Cobre’s Mendoza announces retirement Written by Dean Thompson on May 4, 2021
After 47 years in education, Cobre Schools Superintendent Robert Mendoza on Monday afternoon announced his retirement after eight years with the district.
Mendoza said he had 40 years in administration as a principal, assistant superintendent and in other jobs, but “it’s been a great run. I can’t complain.”
The Cobre Schools Board of Education will now have to begin the process of looking for a new superintendent.
Board President Ralph “Toy” Sepulveda said Monday, “As far as I’m concerned, [Mendoza] has done a heck of a job for us. We knew this was coming sometime, but he will be missed.”
April 19, 2021
April 19, 2021
(Photo by Aaron Rogers for the Daily Press)
Douglas Dinwiddie gives a tour Saturday afternoon at the Fort Bayard Museum, which details the history of the national historic landmark located just north of Santa Clara.
Tours of the Fort Bayard Museum, which are organized by the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society, have been on hiatus for the past year, as much of the state shut down due to COVID-19 but as of two weeks ago, they are back on schedule, according to Douglas Dinwiddie, Ph.D., historian and tour guide.
“We are happy to be back and running and welcoming visitors again,” he said. “We have lots of ambitious plans in the coming year or two.”
By The Daily Press Staff
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Grant County and its schools but fortunately, a positive case in the Cobre School District didn’t force the closure of a building, school board members learned at their regular meeting held virtually Monday evening.
“We did have one positive student case at one of our schools last week, which resulted in 22 students having to quarantine,” said Joyce Barela, school improvement coordinator for the district. “So those students, this week and next week, they will be learning remotely.”
According to Barela, the New Mexico Public Education Department is preparing to offer voluntary student school-based surveillance testing for COVID-19, which will be made available to parents on an opt-in basis. Many of the details of the effort are still being worked out at the state level, however.
February 3, 2021
Cobre board meeting gets heated during reopening, athletic discussions Written by Dean Thompson on February 3, 2021
The Cobre Schools Board of Education heard discussion on reopening in a hybrid model and allowing four-students-to-one-coach athletic pods and had a lengthy look at public input during their meeting Tuesday evening, which was held virtually.
Not only was there discussion, but more than one voice was raised during that discussion, to which board member Gabe Holguin toward the end of the meeting said, “I’d like to remind the board we’re all on the same team and we should maintain some professionalism and respect for each other’s opinions when we’re speaking. Body language speaks volumes, and it appears to me we’re not doing that and I’ll leave it at that.”
January 12, 2021
Cobre schools still face uncertainty in new semester Written by Dean Thompson on January 12, 2021
The Cobre Consolidated Schools Board of Education discussed school reentry during its first regular meeting of 2021 Monday night, but noted that the district would continue with distance learning to start the spring semester.
“The county remains at a ‘red’ level, and the only county in the state in a ‘yellow’ level is Catron County,” said Joyce Barela, the district’s school improvement officer. “Right now, we’ve Vault tested 22 percent of our staff, and we have a revised reentry plan on social media sites and it has been emailed to students and staff.”