 Superintendent Harvielee Moore (Deming) – Deming School officials are standing by the information disseminated – or not disseminated – to Deming High seniors before the October retakes of the Standard Based Assessment
Superintendent Harvielee Moore said she believed all information received by the district had been adequately communicated to students – although she admitted that she was not personally aware of exactly what seniors were told about state-mandated graduation requirements for the class of 2013. Moore, and Assessment and Accountability Director Terri Trejo, both pointed to a memo from State Education Secretary-designate Hanna Skandera to school superintendents dated August 31st which said students must “exhaust all opportunities to show competency on the SBA” before alternative demonstrations of competency can be considered.
But the same memo lists alternative demonstrations of competency as simply passing the courses required for graduation.
So this year’s seniors who do not pass the SBA with a score of 73 or better will still receive a diploma as long as they pass Biology or Chemistry, Algebra II, Language Arts III and U.S. History, along with other credit requirements.
Moore said the information coming from the state department of education is constantly changing and often confusing, but that she and her administration were acting in the best interests of the students by telling them that the safest path to a diploma was to do their best
on the retakes.
Scores achieved on the retakes will not be known until next month. And to further confuse parents, the graduation requirements for the class of 2014 include passing the SBA or passing
end-of-course exams for the four targeted classes – even if students took the classes as a freshman or sophomore.
And the class of 2015 could have an entirely different set of state-created graduation requirements since those students will come under the new Common Core Standards curriculum.
 (Deming) – The Deming School Board will meet in regular
session Thursday.
Included on the agenda is approval of the Deming Intermediate School handbook for this school year.
Also, Superintendent Harvielee Moore and her staff will report on a U.S. Teaching Ambassador Fellowship Program and a review of instructional audits.
The meeting is set to begin at 5 p.m. in the board room of the Emmett Shockley Administration Building, 400 Cody Road.The meeting is open to the public.
A closed session to discuss limited personnel, pending or threatened litigation and the former Columbus School building and other properties will precede the open meeting at 4 p.m.
 Brian Dunnihoo Deming) – A Deming School District official has been arrested on charges of criminal sexual penetration and contact of a minor involving a family member.
53-year-old Brian Dunnihoo is facing three counts of criminal sexual penetration of a minor – all first-degree felonies, and two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor, both third-degree felonies.
Dunnihoo is the director of facilities and construction management for the Deming Public School district.
The allegations cover a six-year period, beginning in 1996, when the victim was about seven years old, and continued until the victim was approximately 13. The victim is now an adult and lives in another state.
The investigation began in April of this year, after the victim notified a New Mexico State Police officer about the abuse.
According to the criminal affidavit, Dunnihoo agreed to meet with State Police Investigator Paul Vaughn in early June about the allegations, but declined the interview the following day through his attorney.
A warrant was issued for Dunihoo’s arrest Friday, and he was picked up Monday night. The warrant lists his bond at $80,000 cash only.
 (Deming) – The state Public Education Commission rejected the applications for two new charter schools in Luna County.
Both applications were denied unanimously by commission members, following the
recommendation of the state Public Education Department’s staff members.
Organizers have been trying for several years to get the state to approve a charter school in Columbus which would serve 7th through 12th grade students living in southern Luna County,
including American citizen students living in Palomas, Mexico.
Supporters said the school would have featured a non-traditional school year, longer school day and partner organizations, and would have allowed parents to be more involved in their children’s education.
And organizers petitioned for another charter school in Deming. The Academic Opportunities Academy would have been a self-paced, individualized, multi-grade educational program serving grades 1-12 using a detailed curriculum mapping database.
Both groups said they would appeal the commission’s decision to State Public Education Secretary-designate Hanna Skandera.
 Harvielee Moore (Deming) – The Deming School Board will meet in regular session Thursday.
Included on the agenda is a bullying prevention framework… the first reading of the Athletic and Activity Handbook and the Deming Middle School Student Handbook… consideration of the New Mexico Grads contract… and a memorandum of understanding with Tierra Blanca Ranch.
The meeting is set to begin at 5 p.m. in the board room of the Emmett Shockley Administration Building, 400 Cody Road. The meeting is open to the public.
