New school board member appointed

The Clovis Municipal Schools Board of Education appointed Cindy Osburn on Tuesday to fill the district two position left open by former president Ken Urban.

Member Terry Martin said Osburn, a retired educator, is well qualified for the position.

“I’m nervous and excited,” Osburn said. “All three of my kids graduated from Clovis schools, and my oldest grandchild just finished his first year here — so I’m excited about it.”

The board received one other application for the position from Barney Jaramillo, but due to a vacation he was not able to be present at the meeting or meet with the board in the state required 45-day window after Urban’s departure.

“I wish Mr. Jaramillo was able to be here, but we’ve got to move on with the business of this district,” Martin said.

Osburn will fill Urban’s former position until the term is up in 2017.

The board will conduct a reorganization of the officer positions at the next meeting July 28.

Member Justin Howalt was not present for any other action items on the agenda.

The board approved a Clovis High School Band Fall Trip to Colorado Springs for 240 students and 20 sponsors at $400 per person; the 2015-2016 Bilingual Multicultural Application and Title II Application; a contract with CES for $109,437.26 for a roofing project at Yucca Middle School; three petty cash requests; the removal of items from the Skyward Inventory; and an amendment and material modifications to the flexible benefits plan.

The board also reviewed updates to the districts drug use in school activities board policy, which included modifying language regarding the districts responsibility in providing counseling for athletic students found using illegal substances.

“A lot of these changes are occurring because we were making promises we couldn’t keep,” said Superintendent Jody Balch. “I think you’ll see in some of the strike-throughs, it says we were going to provide counseling…We don’t have the expertise to do that.”

“We would provide them with a list of providers who will work with students for substance abuse,” said Human Resources Executive Director Kerry Parker.

Parker said the policy could be revised to apply to other activities outside of the athletic program if the board requested it, or a new policy could also be created for other activities.

“I think band members are athletes too,” Martin said.

Parker said the policy would need to be approved before the athletic activities begin in the new school year.

The board also approved eight items on the consent agenda, including 10 requests for proposals.