Floyd students begin 'exciting' year

The first day of school for students in the Floyd Municipal School District happened without a noticeably significant level of empty seats, Superintendent Damon Terry said Monday.

The opening of the school year followed weeks of disputes with the Public Education Department’s requirement for all elementary school students to wear a face mask in school.

The Floyd school board decided in a July 26 meeting to make the PED’s COVID-19 mitigation practices optional, and declined to change its stance in an Aug. 2 special meeting despite threats of suspension for noncompliance.

As a result, the state suspended the school board’s authority and stepped in to oversee the district last week.

“I have not noticed a level of significantly empty classrooms,” Terry told The News. “In the coming days we will be able to determine the enrollment numbers.”

About 220 students are in the Floyd school district.

Leon Nall, former president of the Floyd School Board, said on Monday that the constituents they represent “totally oppose” the PED’s guidelines.

“We have had parental input,” calls and emails, Nall said. “Parents said, ‘If you make my child wear a mask, I am going to take them somewhere else.’” Absolutely none (of the parents) wanted us to follow the mandates.”

The board members have obtained legal counsel, Nall said. The other suspended board members are Jeff Essary, Vicki Banister, Charlsea Lee and Ryan Bollema.

Asked why the parents oppose their children wearing the masks in class, Nall said he has been in Zoom meetings with teachers and also heard from parents. Students don’t like wearing the masks and are distracted by them, which makes learning difficult, he said.

The PED does not require masks at school for vaccinated students and staff, but vaccines are not approved for children under age 12.

“In-person learning for New Mexico children is my top priority,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a news release. “And with safety guidelines and unobtrusive health requirements in place, it can happen safely – and for the well-being and growth of our children, it must happen.”

“Until vaccinations are available to children of every age, it will be incumbent on each of us, in school environments, to do everything we can to minimize risk – and that includes face-coverings,” the governor added. “Various studies and federal data have shown school environments are and can be safe – and a return to comprehensive classroom activities is essential for the well-being and growth of New Mexico children.”

“Parents always have the choice to send or not send their child to school,” Terry said. “I was able to visit with several parents this morning, as they dropped off their students, and yes, a few parents refused to allow their children to attend.

“It’s always exciting on the first day of school to see students as they return. Today was another exciting day.”

On Tuesday afternoon, the PED announced Stan Rounds, the executive director of the New Mexico Coalition of Educational Leaders, will serve in place of the school board during the suspension. Rounds has been a superintendent in four New Mexico school districts.

“I want to be sure I don’t usurp Damon’s role. I’m there to serve him. He’s my only employee,” Rounds said in a PED release. “New Mexico communities are each uniquely wonderful. I see my task as one that assists the school children of Floyd, the teachers and staff who serve those children and to assure that we act in a responsibly fiduciary fashion to support the mission of the district.”