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City extends recreation center closures, furloughs By Cody Begaye Sun Correspondent
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n June, the Gallup City Council approved the FY21 city budget, which included numerous reductions in services on city revenues and the governor’s public health orders restricting in-person gatherings due to the impact of the COVID pandemic. As a result, the budget called for the closure of city recreation centers, including Larry Brian Mitchell, Harold Runnels, the Aquatic Center, El Morro Theatre and Events
Center, Cecil Garcia Fitness Center and Red Rock Park Convention Center and Arena through Sept. 30. M e m b e r s h i p s fo r t h e Aquatic Center a nd Cecil Garcia Fitness Center were suspended as well. Fifty-four full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees were also furloughed through Sept. 30. About half of the positions were seasonal, and some furloughed employees were hired for other positions within the city. During the city council’s Sept. 22 meeting, City Manager Maryann Ustick said since they
Gallup City Manager Maryann Ustick File Photo have not received word when public centers will be able to open under the public health orders, the city recommended they extend the closures and furloughs through Oct. 31.
“No one can predict the course of this pandemic, but the best guidance I got from the Governor’s Office is there won’t be any changes in the restrictions in the next 30 days,” Ustick said. Dist. 4 Councilor Fran Palochak asked how quickly the city could bring furloughed employees back into work if the governor’s orders were to change. Ustick said the city would not be able to instantly reopen facilities or br ing employees back in and train them in proper procedures. “In the meantime, facility
staff are ordering cleaning supplies and PPE. We would probably need about a week to get that done. If we do get advance notice and I have asked for it, that will help us a bit,” Ustick said. Dist. 2 Councilor Michael Schaaf wanted to note it is difficult for the employees to continue to be furloughed. Ustick said the federal aid of $300600 a week has helped those employees, along with continued health insurance payments from the city. The city moved to extend the closures and furloughs until Oct. 31 by a 5-0 vote.
Thoreau Elementary School holds grand opening, building dedication By Cody Begaye Sun Correspondent
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he sky was clear on the morning of Sept. 15, which fit the mood at the new Thoreau Elementary School. Members from the GallupMcK inley County Schools Board of Education and staff from Thoreau Elementary were present for a grand opening ceremony and blessing of the new building. Numerous guests, students, and community members also attended the ceremony, following the proper safety protocols. Thoreau Elementary Principal Daryl Antone welcomed the crowd to what he called a wonderful, momentous event. “Our students, staff, and community members have been looking forward to this day for quite some time,” Antone said. Antone expressed his gratitude to the district superintendent; associate superintendents Tim Bond, Jvanna Hanks, and Dr. Pauletta White; and the five Board of Education members.
Students, staff, and community members attended a grand opening ceremony for the new Thoreau Elementary School building on Sept. 15. Photo Credit: Courtesy “They have worked very hard to make this building a reality for our students, staff, and community members,” he said. Antone also thanked a number of school dignitaries including Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and several state senators, all of whom he said were instrumental in making the new building a reality. “We have not only looked forward to this new elementary school building, but for it to instill a new desire in our students to continue to strive
forward towards excellence,” Antone said. “We encourage our students to be successful and become good community members and instill a desire for them to become educators in our Thoreau community.” Dist. 3 Boa rd Member Priscilla Manuelito was present for the ceremony. She spoke about the importance of the community’s roots and relationships. “My mom [has been here] for 45, 50 years. I see a lot of our colleagues here for our children. You know after that many years,
The Gallup-McKinley County Schools Board of Education, students and staff from Thoreau Elementary School, and guest speakers stand in front of the new Thoreau Elementary School building during a ceremony on Sept. 15. District Superintendent Mike Hyatt said the building is the result of years of planning and effort. Photo Credit: Courtesy the teachers and community are not just doing this for a paycheck. They’re doing it because they love our children,” she said. Manuelito attended Thoreau Elementary School and she said she formed many longtime friendships at the school, and the same could happen to current students. “The coaches, staff, cooks, and everyone else at the school, you touch the lives of these students. You guys are making a difference in their lives,
and what more can we say but ‘thank you’,” Manuelito said. Superintendent Mike Hyatt said it was a happy day for the community, but also a bittersweet one. “I have a lot of fond memories of the old school. It was actually the building that brought me to New Mexico when my wife started teaching
THOREAU ELEMENTARY | SEE PAGE 20
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