Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
A week after in-person classes resumed for Tucumcari middle-school and high-school students for the first time since March, several school board members asked about the prospect of bringing back a full day of classes and whether traditional physical education and music classes also could resume.
The short answer: not likely for the rest of the school year.
School board member Bo Wallace asked about bringing back music and P.E. classes, as did board colleague Heather Gonzales during the board’s regular Feb. 15 meeting via Google Meets. Board member Jerry Lopez also asked about extended learning opportunities.
One of the middle-school physical education instructors is high-risk for COVID-19, said principal Lendall Borden. He said he foresaw no changes in that setup for the rest of the 2020-2021 school year.
Assistant superintendent David Johnson said the New Mexico Public Education Department for now prefers districts to concentrate on core educational subjects. He said the imminent resumption of athletics later this month would “reduce the pressure” on some students who desire extra-curricular activities during the pandemic.
Johnson also said the school district’s music rooms make it difficult to keep students separate to lower the risk of them spreading the virus.
“We’re another step or two away at this point,” Johnson said of resuming those activities.
High school principal Nicole Bright-Lesly said music students are practicing at home and uploading their videotaped performances to instructors. She said, however, that many students don’t like virtual learning because it doesn’t allow them to collaborate with others.
“It’s not fun to play by yourself,” Bright-Lesly said.
Johnson said P.E. also is difficult to do virtually but was sympathetic to wishes to bring it back fully.
“I understand kids need to run around and have organized play, if possible,” he said.
Johnson added it would be difficult to offer additional classes or a longer school day while teachers are dealing both with online and in-person instruction.
Superintendent Aaron McKinney said he doubted any more large expansions of in-person classes would happen soon and that districts don’t have any say in the matter.
“I think it’s a waiting game to see whether it opens back up,” he said. “Right now, we don’t have the answers (to those questions). ... The state is making the decision for us right now.”
In other business:
n During principals’ reports, they said about one-third of middle school and high-school students were continuing their instruction online, even with the resumption of in-person classes.
Principals said they detected sunnier dispositions from parents and students when in-person classes resumed earlier this month.
“We saw a lot of smiling parents at the student drop-off points,” Borden said. “It was nice to have kids in the halls.”
Bright-Lesly said she saw “lots of happy kids.” She noted check-ins for students during their first day back took about 25 minutes, but reduced that to 15 later in the week.
• Elementary principal Tonya Hodges said a recent survey of parents showed 22% of students needed extra help on their coursework. In response, the school has set up online tutoring after classes and on Fridays for those pupils.
• Technologist Patrick Benavidez said the district will receive an estimated $1.6 million from the second round of federal coronavirus relief funds. He said those funds would be used for additional technology purchases and cleaning.
• Borden said a recent survey of parents indicated 76% of them had a positive outlook on the school’s education processes, with just 6% negative.
• Athletic director Wayne Ferguson said athletic workouts would remain in 4-to-1 athletes-to-coach pods until Feb. 22, when there will be no limitations. Cross country meets are expected to begin March 1, with the first football game March 6. Tucumcari’s volleyball season begins March 1.
Benavidez said video cameras in the Snake Pit gymnasium have been installed and calibrated so games there can be livestreamed on the internet. He said more livestreaming cameras soon would be calibrated at Rattler Stadium for football games. Spectators will not be allowed at this season’s games because of ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
Games would be broadcast live at the NHFS Network at nfhsnetwork.com, which offers yearly or monthly subscription plans. A portion of those fees go back to schools. Tucumcari is on a two-year payback plan for cameras that were supplied by the network.
Asked about middle-school games, Benavidez said those matchups would be streamed on Facebook Live.
Hodges, who has a grandson in Nebraska, said she often watches his sports exploits online and that many parents and spectators will be “well pleased” with the NHFS Network setup.