Hearing set for embattled Zuni school head

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff writer

ZUNI — The New Mexico Public Education Department has set an administrative hearing in April for Zuni School Superintendent Kaye L. Peery.

Peery was placed on administrative leave in January by the Zuni Public School District Board of Education after the state education department notified Peery it was considering suspending or revoking her educational licenses. The department’s notice outlined a dozen allegations of professional misconduct against Peery.

Wesley Lane of Cloudcroft is currently serving as interim superintendent.

Peery’s hearing is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 13, in the gymnasium of A:shiwi Elementary School, said Andy Lenderman, a spokesman for the New Mexico Public Education Department. The state has scheduled four and a half days for the hearing, he said. The administrative hearing will be open to the public, Lenderman explained, unless Peery asks the hearing officer to close the hearing and the hearing officer agrees to that request.

According to information posted on the education department’s Web site, a certified court reporter will be in attendance to take down and produce a transcript of the proceedings. After listening to the testimony of witnesses and examining all the evidence presented during the hearing, the hearing officer will render a final recommendation, generally within 30 days of the close of the record. That recommendation then goes to New Mexico Secretary of Education Dr. Veronica Garcia for a final decision. There is an appeal process in place for an educator who chooses to appeal the decision.

In other ZPSD news, a new Zuni school board will be seated on Monday, March 9, at the 6:30 p.m. meeting at the Twin Buttes High School multi-purpose room. Newly elected school board members Virginia R. Chavez and Carmelita A. Sanchez will take their places on the board.