Exile over;
grandparents can return to Cibola schools

By Jim Tiffin
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Grandparents will again be allowed to work in the classrooms of the Grants-Cibola County schools after a few weeks away.

Gloria Chavez, assistant district superintendent told the school board Tuesday night a new agreement with the city of Grants will allow the program to begin again.

The program was stopped by Chavez when she learned privacy information about students, such as names, their diagnosis and their residence information was being given to the city in violation of the school district's privacy policy.

She said when she met with the senior center representatives she told them the privacy information was not negotiable.

"The confidential information on students they were requiring was not going to be disseminated and I would not allow it to be given to the volunteer program," she said

"I wanted to make sure though, that their funding sources were not in jeopardy with our new requirements."

She said the new agreement evens out the requirements to both sides, the previous one had about eight things the city program was doing and 25 from the school district.

The new agreement, called a "Memorandum of Understanding," states Eileen Sandoval is the liaison volunteer to work with the grandparents.

One of the main issues in the situation was the district requires all employees to be fingerprinted and have a background check. This costs about $55 and many of the grandparents were not able to afford it, she said.

The grandparents work about four hours a day in the classroom and get paid a $2 per hour stipend for their service.

Through funding sources within the Reading First program the district is operating, the costs of the fingerprinting and background checks will be paid for by the school district.

Barbara Wailes, a grandparent who works in one of the classrooms said one of the children asked "where is the old lady" and wanted her to come back.

She said she was eager to see him again and continue to work with him in class. The city provides training once a month for the grandparents. Chavez said the school district can also provide training.

"We have a lot of staff, so we will be able to add to the resources," Chavez said.

In a lighter moment, Wailes said her husband and dog were tired of her being at home and they wanted her back in the classroom.

Kilino Marquez, superintendent, said the grandparents not only keep the students in line, he was been chewed out by some of them a few times as well.