New school board members sworn in
By John Earp
At the January meeting of the Jal Board of Education this past Monday, new members Rene Cervantes and Randy Chavez as well as returning member, Jaime Earp, were sworn in. All three won election to the three at-large board positions this past November. Present for the meeting were President Jim Gooss, Secretary Jaime Earp, and Board Member Amy Crawford in addition to Cervantes and Chavez. After approval of the previous meeting’s minutes by the board and no public comment, the new members were sworn in. Gooss began by congratulating Chavez and Cervantes for being elected. He said, “It’s a lot of fun. It’s a cool job. Most of the time it’s fun.” Judge Dennis Allen presided over the swearing-in ceremony. Earp was also sworn in again, even though she was an incumbent. The board members solemnly swore to “support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the State of New Mexico, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office of school board member on which I am about to enter to the best of my ability, so help me, God.” Gooss said, “Well, it’s only a four-year sentence.”
All board members have the opportunity to attend the New Mexico School Boards Association 2024 Board Member Institute February 1st through 3rd in Santa Fe. The institute is to include speakers such as Lt. Governor Howie Morales, Mariana Padilla from the Office of the Governor, New Mexico Public Education Department Secretary Arsenio Romero, Senator Bill Soules, and others. Board members will have opportunities to visit with individual legislators at the State Capitol, and will be introduced in the state senate and house floor sessions. School finance and budget training, fiduciary responsibilities, funding formula, a federal update, as well as numerous breakout sessions were on schedule for the institute. All school board members are required to attend a minimum of five hours of training at school board conferences, workshops, or individualized trainings each year.
