The Mesa Vista School Board voted to extend Superintendent Robert Archuleta’s contract an additional year in a controversial move that marked the second time in his tenure that he has received an extension in the days after a School Board election.
Board members Janet Martinez, Steve Archuleta and Braen Alire Terrazas voted for the extension while Board President Joe Gurule and Board Vice President Fernando Gurule dissented. Fernando Gurule attempted to table the vote until newly elected Marvin Jaramillo takes office March 1. Jaramillo won election earlier this month and will replace Terrazas.
Terrazas defended her vote.
“I’ve been here for the last few years,” Terrazas said. “I believe that I know more of his performance than what the incoming Board member might now. He’s done a great job.”
Fernando Gurule said he did not agree with Terrazas’ statement and her vote given that she was an outgoing member.
“Mr. Archuleta still has a year in his contract,” Fernando Gurule said. “He would’ve been working another year with Mr. Jaramillo. I’m sure Mr. Jaramillo and Mr. Archuleta would’ve learned how to work together and with what’s going on in the school district. It was a political game. That’s what it was. They’re not thinking about the kids and that’s why I voted against it.”
With the contract extension, Archuleta will remain superintendant until 2011. He currently makes $102,900 a year.
“My pet peeve is that every other individual that works here from the janitors to the teachers have one year contracts,” Fernando Gurule said. “Why should he be exempt from a year to year basis?”
Jaramillo is seen as an ally to both Gurules, while Archuleta and Terrazas have been seen as Robert Archuleta’s strongest supporters. The Gurules and Martinez had voted just last year to deny an extension for Archuleta. Jaramillo could not be reached for comment after the meeting.
Martinez changed her mind because she wants to see Archuleta finish the El Rito Elementary renovation project.
“He started a project in El Rito that’s not completed, and I’d like to see him finish it,” she said.
Archuleta said he was pleased with the vote because he had hoped to finish his career with Mesa Vista. He had planned to apply for the soon-to-be vacant Española School District superintendent position if the extension had not been approved.
Steve Archuleta and Terrazas were part of the four-member Board faction that gave Robert Archuleta a two-year extension in February 2007 just after Fernando Gurule and Martinez were elected but prior to them joining the Board.
Robert Archuleta said he was there for the students.
“Now with the three to two majority (vote), as far as I’m concerned, to me not having a majority of 5-0 is immaterial,” Archuleta said. “Whatever direction the Board gives me, I’m a good soldier and I will do.”