School CEO, Navajo Nation VP weigh in

Middle College High School faces an uncertain future as Gallup McKinley County Schools Superintendent Mike Hyatt seeks to revoke its charter with the district.

The GMCS Board of Education will hear the matter Aug. 2.

Some tension arose between the school and district when MCHS questioned the validity of the McKinley Academy some months ago. Similar to Middle College, students participating in McKinley Academy take college courses as well as their required core elements.

Meanwhile, the Middle College was served with a notice of intent to revoke the charter by GMCS July 6.

In an email, GMCS Superintendent Mike Hyatt stated, “In the spirit of transparency, we are releasing the notice of revocation for Middle College High School to the public.”

“Throughout this process of discovery, Gallup McKinley County Schools has chosen to refrain from making public comments regarding the illegal and inappropriate actions of Middle College administration as to not add to the contentious environment they have created,” he added.

The district, as the chartering authority, issued an order of revocation based on the following allegations:

MCHS has not executed a charter contract; continuous violations of the N.M. Open Meetings Act; expelling or removing students without complying with Compulsory School Attendance Law; failure to discipline student-on-student sexual harassment; allocating the CEO’s salary into other categories of work to project minimal administrative expenses; falsifying statistics for native student enrollment; disfavoring “at-risk” students for enrollment; unjustifiable public fund spending for at-risk students; falsified reporting; deficient academic progress; enormous cash balance; falsified budget documents; multiple organizational changes in last five years; and unilateral promulgation of MCHS policies over the district policies.

“These violations by Middle College administrators are inexcusable and GMCS is responsible to follow the law to deal with these violations as the oversight entity,” Hyatt stated.

According to the district, the charter school continues to operate in a manner that violates the the state’s Open Meetings Act and has done so on multiple occasions.

According the Act, “All meetings of any public body except the legislature and the courts shall be public meetings, and all person so desiring shall be permitted to attend and listen to the deliberations and proceedings.”

Hyatt also stated that the CEO of MCHS has been acting independently without the knowledge or authority of his governing body:

“Either way, the current actions of the Charter School after 2012 are contrary to law and are rendered null and void, as a matter of law,” he stated.

Hyatt said the Governing Council of the Charter School has passed a resolution in which it delegated and transferred all of its authority and the ability to act on its behalf to its CEO.

“Such a delegation of the authority of a policy-making body to take action on its behalf to one individual is contrary to and violates the provisions of the Open Meetings Act,” Hyatt stated in the letter.

Other alleged violations include the charter school expelling or removing students for lack of attendance without complying with the Compulsory School Attendance Law. The charter school allegedly never reported these removals to the district.

However, Dr. Hunter Robert Hunter, CEO of MCHS, said all of the claims lodged by the district are generalized and there is nothing specific to the accusations.

“Hyatt is not indicating what laws are broken. He’s making a lot of statements that are his opinion,” Hunter said, adding that each time the school has asked for evidence, it has not been provided.

In March 2017, MCHS went before the district school board for a 20-student enrollment increase. The school board unanimously voted against the measure increase twice.

“They did it based on information the superintendent gave them. He didn’t want to see our enrollment increase,” Hunter said. “Then we found out the reason for that is because he’s creating his own early college school called McKinley Academy.”

MCHS appealed the decision to the N.M. Secretary of Education Christopher Ruszkowski, a move that Hunter says angered the district superintendent.

“When we did that it set everything off, from that point forward. The secretary told us in March to come together, sit down and work it out. We tried three different times to meet with them to resolve the matter,” he said.

Instead, GMCS scheduled a special board meeting on April 25 and brought up revoking the charter.

Hunter said, “It was obviously done in retaliation.”

Recently, MCHS has received support from the 23rd Navajo Nation Council.

During a recent report before the Health, Education and Human Services Committee, Hunter received unexpected support from the tribal council.

“What was surprising to me was that they had heard about the threat revocation. When I was done presenting, they said we would like to step in and save that school,” he said.

Hunter said the parents did the legwork, attending chapter meetings for resolutions of support. He noted they were angry about the district’s decision to revoke the charter.

One tribal leader said school administrators have to realize that they are working for the students.

Vice President Jonathan Nez said the dispute between the school district and charter school is negatively impacting students and that a swift resolution is required.

“There are other school districts on the Navajo Nation that are in turmoil. At the end of the day, all of this bickering is only truly affecting one main demographic, our students,” he said. “We need to work together and remember that we are doing this for the benefit of our kids.”

