Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

School board sets hiring timeline

CLOVIS - The Clovis Municipal Schools Board of Education will select the district's next superintendent on April 16, according to a timeline approved at Monday's special meeting.

The board met for 40 minutes in an executive session before announcing its timeline to find a successor to Superintendent Jody Balch, who announced at the board's Jan. 22 meeting that he would be retiring at the end of the school year.

In a motion made by member Shawn Hamilton, the board will contact the New Mexico School Boards Association "as soon as we can" to begin the process of finding local, state and national candidates.

The board selected the dates of April 5 to close the search, April 10 to select candidates to interview and April 16 to conduct interviews and make an announcement.

Outgoing board President Terry Martin said the number of candidates interviewed will be based on how many applications the district receives.

"We just want the district to continue in its present state and continue to grow and do good things for kids," board member Cindy Osburn said.

At the beginning of Monday's special meeting the board also approved the re-organization of its officers. Following a set rotation, Osburn moved to president, Kyle Snider became vice president and Paul Cordova was selected to serve as secretary.

Jelayne Curtis, executive administrative assistant to the superintendent, delivered the oath of office for Osburn and Snider. Cordova was absent on Monday.