Federal cuts 135k from Socorro school district

During the regular meeting of the Socorro Consolidated Schools on July 21, Superintendent Joyce Gormley reported that she received an email from board member Kathleen Ocampo on July 18, in which she submitted her resignation from the school board, effective immediately.

Due to the timing of the resignation, which was submitted after the agenda for the current meeting was published, it could not be discussed during this meeting, according to Gormley. Instead, a special meeting has been scheduled for Monday, July 28, to discuss the process and timeline for appointing a new board member to fill the vacancy.

Gormley said the board must appoint and swear in a new member within 45 days of the resignation. If the board does not fill the vacancy within that time frame, the Secretary of Education will appoint someone to fill the position.

Federal funding cuts

Gormley also reported on the federal fund cuts from the U.S. Department of Education. She noted that the district is losing approximately $82,000 in Title II funds (used for professional development) and $53,000 in Title IV funds (used for student supports and academic excellence), totaling about $135,000.

“The assistant superintendent and I are looking at what was budgeted in those two specifically, what relates closely or directly to our goals and guardrails, and what we’re going to have to prioritize, and move some things around if those funds don’t come in this year,” Gormley told the board.

Assistant Secretary Kim Sanchez gave a presentation on the breakdown of federal funding.

She said that Title I is the largest federal allocation, aimed at providing all students with a fair, equitable, and quality education, and closing achievement gaps. All schools in the district are Title I eligible, and funds are distributed based on the percentage of students from low-income families. Most Title I funds are allocated to salaries, benefits, professional development, instructional materials, family engagement, and support for students experiencing homelessness.

Title II funds are primarily used for professional development for teachers and principals, as well as to increase student access to effective educators. The district planned to use Title II for professional learning, mentor support and staff incentives. Sanchez confirmed that the federal government is currently withholding Title II funds.

Sanchez said the purpose of Title IV is to improve students’ academic achievement by supporting a well-rounded education, safe and healthy environments and personalized learning. The district planned to use Title IV funds (about $53,000) mainly for technology, equipment, and software. Title IV funds are also being withheld.

Title V are for rural, low-income funding, which the district is still receiving. Title V funds can be used for a variety of activities similar to those allowed under other Title programs. The district plans to use these funds for professional learning communities, elementary reading and math professional learning, and support for new teachers.

“This is a hot topic nationally right now. So, okay, we all understand we don’t have Title II and Title IV. Madam Superintendent, is our superintendent’s association discussing anything? Is the state going to step in and pick up on Title II and Title IV? We’re in a position where, you know, we’ve had a standoff with our state versus our federal,” board member Dave Hicks said.

Gormley said that she had heard that the Secretary of Education had started a task force to investigate the situation. She said her interpretation of the cuts has to do with diversity, equity, and inclusion programming.

“I think it’s important to note this is not a New Mexico issue. This is a federal, country-wide issue. This is not because we chose to say we won’t sign a paper for equity, diversity and inclusion. This is a decision that was made nationwide,” board member Tara Jaramillo said.

Surveillance

Director of Technology Jeffery Tull reported to the board about the Violence Protection and Prevention grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.

He said the grant would fund security cameras, visitor monitoring programs, and door sensors to enhance safety across all school buildings. A matching commitment is required from the district.

The district requested approximately $340,000 and would be required to provide a minimum matching commitment of $25,000 over a three-year period.

Gormley said the grant requires compliance with federal requests for student citizenship or personal information, which may conflict with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The district’s legal counsel advised that, since the district does not collect or document this information, it would not be able to provide it if asked.

New position

The board discussed and approved the creation of a new position, Director of Attendance, Engagement, and Data.

This position is intended to be funded by an attendance grant the district has applied for, with three years of funding anticipated. The director will be responsible for developing and overseeing strategies to improve student attendance, fostering community engagement and leveraging data for informed decision-making.

Gormley reported that the role will serve as a critical link between families, schools, and community resources, addressing barriers to attendance and ensuring district efforts are data-driven, equitable, and aligned with student outcome-focused governance. If the district does not receive the full grant funding, it will need to reconsider its approach to the position.

The board also discussed and approved a new cell phone and electronic device policy for schools. It was emphasized that having a policy in place before the start of the school year is essential. The approved version currently leaves enforcement and specific rules up to site administrators. They also approved a purchase order for Walsh and Gallegos in the amount of $60,000 for legal services.