GRANTS - Unofficial results show that the voters of Cibola County approved school bond and two-mil levy funds to finance school building and improvement projects. The bond issue tallied 819 voters approving the measure with 283 opposing it. The two-mill levy contest garnered 709 favorable votes and 326 votes in opposition.

    Superintendent of the Grants/Cibola County School District Kilino Marquez said, “We've been worried about what that the state legislature will do in regard to the schools. The economy in general is not positive, so we are especially appreciative of the voters of Cibola County.

    “Coming forward to support the children of the county is very appreciated by us,” he added. “The vote shows that we're helping ourselves, so now the state will come forward and help us. When we apply for state funding, they ask if we are bonded to capacity. If not, then they move on to the next school district,” he explained.

    The continuation of the general obligation bonds in the amount of $7 million will fund remodeling and additions to existing buildings, furnishing the buildings, purchasing or improving school grounds, purchasing computer software and hardware for use by students and providing matching funds for capital outlay projects funded by the Public School Capital Outlay Act.

    The two-mil levy is a continuation of the current Cibola County tax rate and will provide about $2 million a year for the schools. These funds can be used for the same purposes as the bond money, but can also be applied to maintenance, vehicle costs and staff training, but cannot be used for salaries.

Previous projects funded by these sources include Grants and Laguna-Acoma High Schools and the ongoing renovation and expansion of Milan Elementary School. The district received and invested $9 million garnered from the last bond and mill levy election in 2006.

    Impending capital outlay projects include the renovation of Cubero Elementary School, construction of the GHS Performing Arts Center, upgrades of playgrounds at district elementary schools, completion of the athletic complexes, upgrades of air conditioning systems, fire systems, security systems and safety systems at various school sites.

    “I think that Beacon coverage of the election really made the difference in the vote. The newspaper showed the public how our facilities have been improved with these funds,” Marquez concluded.