Revisions on agenda for schools

CLOVIS — The Clovis Municipal Schools Board of Education will be asked to make revisions on board policies, including easing limitations on out-of-state school-sponsored trips, at its Tuesday evening meeting.

The board previously discussed making revisions to the policy on the advice of new Superintendent Renee Russ, who felt the policy was restrictive.

Under current policy, “no group sponsored by the School District and with a school employee on duty will take a trip of more than 600 miles, one way, more than once every three years.”

Russ asked board members at their July 30 meeting to consider adding the following to the policy: “Unless an exception is granted by the Superintendent. Exceptions can be granted when status of an organization is dependent on national competitions, organizations advance through local, state and regional competitions, or when adequate local, state and regional options are not available.”

The board will also hear from the Clovis FFA Dairy Team, which is hoping to go to the FFA National Convention and contest in late October. The FFA chapter did have a trip last year when its milk quality team went to the national convention. In her request letter to Russ, Baldock notes a team that wins at the state level will only have that chance to attend nationals, because FFA rules ban state-winning teams from competing in the same category in future years.

The dairy evaluation team is comprised of junior Grant Palla, sophomores Cara McWilliams and Robert Gage Myers and freshman Thomas Palla.

The total trip cost is $4,550, paid for by FFA fundraising and alumni donations.

Other items on the agenda for the 5:30 p.m. meeting at 1009 Main include:

• Policy change requests for administering medicines to students, emergencies and graduation requirements.

• A conversation on staff retention efforts.

• Requests for proposals on T-shirt vendors and travel services for Clovis High’s band trip later this year to St. George, Utah.

• A notice of sale of $3 million in bonds, provided a satisfactory price is obtained.

The bonds come from $20 million authorized in the Feb. 7, 2017 election. So far, $12 million of that total has been issued.

The notice of sale document states the money would be used, “to erect, remodel, make additions to and furnish school buildings, to purchase or improve school grounds, and to purchase computer software and hardware for student use in public schools, and to provide matching funds for capital outlay projects funded pursuant to the Public School Capital Outlay Act or any combination of these purposes.” The notice does not mention specific projects.

Bids would be received and opened on or about Sept. 17 at RBC Capital Markets in Albuquerque.