Board approves two early high-school graduations for students citing academic plans and family health

The Grants-Cibola County Schools Board of Education approved two early-graduation requests Tuesday evening for students who told the board they have academic plans or urgent family reasons.

Rachel Zamora, introduced to the board by Miss Coles, asked the board to allow her to graduate early from Early College High School. "I request your support for the opportunity to graduate high school," Zamora told the board, saying she plans to earn two associate degrees (education and arts) and then pursue a bachelor’s in education with the goal of returning to teach in the district. Superintendent Weidner recommended approval; the motion to grant her request was moved by Mister Jaramillo and seconded by Mister Ortiz and carried on a roll-call vote.

At Grants (Grama) High School, Principal Elkins introduced Annalicia Lopez, who also asked to graduate early. Lopez said her grandmother has relapsed leukemia and that graduating now would allow her grandmother to "see me walk the stage." The board recommended and approved her request by the same procedural motion practice (moved by Mister Jaramillo; seconded by Mister Ortiz).

Why it matters: Early-graduation approvals let students accelerate postsecondary plans or respond to family circumstances while ensuring the district confirms academic readiness. Both approvals were recorded as formal votes on the board’s action items for the evening.

The board concluded the items with the recorded roll calls and noted that each approval was a formal motion that carried. No further conditions or follow-up requirements were announced at the time.