DeLaO returns to old beat on school board

Newly elected Gallup-McKinley County School Board member Joe DeLao raises his right hand as he is sworn into office Monday night by Judge Rhoda Hunt at the Gallup McKinley school's central offices on Boardman Avenue in Gallup. Re-elected board member J.R. Thompson was also sworn in for his new term during the board's meeting. (Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent)

By Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Joe DeLaO began his second career as a member of the Gallup-McKinley County School Board with one of the shortest meetings in recent memory.

The meeting lasted only 37 minutes and much of that time was taken up with approval of the minutes from the last meeting and the swearing-in of DeLaO and Johnny R. Thompson by Magistrate Judge Rhonda Hunt.

DeLaO defeated incumbent member Bill Bright and Thompson won re-election. The other candidate, Dr. Bruce Tempest, who was unopposed, was not present and will be sworn in at a later time.

"It's great to be back," said DeLaO, who had served on served on the school board from 1997 to 2001.

DeLaO had worked for the district for 30 years before retiring in 1995.

"I'm hoping a lot of good will come about during the next four years," he added.

He shouldn't have a hard time getting adjusted to being a member of the board again since he knows most of the assistant superintendents, although he said many of them were principals when he first served on the board.

"I'm listening to people right now," he said, adding that he is making himself available to community members as well as school personnel from his district, which includes a number of schools in the city and to the west of the city.

His biggest priority, he said, is to visit each of the schools in his district and talk to staff about the problems they are facing.