School board bids farewell to president at meeting

The finale for the outgoing president of the Tucumcari Public Schools board of education was a short one — a meeting of barely 10 minutes.

Leif Gray, president of the board, did not run for re-election, and its regular meeting on Dec. 13 was his last.

“It’s been a pleasure to get to know you all, and I’ve learned a lot,” Gray said shortly before gaveling the meeting to adjournment.

Gray’s fellow board members, Heather Gonzales and Matthew Pacheco, thanked him for his service. Bo Wallace and Jerry Lopez were absent.

Robert Lucero, who won the election in November for Gray’s District 3, will replace Gray in January.

Assistant superintendent David Johnson acted in place of superintendent Aaron McKinney, who Johnson said was under a COVID-19 quarantine the rest of the week.

The board took no action other than approving its usual consent agenda.