New Mexico / School Districts / GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
District staff presented three draft school calendars (options A, B and C) that meet NMPED requirements. Option C shortens Thanksgiving and adds two April days; stakeholder voting will run Jan. 14–16 and the board plans action on Jan. 22.
New Mexico / School Districts / GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
District staff reported dozens of community partners supported holiday programs that provided about 400 student jackets and additional hoodies, food boxes and toys. The district plans outreach letters thanking partner organizations and highlighted ongoing social-worker and ambassador efforts.
New Mexico / School Districts / GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
The district proposed a two-phase special-education climate survey: an anonymous initial survey of principals, teachers and instructional assistants followed by a focused, campus-identified survey to design training, templates and compliance tools. Staff aim to finalize the climate survey by late January and issue the focus survey in February.
New Mexico / School Districts / GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
After a presentation on enrollment and facility capacity, the Gadsden ISD board voted to move Loma Linda Elementary students to Anthony Elementary. Officials cited capacity, parking and busing challenges at Loma Linda and said detailed implementation plans will return to the board at the next meeting.
New Mexico / School Districts / GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
At its first 2026 meeting the Gadsden Independent School District board reorganized its leadership: Christian Lira was elected president; Laura Salazar Flores and Claudia Rodriguez were confirmed in the vice president and secretary roles in roll-call votes. The board also thanked outgoing leaders and pledged focus on student-centered priorities.
New Mexico / School Districts / GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
District staff reviewed internal, local/statewide and national superintendent search options and sample costs (internal: no cost to district; NMSBA/statewide example: ~$15,000; national firms: $60k–$85k). The board asked for cost estimates and agreed to place the item as an action item at the next meeting.
New Mexico / School Districts / GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
District presenters and guests summarized state bilingual education models, local dual-language participation and challenges including teacher shortages and inconsistent funding; presenters urged policy alignment, improved funding/stipends, and a statewide working group to support bilingual program quality.
New Mexico / School Districts / GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
Chief finance presenter Ludin Martinez told the board the district’s preliminary operating budget shows $180.8M in revenues versus $195.1M in expenditures, producing a $14.3M budgeted deficit. She outlined reliance on SEG funding, projected enrollment losses, drawdown of reserves, and measures such as attrition, hiring freezes and a retirement incentive.
New Mexico / School Districts / GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
District HR reported 81 responses to a retirement‑incentive offering (121 slots opened). The $8,000 stipend per participant will cost roughly $700,000; administration projects salary reductions of $3.5–$4.5 million depending on how vacancies are offset and replaced.
New Mexico / School Districts / GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
Gadsden Independent Schools board approved a shortened superintendent evaluation tool after committee edits to remove redundancy and overlap with the district's collective bargaining agreement; members said the document can be amended following the board attorney's review.