Nataani Nez Elementary School closes for consolidation efforts

Shiprock schools are closing while kirtland schools "..will receive renovations or additions..."

Maybe all part of a "master plan" by the mannings??
The district should consolidate the business & HR dept into the emptying buildings in shiprock, thus saving even more $$$$

Sounds like a lot of headaches and hassles. But then again CCSD has always done things the most difficult way. When something can be taken care of easily, they make it a major production. Thank goodness, I am out of that district. To all my teacher buds out there, hang in there. Best wishes to all.

I hope Mrs. Begay (NNez principal) doesn't get left out of a job. Sounds like she has been there and dedicated her time well. That school made AYP last year.

This about education, falling enrollment and budget shortfalls. This is not about keeping jobs and facilities open that are not needed. This is the big difference between Government-run schools and those run by an elected governing school board. Navajos generally don't care about the real costs of providing a service because that is what they are used to. We need to learn to "tighten up our belt" during tough economic times just like everybody else. This is not about chapterhouse politics and employment favors. Let's learn to live in the real world.

The school closing, renovations, and re-shuffling students is all due to Navajos moving off the reservation for more job opportunities and a better way of living. They are tired of their Navajo Nation governement non-action is improving their lifestyles. Your tax dollars are being infused into Albuquerque, Phoenix, Farmington, Denver, Flagstaff, Gallup, Salt Lake City, etc....Expect more school closing in the near future if the ECONOMICS on the Navajo Reservation do not improve

aww man, that kinda blows. went there lomg time ago...

Everything is connected. When unemployment rose at 8.8%, the Navajo Nation remains at 53.2%. There is a huge wave of mobility for Navajo family seeking work in Albuquerque, Farmington, Phoenix, Denver, El Paso, and towns in California. 40% of Navajo families left CCSD a couple of years ago that impacted enrollment. The district lossed $2 million. CCSD will expect to lose more enrollment in SY2011 or by August 2010. That hit will be realized in SY2012. This shuffling of students are necessary to keep teachers. My question is, shouldn't the cuts come from the administration on down? There are too many people working in administation now.

hmm wrote:

Shiprock schools are closing while kirtland schools "..will receive renovations or additions..."
Maybe all part of a "master plan" by the mannings??
The district should consolidate the business & HR dept into the emptying buildings in shiprock, thus saving even more $$$$

Why are there always those who want to make it about the Mannings or competition between Kirtland and Shiprock? Reread the article. Kirtland Early Childhood Center is closing with the students moving to Kirtland Elementary. Also the Naschitti and Newcomb elementary schools will be rebuilt. Should the people in Kirtland be upset that none are being rebuilt? Grow up. It's about economics, not race.

Real World wrote:

This about education, falling enrollment and budget shortfalls. This is not about keeping jobs and facilities open that are not needed. This is the big difference between Government-run schools and those run by an elected governing school board. Navajos generally don't care about the real costs of providing a service because that is what they are used to. We need to learn to "tighten up our belt" during tough economic times just like everybody else. This is not about chapterhouse politics and employment favors. Let's learn to live in the real world.

CCSD is nothing like the Real World which you pretend to live in. From what I've seen, the Mannings try to run everything how they want, behind and in front of Epperson. You have coaches, who don't know how to coach the teachers, and an extremely top heavy Administration and all of the Directors, and high paid personnel, who are extremely overpaid. If this is about education, then get rid of all of the $70,000 to $100,000 people who shouldn't be paid so much, and get a job in the Real World, where they would get about 1/2 as much as what they get at CCSD. If the District thinks they will be saving a bunch of money from transportation, do they even look at gas prices, and mantenance of the buses? Get Real, Real World, and move into the real world and out of your high paying job at CCSD.

That's too bad. That was the first school I went to. I still remember how it looked inside. It's probably changed a lot since then, but it takes me back to the 80's.:)

I hope whatever CCSD does, it works out for them.

goodgrief wrote:

<quoted text>
Why are there always those who want to make it about the Mannings or competition between Kirtland and Shiprock? Reread the article. Kirtland Early Childhood Center is closing with the students moving to Kirtland Elementary. Also the Naschitti and Newcomb elementary schools will be rebuilt. Should the people in Kirtland be upset that none are being rebuilt? Grow up. It's about economics, not race.

The part you're leaving out is that Epperson and CCSD Construction Director Dennis Fieldsted, who just happens to be a Bishop in Byron Manning's church, plan to demolish Nataani Nez so it can never be reopen if enrollment goes BACK UP. That means the hundreds of Shiprock students going to school in Kirtland can never come back. The Kirtland CHildhood Center is going to stay open as a preschool. No one is planning to demolish it.

Why doesn't Epperson have enough guts to come to the Chapter to tell the community about this in person? He hides behind Mannings, Fieldsted, etc. and makes them do his dirty work.

Here we go again jumping to conclusions.

It is most interesting to note the title which was used to mask the closing of NNES. There are still many unanswered questions I have as a parent of three students who attend this school district. What happened to the monies set-aside for renovation of NNES? What are the numbers of students leaving unmet-AYP Shiprock schools? How many students per class once shuffling of kids has happened? Are the facilities at Nizhoni ES set-up for pre-schoolers? Why weren't teachers notified of the school district's intent? I really wonder how much communities were involved leading up to the 32-member steering committee, how many were from the communities effected on the reservation? We need to ask these and other questions, efforts to close a school on the reservation is a reflection of another broken promise under the Treaty of 1868.

