Meetings Watch - Portales Municipal Schools Board of Education

Portales Municipal Schools Board of Education

The following took place at the Portales Municipal Schools Board of Education meeting Monday in the district Administration Building:

• Board members reviewed the Portales Facilities Master Plan by Albuquerque architecture and planning firm Greer Stafford.

The plan recommended several renovations to the board, including improvements to all schools in the district.

Superintendent Randy Fowler said the district does not have enough money available to do everything and the projects that cannot be completed may be addressed during a bond election.

• District Literacy Coach Shelly Buzard gave a District Data Presentation regarding literacy levels and improvements in grades K-8.
• Board members approved out-of-state travel for the Portales Junior High School Band and Choir programs to travel to Amarillo in May; the Portales High School Girls Golf to travel to Farwell for the Texico Invitation in March; and the Portales High School softball varsity and junior varsity teams to travel to Amarillo in March.
• The board approved a donation by the City of Portales of $480 for us in the Lindsey-Steiner, Portales Junior High School and Portales High School choir programs.
• The board approved the canvas of the Board of Education Election held on Feb. 5. Fowler reported 36 votes were cast in the election.
• The board approved a request for waiver of Standards Based Assessment for one student.

The student is from California and took a similar test in their state prior to moving here their senior year.

• The board approved the following budget adjustment requests:

An increase to the Impact Aid Special Education for $1,488.

An increase to Migrant Children Education for $14,512. Funds are needed for summer school salaries, benefits and transportation, supplies, parent involvement and professional development.

An increase in Rural and Low Income Schools for $22,870. Funds are needed for extended-day salaries, benefits and supply assets.

An increase to Title I of $235,462. Funds will be used for summer school and extended-day benefits, salaries, transportation, supplies, materials and professional development.

An increase to the English Language Acquisition of $3,642. Funds will be used for professional development and small supply assets.

• Board members approved the payment of bills and expenditures for December in the amount of $442,897.90.
• Board members scheduled the Senior honors Banquet for April 17.

— Compiled by PNT senior writer Christina Calloway