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The DOJ recently claimed that North Carolina’s controversial HB2 legislation violated Title VII and Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, putting federal funding the state receives in jeopardy.

LCPS has a policy prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of gender identity, and the board has worked closely with Equality New Mexico to create “Safe Zones” for LGBTQ students.

LCPS spokeswoman Jo Galván told board members the district has always addressed the needs of transgender students on an individual basis.

“We talk to families about the needs of their child,” Galván said. “More often than not, the nurse’s office bathroom is offered as an accommodation. We have kids already who are transgender. (As to locker rooms), they change somewhere else. So, individually, we have for many years been able to address that issue. But because there was a ruling from the president, it became a front-issue topic.”

Galván said she fielded numerous phone calls from parents who expressed concern over male students being allowed to use the girls’ bathrooms.

The board agreed it would continue with the practice of working closely with students and families to address the individual needs of each student. While no vote was taken, board members expressed their support for the district’s current practice, and President Maria Flores recommended “formalizing it” by adding it to the district’s regulations.

Finance update

The board also received an update from Chief Financial Officer Terry Dean on the district’s budget outlook for the coming year. The district finished fiscal year 2016 with a cash balance of $10.6 million — $3.1 million more than Dean anticipated.

He said part of the savings came from the state Public Education Department agreeing to cover the cost of the district’s PARCC testing, which saved $450,000. The district also saved money by discontinuing research services and underutilized software, which it no longer finds useful.

Dean previously said a cooler fall last year led to a savings of nearly $1 million in energy costs, and the district received about $250,000 more than anticipated from the federal eRate program, which subsidizes broadband internet connectivity for schools.

He said New Mexico’s current budget deficit could signal choppy waters for the year ahead, particularly if the state Legislature decides in a special session to reduce funding for public schools.

“It could mean a $4 million reduction in our budget — worst-case scenario,” Dean said, adding that he felt it was unlikely.

Central Office shakeup

Interim Superintendent Steven Sanchez announced Crystal Valdez will take over as the district’s chief financial officer on Sept. 1. Dean will retire on Aug. 31.

Sanchez also told board members former Mesa Middle School Principal Gabe Jacquez has been named associate superintendent for operations. That position has been vacant since June 2015, when Dane Kennon retired. Last year, Dean picked up the slack, serving as the district’s CFO/COO.

Jacquez had been chosen to take over as principal of Lynn Middle School, which this year will become the district’s first community school. Rey Gomez will now serve as interim principal of Lynn, and Jacquez will work closely with the community school project, Sanchez said.

An open house is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, where the community school project will be discussed.

The board also heard updates on the ongoing community schools initiative, which is being spearheaded by Ngage New Mexico. Administrators told the board they haven’t yet heard the final results for the “XQ: The Super School Project” competition, but that LCPS’ design for Humanity High School is a finalist for the $10 million grant.

Damien Willis may be reached at 575-541-5468, dawillis@lcsun-news.com or @damienwillis on Twitter.

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