Meetings watch: Clovis Municipal Schools

Freedom New Mexico

The Clovis Municipal Schools Board of Education and administrators held a work session at Eastern New Mexico University Friday. The day included reports from the superintendent’s cabinet and discussion.

• Executive Director of Personnel Rhonda Roberts spoke on Title 9, a federal mandate that school districts distribute resources evenly between boys and girls school-sponsored extracurricular activities. The state has audited the Clovis district for compliance and may require new procedures.

Roberts said the district has equal use of facilities, but the new procedures would be an issue with booster club donations because clubs bring in different amounts. Administrators and board members are concerned that private donations for activities will decrease when the rule prevents donors from choosing where their money goes.

• Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Cindy Martin said the merging of services at Los Ninos Early Intervention Center and Lincoln Jackson Family Center went well. Both buildings now offer special education and family literacy, whereas before Los Ninos offered only special education and Lincoln Jackson had only family literacy.

• Martin said a new robotics program is available.

• Executive Director of Student Services Tamara Moore Callahan said her staff is working to increase services for autistic students. The need for more services already exists, she said.

• Chief Financial Officer Jose Cano said to be more customer oriented, his department has instituted direct deposit payments and 19 extra purchasing cards for athletics. The cards decrease paperwork and have limits on usage, he said.

• Callahan said Marshall Middle School is getting a new special education facility designed like a home to help in teaching life skills. Deputy Superintendent for Operations Joel Shirley expects construction late next spring or early in the summer.

• Shirley said he hopes to move ahead with plans for an arts academy designed for 450 students at Bella Vista, a La Casita design for 400 students and replacement of Zia Elementary School’s roof.