SANTA FE – New Mexico public education will shift to a learn-at-home model as schools remain closed for the rest of the academic year, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and state education and child care officials announced March 27.​

The decision is part of a two-pronged plan to protect New Mexicans from COVID-19 and ensure that children are protected, fed and educated and that families are supported through this crisis.

The governor previously ordered all public schools closed for three weeks, March 16 - April 3, but warned that an extension could be needed. It came with a new executive order that extends the closing through the end of the school year.

New Mexico had 136 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases as of March 26 including some that are being investigated as community spread, the state Health Department said. School closings are designed to minimize community spread.

“We’re working very hard to contain the virus, and we have to continue to take aggressive steps to mitigate spread and protect New Mexicans of every age all across the state. It is more important than ever that we make sure all New Mexicans are heeding the imperative to stay home,” Lujan Grisham said. “Keeping schools closed is one of the most important tools we have to support the social distancing that can help us reduce and mitigate the spread of the virus.”

“Schools will not be required to make up the missed instructional days between March 16 and April 3, but for the remaining weeks of the school year to be waived, districts must develop both technology-based and non-technology-based continuous learning plans,” Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart said.

“We know that this decision will have tremendous implications for our families, but we must act to keep our communities safe and healthy,” Stewart continued.

High school credits will be awarded based on flexible approaches, including completion of work, demonstration of competency for course completion and expanded equivalency like work experience. The Public Education Department also recommends schools move to pass/no credit rather than grades during this period.

Public colleges and universities are not included in the closure order, but most have either extended their spring breaks, moved classes online or both.

School-based health centers, educational programming for youth in facilities, and licensed child care facilities (centers and homes) serving workers whose jobs have been deemed essential will continue operating.

The closing plan includes these provisions:

SPECIAL NEEDS

Students with special needs will receive all feasible supports and accommodations that can be delivered while maintaining safe social-distancing. School districts must continue to support the transition of children from early intervention into preschool special education. Schools offering behavioral health services will remain open for that purpose.

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

Individual districts will design measures by which seniors can demonstrate eligibility for graduation. Those measures could include testing, completing a series of assignments, achieving a set score on a college entrance exam or demonstrating applied work experience. Schools will be required to identify and support students in danger of not being able to graduate.

High school seniors will have until June 19 to demonstrate eligibility, and those who fail to do so will be offered credit recovery in the summer; they can also appeal to their local school board or to the secretary. No student will be denied graduation for lack of access to demonstrate competency.

Actual graduation ceremonies will be postponed or held virtually, depending on the prevailing public health order at the time.

Many high school seniors will have completed a college entrance exam already; additionally, many higher education institutions are expected to waive that requirement, and both the ACT and College Board are considering offering those exams in the summer.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT

Advanced placement exams will be offered online and will be limited to material students should have covered up to March. Accommodations will be made for those students who need access to technology to take the tests.

SCHOOL PERSONNEL

School personnel and contractors will remain on call and continue being paid as usual. Districts have already received guidance on activities employees can continue performing during the closure.

Bus contractors are encouraged to continue operating bus routes to deliver food and hard-copy lessons.

Special education and other service contractors are encouraged to provide virtual services, collaborate with general education teachers and maintain documentation.

SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMS

Every New Mexico school district has a plan to continue providing childhood nutrition during this period. The Public Education Department is also seeking permission to distribute Electronic Benefits Transfer cards that would allow qualifying families to purchase meals with their free breakfast/lunch allotment.

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

With schools closed, some children may be more vulnerable to abuse and neglect in their homes. In addition, teachers, school administrators and other school staff members are often the first to notice changes in behavior and appearance that may indicate abuse or neglect. New Mexicans must fill this void and be vigilant about the safety and well-being of children they know and those in their neighborhoods. Any citizen can report suspected child abuse or neglect by dialing #SAFE from their cell phone or by calling 1-855-333-SAFE from a land-line.

SUPPORTING FAMILIES

The Behavioral Health Division of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department is working with the New Mexico Human Services Department and managed care organizations to help providers and families create digital access to mental health services for children and youth.

COLLABORATING WITH NATIONS, TRIBES AND PUEBLOS

Tribes, pueblos, and nations are located in some of the most rural parts of New Mexico and often experience extreme health care provider shortages. The governor and state agencies are collaborating with tribal leaders to support their needs in these times.

The following state agencies will continue working with the tribes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Indian Education to support students who attend BIE and tribally run schools:

Indian Affairs Department

Public Education Department

Children, Youth and Families Department, and

Early Childhood Education and Care Department.

GALLUP - The City of Gallup will be taking the following precautions to prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 during voting for the runoff election;

• Antibacterial wipes and spray, as well as hand sanitizer and gloves will be at every Voting Convenience Center.
• Poll officials will ask all voters to sanitize their hands before and after voting.

• Poll officials will continuously wipe down and/or spray sanitize high traffic areas and surfaces, including pens, tabletops, voting booths, and signature pads.

• Poll officials will also monitor the number of voters to ensure that no more than five individuals are allowed within the Voting Convenience Center at any given time. Poll officials will also remind voters to maintain a safe distance of at least six feet between each other.