He noted that the Council, HEHSC and Department of Diné Education support retaining the MCHS charter.

Hyatt said communication between the district and MCHS is between legal teams at this point.

The Navajo Nation has not contacted the school district, he said, adding that MCHS is trying to put a lot of people in the middle of this issue.

“I have had no contact from the Navajo Nation. They were not willing to listen to both sides before they made a decision. There’s a lot of emotional feelings regarding this topic, in the community,” Hyatt said.

By Rick Abasta
Sun Correspondent

A home for Native American children since 1959

Manuelito Children’s Home did not start out as a children’s home, but as a preaching mission to the Navajo people. The mission work was overseen by a congregation in Albuquerque and later by one in Farmington.

Fundraising to care for children placed in comfortable, and loving home remains paramount. Wild Thing Championship Bullriding has been a major source of funding for both the home and the school the children attend.

And both children and adults work the concession stands and parking to raise money.

A HISTORY

The Farmington-Albuquerque congregations, being approximately 150 miles, each respectively, felt they could not properly oversee the important work of helping Navajo children, so in 1959 the Church of Christ in Gallup was asked to take responsibility for this work.

The missionaries at Manuelito, a small community 18 miles west of Gallup, were already caring for children by families that could not care for them. When the opportunity came to combine both, this proved to be a win-win situation for both, so the decision was made to turn the major emphasis of the work to child care.

There was a great need to provide for the many homeless children in the area as well as bringing them up with Christian values.

‘WILD THING’ FUNDRAISING

Today, those same values are still applied at MCH, being a non-profit organization that is still dedicated to helping children in need. According to Jim Christian, children’s home superintendent, the home is sponsored by Churches of Christ and friends across the country who want to help make a difference in the life of a child, and other fundraising events to maintain the upkeep of the home, such as the 25^th Annual Wild Thing Championship Bull Riding held in Gallup July 13-14.

The relationship with Wild Thing began when promoter Larry Peterson’s father help build the home, and who was also on the board of directors at the time. When “Wild Thing” launched 25 years ago, the adults and children of MCH helped by handling the parking and concession stands at the the event with all proceeds from these two going to MCH and the Christian school. It’s still going strong to this day.

“It’s our largest local fund-raiser that we do every year and we have volunteers that come in from out of state to help us man that,” he said. “I’ll have about 60 volunteers here to help us park cars and make nachos (laughing). We have a lot of fun with our visitors but it’s a lot of hard work for a few days.”

Christian says Wild Thing gets better each year and so does proceeds for the children’s home and school.

“We make anywhere from $10,000 to $14,000 on a weekend, so I would say we average about $12,000,” he said, “Last year was probably the best we’ve ever done and hit about around $16,000 last year. The weather cooperated, everything just went smooth last year and we maximized the potential there … that’s all we do there, they won’t let us ride bulls (laughing).”

According to Christian, the money raised goes into the general fund.

“We use it for back-to-school items the kids need, such as school supplies and school clothes,” he said. “We also use it to pay for the utilities like propane, electricity, and food, but it all goes into the general fund. The summer is really our tough time of the year because our donations are down and wholly surviving on our little fundraisers.So, this event fits perfect.”

MCH operates on about a $900,000 to nearly $1 million budget a year said Christian. Most of the support comes from Southern California and Texas, and other outside sources. He said although there are many “deep-pockets” wealthy children’s home, they are not.

“There’s been times when we’re trying to figure out which bills to pay this month and we live like most families out there from paycheck to paycheck,” he said. “So, any donations coming in from Gallup are always welcomed and appreciated.”

The MCH has been in operation for almost 60-years and yet little people know of its existence, Christian said.

“I’m surprised sometimes of how few people know that we are here for 60 years, just 2.5 miles outside of Gallup. We’re still here and we’re here to help kids,” he said.

“Our work is made possible because of the generosity of good people, churches, and businesses found throughout the United States. We solicit your financial giving and your prayers.”

To donate and for more information contact (505) 863-5530 or visit: www.mnch.info or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

By Dee Velasco
For the Sun

Santa Fe Crime Stoppers is offering a $1000 reward for information that leads to the capture and arrest of Johnny Black.  Anyone with information will remain completely anonymous.

