Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Portales school board honored

PORTALES — The Portales Municipal Schools Board of Education showed a dedication to its schools in 2017 that deserves recognition, according to a state organization.

The board — comprised of members Antonio Sanchez, Inez Rodriguez, Alan Garrett, Rod Savage and Randy Rankin — will receive the 2017 Board of the Year award from the New Mexico School Boards Association Dec. 1 at its annual convention in Albuquerque.

According to NMSBA Executive Director Joe Guillen, the board was selected for a number of reasons, including the high number of local, regional, and state school board activities, as well as the “type of service they’ve provided to their students and staff and parents, any significant accomplishments they had throughout the year, and also, their involvement in training.”

“They’ve all participated in regional and state and national school board training opportunities, and have all received their level one and level two leadership development awards,” he said. “The board is a dedicated and well-tenured group of individuals who have only the best interest of their community, staff and students.”

Guillen cited some of the boards specific accomplishments as the construction of three new schools, the successful approval of bonds, and an interest in improving school grades.

Support of bonds and improvement influenced PMS Superintendent Johnnie Cain to nominate the board, but according to him, “they’re just a good group of people to work with, and they’re certainly a group of people who have nothing but the best for this school district — and the kids in this district — at heart.”

Sanchez, the president of the board, was surprised to hear the news, but was elated nonetheless.

“I think it’s wonderful, to be honest with you. It shows our support for the community and for our school system,” he said.

Rodriguez, the board’s vice president, was proud that tireless efforts to provide area children with an education had been recognized.

“It’s always an honor to be able to represent our district, because like I tell you, everything that we learn, we bring back into our community. We know that it takes the whole community to be able to help with all the children, what their needs are, and how we can best service them, so that they can be successful citizens,” she said.

 
 
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