Officials: No change in fair or school schedules

CLOVIS — Officials clarified Tuesday that in spite of periodic conflicts between the Curry County Fair and the start of school, it would not be realistic to try to reschedule either in the coming years.

The issue came up in the Curry County Commission’s regular meeting when Commissioner Chet Spear spoke about concerns conveyed to him in the past couple of years by various students, parents and others.

“We understand that for kids in our (agriculture) program, or other kids showing animals ... there’s going to be some times missed during the fair, and they’re responsible for making up their work, and we’re going to give them time to make up their work,” said Clovis Municipal Schools Superintendent Jody Balch, addressing the commission Tuesday.

“The starting date (of the school year) is not really very arbitrary. It’s kind of mandatory. ... Postponing 10 days would be almost impossible.”

The fair traditionally starts the third week of August, “regardless of the number of days in the first week,” according to county documents. That means its precise start date will vary based on what day of the week is Aug. 1 any given year.

To delay the start of school accordingly would disrupt the necessary balance of days in each semester and impact school holidays, Balch said.

“It’s a calendar situation, and it’s a fluid motion that’s happening as we speak,” said Melrose School Superintendent Jamie Widner. “Our position is that the fair is not going to hurt us as far as school attendance goes.”

In any case, the number of students directly affected by a conflict with the fair and the first week or two of school is relatively sparse. This year there were 25 students in Clovis and 31 in Melrose reported to show animals or represent 4-H at the fair, said New Mexico State University County Extension Program Director Glenda Belcher.

There were 82 such students from Texico and 24 from Grady this year, but their start date did not conflict with the fair, Belcher said Tuesday.

To reschedule the start of the fair would create conflicts with nearby county fairs and community events, such as Melrose Old Timer Days, she added.

Based on the fluctuations in the calendar, there was no such conflict between schools and the fair in 2014 and 2015, said Balch. The conflict emerged again last year and is estimated to last at least through 2021.

Also at Tuesday’s Commission meeting:

• Announcement of a proclamation recognizing Sept. 11, 2017, as a National Day of Service and Remembrance.

• Acceptance of the sole qualified bid received for a Master Control Panel for the Juvenile Detention Center, from Accurate Controls, Inc.

• Commissioners entered an executive session “to discuss pending or threatened litigation and limited personnel matters,” for over an hour but took no action following.