GMCS gets a chance to shine

The annual graduation rate at Gallup-McKinley County Schools went down one percentage point in 2016, but remained steady with rates in the mid-60s for 2015 and 2014, state Public Education Department statistics show. The district-wide graduation rates for elementary, middle and high schools in New Mexico were released Jan. 16.

Gov. Susana Martinez issued a news release on the state’s graduation rates on Jan. 16. In the release, Martinez noted that more students are graduating from state high schools than ever before. Graduation rates increased for Native-American, Hispanic, African-American, low-income and disabled students, according to the governor’s...

Feb. 17 parent intro meeting planned

The Gallup-McKinley County School Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution Feb. 6 that permits two world history teachers to pursue plans for a 2018 student trip to Eastern Europe.

The matter was met with a little opposition from board members, who argued that a $3,000 overseas trip might prove too costly for most of the district’s students. McKinley County is one of the poorest counties in New Mexico.

This is not a trip to Canyon de Chelly (Chinle, Ariz.) or the Grand Canyon in Flagstaff, the board suggested. Board member Sandra Jeff did not attend the meeting.

“I’d like to see you (the group) go,” outgoing board member Joe...

WINDOW ROCK – President Russell Begaye and Vice President Jonathan Nez have appointed Pearline Kirk as the Controller for the Navajo Nation.

Kirk is a licensed Certified Public Accountant  and holds a Juris Doctor from Arizona State University. She comes to the Nation from the Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith LLP law firm in Los Angeles.

“We are fortunate to have Ms. Kirk come aboard as our Controller. Her vast experience in Navajo Nation law, taxation and budget will greatly benefit our Nation as we move forward,” Begaye said.

Kirk served as the director of Finance/Chief Financial Officer for five years with the Colville Tribal Federal Corporation. This diverse holding...

Official: Certification Feb. 10

Michael Schaaf, Charles Long and Christopher Mortensen were elected to seats on the Gallup-McKinley County Board of Education Feb. 7, bringing fresh faces and new ideas to a board that recently put former Superintendent Frank Chiapetti on paid administrative leave.

The board seats that were voted upon were for Districts 2, 4 and 5. Lynn Huenemann, Joe Menini and the seat occupied by the appointed Sandra Jeff each changed hands. Schaaf essentially had no competition in a race that included retired educator Ester Macias and retired government administrator Gerald O’Hara.

WHO WON?

Charles Long, a former McKinley County Treasurer, won the District 2...