Early voting is now available at the City Clerk’s Office, Gallup City Hall, First Floor, 110 W. Aztec Ave.  Early voting continues through March 28.

More screenings, limiting staff, sending people home

After both the United States and the State of New Mexico declared health emergencies over the growing pandemic of COVID-19, McKinley County has followed suit.

During their March 17 meeting, the McKinley County Board of Commissioners moved to declare a health emergency for the county. County Manager Anthony Dimas Jr. said the county will be eligible for funding that may come from the federal government or state government after the declaration.

The declaration also gives the county manager’s office authority to delegate work schedules and hours to get through the emergency, Dimas said.

County Attorney Doug Decker said part of the catalyst for the declaration was gaining the ability to tap into federal monies. The decision was also based on the directive issued March 15 to all state offices by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to limit their staff in the office and push for an increase in telecommunication.

The move to reduce the number of people inside buildings and to keep adequate space between staff members is part of a general strategy called “flattening the curve,” where the goal is to lower the peak number of positive cases of COVID-19 to minimize the strain an influx of patients could place on local hospitals.

The floor was opened to public comment, and a number of county department managers spoke about what is being done to reduce the number of staff in the office while still maintaining essential services for the community.

“Metro Dispatch and 911 has limited access to their building,” Metro Dispatch Director Georgene Dimas said. “Staff will go to the door and call in before they are allowed in, which will reduce the contact in the building.”

Georgene Dimas suggested giving county employees the ability to send documents electronically, which could cut down on employees having to move between offices.

“I have to go back into my facility and make contact [to deliver documents],” she said. “If we could eliminate that, I think it would reduce the [risk of] exposure to staff.”

She also said if Metro Dispatch staff either test positive for the virus or come into contact with a known carrier, the department plan is to have more administrative staff work from home when part of the department has the ability to perform their duties from home.

James Maiorano, undersheriff for McKinley County Sheriff’s Office, said their crews have been meeting over the past week to strategize because new information is constantly coming in.

“We’ve outfitted our guys with Purell and disinfectant wipes to clean out the back of their units and transports,” Maiorano said.

Maiorano also said since school is out, the sheriff’s office expects calls for service will increase, as will property crimes. He also said the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases will increase, and the numbers will depend on whether McKinley County residents can follow the safety guidelines to stay home if they are feeling unwell.

“We understand [cases will increase], we’re prepared for it,” Maiorano said. “We’re also prepared to lose one-quarter of our force, which will leave us with three people per shift.”

Services like fingerprinting will continue with regular contact because there is no other way to do it, Maiorano explained, while services like background checks and reports can be done without direct contact. This means the department will be able to limit the administrative staff they have working at one time.

Tony Boyd, warden for McKinley County Adult Detention Center, said since inmates are more susceptible to the virus because of the confined spaces in the facility, the detention has stopped all non-contact visits for inmates and limited attorney visits to non-contact or phone conversations.

Boyd also said the county is looking into video conferencing for arraignments, which would reduce the need to transport inmates from the court to the detention center.

“We do have to allow some people in,” Boyd said. “We’re looking to change our shift schedule and we’re sending home anyone who shows any signs of illness.”

Cleanliness in the facility is also an issue, Boyd mentioned. This includes wiping down door handles and sanitizing areas where people will meet.

This area also showed the detention center is suffering from the same problem a lot of urgent shoppers have encountered in the past week.

“We have no toilet paper,” Boyd said. “There is none available right now. You can’t find any hand sanitizer anywhere. For sanitation wipes, unless you can get to places like Walmart when they stock it, you’re out of luck.”

Boyd said if their supplier is unable to provide what they need, the department can make the trip to Albuquerque to buy directly from a manufacturer.

As part of a contingency plan, if inmates start showing symptoms, one of three areas in the detention center will be used as an isolation center, Boyd said. They are also planning to have testing kits available to inmates, so they do not have to be transported to local hospitals to be tested.

Commissioner Bill Lee reiterated advice that is being given from nearly every major news outlet and medical professional to minimize the risk of catching or spreading COVID-19.

“As much as you can, I would encourage everyone, and I mean everyone, not just employees, to limit the amount of travel they take,” Lee said. “If you don’t have to travel outside our area, don’t do it. It’s that simple.”

By Cody Begaye
Sun Correspondent

Rides by reservation only

GALLUP - Effective immediately Gallup Express will no longer operate its regular routes.  Rides will continue by reservation only. Reservations can be made by calling (505) 722-0777 between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm Monday through Friday.  Reservations must be scheduled 24 hours in advance.

When calling to reserve a ride it is important to provide the name of each rider, a phone number, the date for the reservation, the location for pick-up, and the drop off location.

Reserved rides will be offered between 6 am to 6 pm until further notice.

The team at Gallup Express is taking precautions to ensure the safety of everyone they transport. No more than four riders will be allowed on a bus at any time.  Drivers will wipe down the inside of the bus every four hours or when necessary and they have set up additional precautions for the collection of fares.

Gallup Express reserves the right to refuse service to anyone if they feel it is an issue of public health and safety.

Call Gallup Express at (505) 722-0777 for reservations or additional questions.