The New Mexico State Police is actively searching for Johnny Black, 32, of Pojoaque, NM.  Black is wanted for shooing at a State Police officer on June 25, 2018 in Espanola, and shooting at a Rio Arriba County Deputy a week prior.

Johnny Black is 5'10" tall weighing 150 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He has "Death Before Dishonor" tattooed on his chest and two large and distinctive lions heads tattooed on the left side of his neck.   He also has tattoos on his right leg, left shoulder, and right shoulder.  Black has scars on his ankle, left shoulder and right shoulder, he also has a mole on his left cheek.

Black has warrants for his arrest for the following charges:

• ​Assault with intent to commit a violent felony on a police officer (two counts, 2nd degree felony)
• ​Shooting from a motor vehicle (two counts, 4th degree felony)
• ​Aggravated fleeing a police officer (two counts, 4th degree felony)
• ​Residential Burglary (3rd degree felony)
• ​Breaking and Entering (4th degree felony)

Black is believed to be around the Espanola and Santa Fe areas and is considered ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.  If you see Johnny Black DO NOT APPROACH and call 911 immediately.

Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Johnny Black should contact the Santa Fe Crime Stoppers at 505-955-5050 or visit their website at http://www.santafecrimestoppers.org . For other inquiries or information contact the New Mexico State Police at (505) 753-2277.

By Ray Wilson

New Mexico State Police

Expect the unexpected next weekend

The 25th annual Wild Thing Championship Bullriding rolls into Red Rock Park July 13-14. This year’s event promises to live up to the excitement and visitor expectations, as said by event organizer Larry Peterson.

“There’s always something special at Wild Thing,” he said.

The concept for Wild Thing began brewing in Peterson’s head about 26 years ago, with the goal to putting on a fun, professional show for everyone to enjoy. From bringing in top pyrotechnics, bucking bulls, announcers and funny men, Peterson said he and organizers try to improve the event every year.

“[We] just keep fighting hard and climbing that ladder, [and] making the show really fun for everybody,” he said.

Visitors have thought of Wild Thing as a rodeo throughout its history, but Peterson says it is more than that. It is home to the number one open bull riding show in the southwest that even non-rodeo/bull riding buffs enjoy.

The event features some of the most competitive and rankest bulls around, and their riders are going for large payouts, with a total purse of $28,000 and $10,000 guaranteed for the first place finisher.

“There’s a difference [between a rodeo and bull riding]. The entertainment and electricity level is so much higher than a normal rodeo,” he said.

To that end, Peterson said that classic rock and roll is played during the show to match the intensity of the bulls.

“[The] entertainment level is off the hook,” Peterson said. “[Visitors should] expect the unexpected. [There are] some surprises for everybody. There’s so much fun than just the bull riding.”

In addition to the championship bull riding, visitors will find entertainment that includes a fireworks show which is touted to be bigger and better than ever in celebration of Wild Thing’s 25th anniversary. Some of the top entertainers and announcers in the industry will return to the arena.

These events are all hooked together for two and a half hours of action with a short intermission.

One event that will have attendees hanging on the edge of their seats is Cowboy Poker. Participants try to play the game while a bull charges around the arena – and towards them. The last person left sitting is the winner.

In addition, six seasoned wooly riders will compete to win Wild Thing championship buckles. The riders have qualified from previous events, so they will be at their best, Peterson said.

There is also pre-entertainment for visitors who arrive early, Peterson said. This includes games such as a balloon toss and a sack race, where people from the crowd get involved to help pass the time until the main event.

“So many people arrive early to get the good seats,” Peterson said.

It has been the support of the community that has allowed Wild Thing to last for 25 years, along with getting sponsors to help put on the event every year, Peterson said.

“We have been very fortunate, with events crashing all over the country that ours has been growing and maintaining, and everybody loving [it],” he said.

The event happens only once a year, so Peterson encourages everyone to go and enjoy the festivities.

Visitors support the Manuelito’s Children Home via parking fees and concessions. Wild Thing has been the biggest annual fundraiser for the home, Peterson said.

“Take the family and go out and enjoy the thing,” he said.

Advanced tickets can be purchased at Castle Furniture, T&R C-Store, T&R Feed, and Rico Auto Complex with adult tickets $19 and $22 for Friday and Saturday, respectively, and $8 for children’s tickets. Tickets at the gate will cost $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 6-11.

For more information, visit Wild Thing Championship Bullriding Facebook page.

By Cody Begaye
Sun Correspondent