Cobre Consolidated Schools Board of Education did not discuss a search for a new superintendent publicly at its regular meeting Monday evening, but did elect new officers.
Former board President Serena Murillo said she requested the reorganization of the board officers because she was stepping down from her leadership role. She was elected president by the board in January, with Gabrielle Begay as vice president and David Terrazas as secretary.
“I requested that this item be put on the agenda because I don’t have the strength or energy right now to be board president,” she said. “I have some health issues I’m dealing with, and so that’s my priority right now.”
She opened the floor to nominations before nominating Begay for president. Gilbert Guadiana nominated himself, but cast the lone vote in his own favor. Begay had three votes, and immediately took over the meeting as president.
She then took nominations for vice president, with Terrazas nominating Guadiana, who received all four votes. Guadiana then nominated Terrazas for secretary, with the vote unanimous.
The board had very little business on its agenda, with the only item of new business a discussion of the soon-to-be vacant superintendent’s position.
The board accepted the resignation of Superintendent Jeff Spaletta at its Sept. 25 meeting. He had been placed on administrative leave for a second time in July, during which the board began an investigation into a complaint filed against him.
Murillo said she had asked the board’s attorney what process the district should follow in finding a new superintendent.
“They said we could simply name a superintendent, if that’s something that we wanted to do, so this is simply to discuss the process,” she said.
No one picked up the discussion, however, and the board moved on to its final business, an executive session to discuss possible candidates to fill the superintendent’s position and pending litigation by a former employee who filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the board, the district, Spaletta and Guadiana.
No action was taken or announcements made after the hourlong closed session.
Earlier in the meeting, acting Superintendent Michael Koury reported he had sent a letter to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and area legislators explaining the career technical education programs being formed in Grant County. Both Cobre and the Silver Consolidated Schools are recipients of Innovation Zone grants this year from the New Mexico Public Education Department. The grants are intended to develop jobs for students both in school and in the community with a goal of introducing them to possible careers.
“Every time I turn around it gets more exciting, with the players coming to the table — Freeport-McMoRan, Silver Schools, Cobre Schools and Western New Mexico University,” Koury said. “Between the four of us, we’ve got all the big players here in our area working together, which is amazing. I’m thinking there will be some amazing things coming out of this partnership.”
Koury also reported a proposal for technology guidelines the district is drafting and gave some updates on facilities improvements. The painting of the district’s central office is now complete and paint work at San Lorenzo Elementary School is almost finished. Batting cages for the softball team are in place, and a new contractor is working with the district on bleachers for the softball field.
—JUNO OGLE
