An attorney for Stride’s partner delivered public comment urging the Gallup-McKinley County Schools Board to refrain from terminating the district’s contract with Stride/K12 without independent consideration and to account for alleged violations of law and board policy.

Laura E. Sanchez of the Rodey Law Firm in Albuquerque told the board she represents “Bridal and k 12” and said the contract affects “over 4,200 students and families from around the state that are part of your district.” Sanchez asked the board to consider the matter “independent of the superintendent’s views” and alleged that the superintendent’s April 1 letter threatening termination caused “significant disruption and anxiety” for students, families and teachers. Sanchez said her clients have attempted to cure the administration’s concerns and that they have notified district counsel “on multiple occasions where the administration has refused to work with Stride and k 12 to move forward productively.”

Sanchez further told the board that her clients believe the attempted termination was “done improperly and not in compliance with the contract” and that they have raised issues under the Government Conduct Act, the procurement code and board policy. “I simply ask that the board consider this matter independent of the superintendent’s views because of his documented conflict of interest,” she said. Sanchez also stated that the Destinations Career Academy of New Mexico could continue as a program of Stride/K12 next year, including teachers, curriculum and name, “independent of the district if necessary,” under the terms of the contract.

Later in the meeting the board moved into executive session to discuss the contract. The board invited the district data analyst, HR director, procurement director and the board’s attorney to join the closed session for counsel and discussion. Following the executive session, the board reported that “there was no action taken, and only things that are listed on this agenda were discussed, with our attorney and the other people that we invited.”

The public comment and the executive session preceded no formal vote or change to the contract at the meeting; the board’s public statement after the session confirmed no action was taken.