Update general-ci-tests.yml with black formatting job & simple checkout

Move checkout from default_params_job to separate job (simple_checkout) and list as a "need" on the check_default_params and black_check.. job

.github/workflows/general-ci-tests.yml

@@ -35,8 +35,7 @@ jobs:
   #         echo Add other actions to build,
   #         echo test, and deploy your project.
 
-  # Job to run the check_default_params test
-  check_default_params_job:
+  simple_checkout:
     # The type of runner that the job will run on
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
@@ -45,11 +44,30 @@ jobs:
       # Checks-out your repository under $GITHUB_WORKSPACE, so your job can access it
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      # Runs a set of commands using the runners shell:
-      # Install pip
-      # Install yaml with pip
-      # Run test
+  # Job to run the check_default_params test
+  check_default_params_job:
+    # The type of runner that the job will run on
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs: simple_checkout
+    # Steps represent a sequence of tasks that will be executed as part of the job
+    steps:
+      # Runs the test
       - name: Run the check_default_params script
         run: python tests/check_default_params.py
+
+  # Job to run the black formatter for cime_config
+  black_check_for_cime_config:
+    # The type of runner that the job will run on
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs: simple_checkout
+    # Steps represent a sequence of tasks that will be executed as part of the job
+    steps:
+      # Run black check
+      - uses: psf/black@stable
+        with:
+          options: "--check --verbose"
+          src: "./cime_config"
+
+