A closed session to discuss Superintendent Harvielee Moore’s evaluation, the assignment or resignation of an employee, pending or threatened litigation and the former Columbus School building and other properties will precede the open meeting at 3 p.m.
 SWNM State Fair Parade (photo: realtown.com) (Deming) – The decision to change the Southwestern New Mexico State Fair dates means Deming school students will not get a day off of school to attend the fair.
Fair board members reportedly moved the Deming fair dates to assure that the annual attraction featured a carnival. The fair will now be held October 10th-14th, moved from the last week of this month.
But the new fair dates conflict with Deming High School’s homecoming – a date that was set by a statewide calendar and approved by the New Mexico Activities Association over a year ago.
Since Deming school officials cannot move homecoming, they have announced they are working with the fair board to merge activities or compromise on event times to make the weekend successful for all.
But Friday, October 12th – the Friday of the fair – will be a regular day for students, teachers and staff.
And, Friday, September 28th – list as “Fair Day” in the school calendar – will be an in-service day for teachers and staff members, but students will not attend school.
 (Deming) – The state Public Education Commission will meet in Santa Fe this week to take action on 14 charter school applications – including two in Luna County.
Organizers have been trying to get the state to approve a charter school in Columbus which would serve 7th through 12th grade students living in southern Luna County, including American citizen students living in Palomas, Mexico.
Supporters say the school – which would feature a non-traditional school year, longer school day and partner organizations – also would allow parents to be more involved in their children’s education.
And organizers have petitioned for another charter school in Deming. The Academic Opportunities Academy would be a self-paced, individualized, multi-grade educational program serving grades 1-12 using a detailed curriculum mapping database.
The Public Education Commission met with Columbus and Deming residents and officials last month to receive input on the proposed charter schools.
The state’s Charter School division will make recommendations on the applications to the commission Wednesday and Thursday, then applicants will have 15 minutes to make their presentations.
Following a question-and-comment period, the commission members will vote to approve or deny each application.
 (Deming) – The state Public Education Commission will be in Deming and Columbus Wednesday to hear public comments on proposals for new charter schools.
The commission’s Columbus meeting is set for 9-10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Columbus Community Center.
Organizers are trying to get the state to approve a charter school in Columbus to serve 7th through 12th grade students living in southern Luna County, to include American citizen students living in Palomas, Mexico.
Supporters say the school – which would feature a non-traditional school year, longer school day and partner organizations – also would allow parents to be more involved in their children’s education.
And organizers are petitioning for another charter school in Deming. The Academic Opportunities Academy would be a self-paced, individualized, multi-grade educational program serving grades 1-12 using a detailed curriculum mapping database.
The Deming meeting is set for 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in the conference center at 119 East Pine Street.
Both meetings are part of a statewide swing this week by the state Public Education Commission which includes stops in Taos, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Gadsden, Alamogordo and Carlsbad.
There are applications pending before the commission to establish 14 new charter schools.
The commission will meet next month in Santa Fe to vote on whether to approve the schools.
 (Deming) – Deming Intermediate School students will begin school Monday greeted by a new, illuminated sign.
The new sign, sponsored by First New Mexico Bank, features Charlie Wildcat and space for messages and announcements about school activities and events.Deming Intermediate School, which serves Deming’s sixth grade students, is located on West Ash Street.Crews installed the new sign this week.
Superintendent Harvielee Moore said the district is grateful for the donation and support from First New Mexico Bank, adding that the district would not have been able to afford a new sign on its own.
Moore also pointed out that First New Mexico Bank is a major supporter of Deming schools and students, and has sponsored
signs at every other school in the district with the exception of Torres and Chaparral elementaries, which have signs sponsored by Deming Coca-Cola.
Deming students begin the 2012-2013 school year on Monday.
Deming Intermediate School
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New sign at Deming Intermediate School
| (Deming) - Crews installed a new sign at Deming Intermediate School just in time to welcome students back to school Monday. The sign is Illuminated and will display announcements to students (and those driving on West Ash Street). The sign has the Deming’s Charlie Cat.. and the First New Mexico Bank Logo. What do you think about the new sign?
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