Schools down 100 students, according to unofficial enrollment numbers

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Enrollment at Clovis Municipal Schools is down about 100 students from last year, according to Cindy Martin, deputy superintendent of instruction.

Martin said the number is unofficial and based on counting students in classes as opposed to registration figures.

The first official enrollment figure is due to the state after 40 days.

Martin, who gave her report during Tuesday’s Clovis Municipal Schools board meeting, said last year there were 8,443 students on the seventh day of school.

The district’s three middle schools account for the drop, Martin said.

“The kindergartens and first grades are very full,” Martin said. “With the change of the mission at the base, we have a lot of younger families.’

“But by the time these students reach third or fourth grade is seems their parents are transferred to another base, so the numbers balance out.”

In other business:

• Shawna Russell of the Human Resources Department reported there were 11 teaching positions left to fill of the 120 who either retired or resigned following the 2013-2014 school year.

• Carrie Bunce, deputy superintendent of operations, reported the district was awarded capital outlay money from the state for three projects.

The awards were $2 million for planning and design of a replacement school at Parkview Elementary; $248,000 for roof repairs at Marshall Middle School and $399,000 for roof repairs at Cameo Elementary.

She also reported that construction on the new James Bickley Elementary School is 35 percent complete and demolition on the old Lockwood Elementary was delayed because the company hired to do abatement did not get done on schedule.

She said demolition should start Sept. 12-13.

• The board heard a presentation on Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico’s backpack program from interim director Daniel Blea.

Blea thanked the board and administration for letting the food bank into the schools to administer the program, which provides milk, juices, cereal and snacks to children so they have something to eat over the weekend.

The supplies are delivered by teachers.

He said the program helped 384 students in Clovis schools last year, and he expects a 15 percent increase in need this year.