Students confront superintendent Greg Ewing at Las Cruces school board meeting
Following a report on the Columbia Elementary School, Centennial student says he was punished for speaking out
Algernon D'Ammassa
Ewing rebutted "fictional" rumors about Columbia/Centennial situation
Student president accuses Ewing of retaliation
District points to student handbook and code of conduct
LAS CRUCES - Several students and family members from Centennial High School vented frustration over the extended residency of Columbia Elementary School on the high school's campus at Tuesday afternoon's school board meeting.
Approximately 400 elementary school students have been placed in a building on Centennial's campus after their school building was evacuated in September due to severe and persistent mold infestations that have plagued the 15-year-old building since shortly after it opened.
Last month, the board authorized demolishing the building and constructing a new one elsewhere on the same property. Superintendent Greg Ewing announced that Columbia's students would remain at Centennial for the duration of work on their new building.
Speakers at Tuesday's meeting had less to say about difficulties created by Columbia's presence than about Ewing and the school board, with several complaining of a lack of transparency and personal retaliation by the superintendent.
Ewing rebuts 'fictional statements'
Preceding public comments, Ewing gave an address that rebutted rumors that have swirled since last month's announcement, and intensified after a School Advisory Council meeting at the high school on March 11 reportedly devolved into chaos.
"Centennial High School was built to accommodate 2,058 students. Currently, the administration predicts 1,650 high school students on the campus next year in addition to the 400 elementary students from Columbia," Ewing said. "Centennial was operating with several vacant classrooms and a building, and the district simply allowed the Columbia teachers to utilize those classrooms."
After making his case that the decision to house Columbia at Centennial was the safest and most cost-effective under the circumstances, he pledged to listen to the staff, students and families connected to both schools.
More: Las Cruces Columbia Elementary settles in at Centennial High campus
Ewing then addressed "fictional statements" of which he had been made aware.
"Individuals believe we are going to uproot parking lots, dismantle chemistry labs and spend enormous amounts of funding on redesigning Centennial," Ewing said. "I was even told that a Centennial student was asked to take her AP exam sitting on the gym floor. These statements simply are not true. For example, AP exams haven't even been given."
'I know that you're coming after me'
Among the Centennial students who came to the podium for public comments was student body president Cameron Castillo, 17, who was briefly suspended from office by school administrators last week. He told the Sun-News he was reinstated on Friday.
Castillo was disciplined following a School Advisory Council meeting at the school last week.
On March 11, School Advisory Council President Pearie Bruder convened a regular public meeting with the Columbia situation on the agenda. She announced that the format would be small discussion groups rather than a single forum.
Accounts of what happened next vary, but school board President Ed Frank confirmed that he left the meeting after arguments ensued over the format, as did Ewing. Board member Ray Jaramillo stayed.
In an interview with the Sun-News on Monday, Castillo said that he and other student leaders considered the SAC meeting to have been adjourned for focus groups, and felt they were within their rights to convene a student government meeting to allow for group discussion.
In a Tuesday statement, the district said it cannot comment about individual students, but said, citing the school's student handbook, that "students may be disciplined for conduct that interferes with the lawful mission, process or function of the school."
On Tuesday, Castillo accused the board of encouraging student advocacy about gun violence in the recent past, while threatening to suspend students who questioned the administration. He then turned to face Ewing.
"Mr. Superintendent, I know that you're coming after me," Castillo said. "I understand that very well ... you are not going to get rid of me and you're not going to get rid of the voice of the students."
More: District rebuilding Columbia Elementary School: Here's what we know
Other speakers raised concerns about student leaders being punished for speaking out, while others asked how the district would pay for rebuilding Columbia beyond available state funds, and about oversight of the general obligation bond issue approved by voters in 2018.
'A climate of fear'
Adult speakers told the board that some staff are afraid to express views contrary to the administration.
"I will not go silent any longer," Maria Pacheco said. "I will say what needs to be said for all those teachers who cannot speak their mind ... because they don't want to be fired or moved to another school for just voicing an opinion that differs from leadership."
Paul Rydecki, introducing himself as the parent of a Centennial student, called the decision to build a new school rather than remodel the present building a waste of money. He opposed keeping Columbia students on campus and complained that parents had not been sufficiently consulted.
Rydecki said that he had heard "story after story" from district teachers about "retaliatory acts and strong-arm tactics" by the administration, and complained of a "climate of fear that is brewing in our district."
'It's the right thing to do'
At the close of public comments, as Ewing prepared to give his regular report to the board, at least one-third of the room stood and walked out.
Later in the meeting, Mary Parr-Sanchez, president-elect of the National Education Association of New Mexico, took the floor to say that Centennial's acceptance of the Columbia students was right "because families sometimes have to make sacrifices and we do it because it's right thing to do."
Board member Terrie Dallman thanked her, saying, "This is the part that the news will not report. We, as a district, are a family and we need to embrace all of our children."
She said the two schools had received an outpouring of support in positive messages sent to the district, in contrast to the complaints brought to Tuesday's meeting.
"I see this as a selfish situation," Dallman said, "so I'm saddened that everyone has left and that this will not make it to the news."
Algernon D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-541-5451, adammassa@lcsun-news.com or @AlgernonActor on Twitter.
Opinion:Centennial students seek better solution for sharing their campus with Columbia students