Clovis school board reorganizes officers

CLOVIS — Starting Wednesday, there will be new leadership in the Clovis Municipal Schools Board of Education.

The board, during its final meeting of the 2019-20 year on Wednesday, reorganized its officer slate. Kyle Snider will serve as president, Paul Cordova as vice president and Shawn Hamilton as secretary.

The board had traditionally assigned officer roles to begin calendar years, but decided to convert to fiscal years because most of the district’s documentation falls in those timelines.

In other business at the Tuesday meeting:

• The board approved a $1.933 million application for CARES Act funding.

Laura Adkins, the district’s executive director of language, culture and at-risk services, said the district was looking at several different plans to spend the money on improving Internet access.

With campuses closed in April to transition to an at-home learning model, the district like others across the state found many families did not have home Internet service. The problem was somewhat alleviated by local companies providing temporary free service.

Adkins spoke of purchasing Internet access points that can be installed on school buses and supplied to families. The guiding principle, Adkins said, was to ensure all students had access to whatever platforms the district used to deliver instruction.

“I feel like this grant application will weather whatever conditions come our way,” Adkins said.

• Three resolutions were passed regarding board member participation in district procurement. The board is allowed to contract with businesses owned by Cordova, Hamilton and Snider, and resolutions note it is in the district’s best interest to have as many vendor options as possible.

However, the board member in question cannot be a part of the negotiation as a board representative and must abstain on any vote regarding that business — starting with the Tuesday resolutions. With the respective board member abstaining in each case, all three resolutions passed 4-0.

• The board approved curriculum for math and career technical education, with Board President Cindy Osburn crediting staff for its voluminous work.

“What a lot of work,” Osburn said, in comments echoed by other board members. “I so appreciate you and the team who put this together. If I were teaching, I would appreciate the way you put this into such a useful and thoughtful document.”

Mitzi Estes, CMS’ deputy superintendent of academic services and leadership, said it was a team effort, and noted contributions from Leigh Morris, the district’s director of curriculum and assessment.

• The board approved various policy revisions, including one of bullying to align with state standards. Joe Strickland, deputy superintendent of employee services, said in some cases it was actually more efficient to simply write new policies from the state guidelines than to edit existing policy.

• The next board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. July 28, tentatively at the CMS Administrative Office.