At-What-Cost wrote:

<quoted text>
CCSD is nothing like the Real World which you pretend to live in. From what I've seen, the Mannings try to run everything how they want, behind and in front of Epperson. You have coaches, who don't know how to coach the teachers, and an extremely top heavy Administration and all of the Directors, and high paid personnel, who are extremely overpaid. If this is about education, then get rid of all of the $70,000 to $100,000 people who shouldn't be paid so much, and get a job in the Real World, where they would get about 1/2 as much as what they get at CCSD. If the District thinks they will be saving a bunch of money from transportation, do they even look at gas prices, and maintenance of the buses? Get Real, Real World, and move into the real world and out of your high paying job at CCSD.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I don't work for ANYBODY. I am retired. I am a Navajo that understands demographics, economics and budgets. Your reaction is a typical, ignorant response. Nothing is due to economics and changing demographics, SOMEBODY has to be to blame, blame the Mannings, blame your neighbors for using witchcraft, blame the the white people. Quit your whining and join the real world. Spend some time getting educated instead of blaming and crying the blues. Roll with the punches or take it on the chin. The real world pays people what they are worth. Pay is not based on 1/2 of what "other people get". You must be one of those "teachers" at the head-start program that works for $14.00/hour. That high school diploma and a funky-doodle certificate isn't worth much, is it.

SHS Parent wrote:

<quoted text>
The part you're leaving out is that Epperson and CCSD Construction Director Dennis Fieldsted, who just happens to be a Bishop in Byron Manning's church, plan to demolish Nataani Nez so it can never be reopen if enrollment goes BACK UP. That means the hundreds of Shiprock students going to school in Kirtland can never come back. The Kirtland CHildhood Center is going to stay open as a preschool. No one is planning to demolish it.
Why doesn't Epperson have enough guts to come to the Chapter to tell the community about this in person? He hides behind Mannings, Fieldsted, etc. and makes them do his dirty work.

It's the best thing that could happen. Maybe Navajo students will learn to read and write. Maybe even speak proper English. As it is now, Navajos leaving the education system in Shiprock cannot compete in the Real World. Dispute that. The real world does not revolve around a chapter. Why would intelligent people want to subject themselves to chapter house antics, it's just a zoo. Those corny "resolutions" arn't worth the paper they're written on. You know that. Join the real world.

Concerned parent wrote:

It is most interesting to note the title which was used to mask the closing of NNES. There are still many unanswered questions I have as a parent of three students who attend this school district. What happened to the monies set-aside for renovation of NNES? What are the numbers of students leaving unmet-AYP Shiprock schools? How many students per class once shuffling of kids has happened? Are the facilities at Nizhoni ES set-up for pre-schoolers? Why weren't teachers notified of the school district's intent? I really wonder how much communities were involved leading up to the 32-member steering committee, how many were from the communities effected on the reservation? We need to ask these and other questions, efforts to close a school on the reservation is a reflection of another broken promise under the Treaty of 1868.

Wow! Just what part of this don't you understand? This is a public school governed by an elected school board. Send your kids to a boarding school that is "garenteed" by the treaty of 18 whatever. Join the real world. No shaw! Take your kids out of the dark ages.

"The school closing, renovations, and re-shuffling students is all due to Navajos moving off the reservation for more job opportunities and a better way of living. They are tired of their Navajo Nation governement non-action is improving their lifestyles. Your tax dollars are being infused into Albuquerque, Phoenix, Farmington, Denver, Flagstaff, Gallup, Salt Lake City, etc....Expect more school closing in the near future if the ECONOMICS on the Navajo Reservation do not improve "
Wow people take notice of this comment, so true on many aspects of economics. If this Richardson hippie continues to take away our resources in the Four Corners Area what the hell has he done for the Navajo Nation in general??? Please put your two cents into that!!!

If we had some Navajo Leadership, we as well as our children would not have to leave our land to seek our fortunes elsewhere. We get plenty of money and we have a lot of resources, but they are stolen, squandered and pilleged. We need a drastic change of leadership. No CDs, old school politicians, ex-cons or other riff-raff. Navajos keep electing the same old tired thieves. Time for SHARON!

Blame, blame, blame somebody else. Place the blame where it should be, on the Navajo leadership or lack thereof. There is nothing left for the "Richardson hippie" or anyone else. Existing Navajo politicians steal everything that isn't tied down. Some Navajo kids (wanna be gangsters) destroy and vandalize the rest. Dispute that.

Real World wrote:

<quoted text>
Wow! Just what part of this don't you understand? This is a public school governed by an elected school board. Send your kids to a boarding school that is "garenteed" by the treaty of 18 whatever. Join the real world. No shaw! Take your kids out of the dark ages.

I think that is suppose to be "guaranteed." Wonder which school you're a product of ... I understand what type of school this is and as I stated"...a reflection of ..." And that is the, "Treaty of 1868," might want to consider taking Navajo History 101. Join the real world and try to understand what parents may have to grapple with in complex situations as the topic of this forum rather than to be condescending on this important topic.