Ganado protesters target school officials

Community members and parents held a demonstration near the entrance to Ganado High School Thursday morning. Some parents of students in the Ganado Unified School District have been concerned with safety issues at the school. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Karen Francis

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

GANADO — About a dozen parents and community members demonstrated in front of Ganado High School Tuesday morning. The demonstrators raised concerns with the school, especially over safety issues.

“We are concerned about our school — our grandchildren go to the school,” Nellie M. Begay said as she held signs alongside other demonstrators.

Later in the day, an unknown number of high school students conducted a walk-out, but Ganado Unified School District Superintendent Deborah Dennison stated in a written response to questions from the Independent that the majority of the student body was not involved.

“It is not clear whether these students left the school campus in support of the demonstrators outside the Ganado High School or what the purpose of them leaving school was,” Dennison stated.

The demonstrators that the Independent spoke to wanted to bring attention to issues of violence in the school. Some said they are tired of their concerns being ignored.

Matilda Hubbell said she has to constantly call a family friend to check on her children after one was involved in a fight at school — a fight that Hubbell said was an attack on her child.

“When you go to the superintendent’s office, she’s gone or the first thing they tell you is, ‘chain of command,’” Hubbell said.

She has tried to follow the chain of command, she said, but has gotten nowhere.

Charnell Yazzie, a student, said that she hardly ever sees the principal and there are very few security guards in the hallways. She is concerned about the fights that she sees in the school.

Eugene James was also demonstrating outside the high school.

“I have kids in the school and I’m really disappointed with how the school is going and I want some changes,” he said.

If changes aren’t made, he is considering pulling his child out of the school, he said.

In her statement, Dennison said that the school district is concentrating its energy on the serious problems caused by state budget cuts and funding to public schools.