Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Tucumcari Public Schools superintendent Aaron McKinney told the school board during its regular meeting last week he plans to retire on Jan. 1.
McKinney’s retirement in 2024 had been known for some time, though the date he gave last week was earlier than expected. He had said in previous board meetings he might retire in March 2024, a few weeks before graduation.
By the time McKinney steps down, he will have served in his position for about 18 years as one of the longest-tenured superintendents in New Mexico.
McKinney said one of his top priorities before his departure is finishing construction on buildings for the $4.2 million baseball and softball ballparks redevelopment project. He said he would order new bleachers and a press box for the site.
He advised board members to consult with the New Mexico School Boards Association and the New Mexico Coalition of Educational Leaders to find his successor. McKinney said the board should have a significant role in interviewing and choosing the next superintendent.
Board member Jerry Lopez asked the board to add an executive session to its October meeting to discuss finding a new superintendent.
Regarding the ballparks, McKinney said construction on the fields was set to wrap in October. He said protective netting is being fabricated, the sprinkler system is being installed on the sod fields, and the tops of the dugouts were set to be installed within days.
The project originally was set to cost $3 million after voters approved a bond issue for it in 2019. However, construction costs rose sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic despite district efforts to trim costs from the project.
McKinney noted after the meeting the district held more than $3 million in cash reserves that the New Mexico Public Education Department has deemed as excessive. He said about $1.5 million of that would be used for the project.
In other business:
— The board tabled discussion about naming the baseball and softball fields until after the construction project is completed and after local parents and students had more time to mourn the loss of another of its students. (See other story in this edition.)
— The board tabled a final reading of a policy advisory that includes changes in state law regarding gender or gender identity.
The advisory from the New Mexico School Boards Association states: “The New Mexico Human Rights Act provides that a governmental entity (which includes local school boards) may not refuse or otherwise limit or place conditions on services provided to a person because of gender or gender identity (among other listed conditions).”
McKinney said he was aware of residents circulating a petition to change or challenge the law that goes into effect in 2024. He said the advisory is “vaguely written” and designed to shield school districts from lawsuits.
McKinney said he would forward copies of the new law to board members so they could be better informed about it at their next meeting.
— Tucumcari High School principal Nicole Bright-Lesly said the school was continuing to offer counseling support to students after the death last month of freshman Javion Martinez.
“There’s a lot of kids still reaching out, and that’s good,” she said, adding that staff are paying close attention to students’ moods and behavior.
— Tucumcari Elementary School principal Tonya Hodges said the Parenting with Love and Logic sessions have proved popular.
After board President Heather Gonzales asked whether that program could be expanded to other TPS schools, she was informed it would be difficult to schedule due to sports practices and church services.
— Tucumcari Middle School principal Lendall Borden said said the school recently revived its student council for the first time in many years.
— During board member comments, Robert Lucero said he’d heard some middle-school football players received poorly fitting shoulder pads during a game against Santa Rosa.
Borden offered to look into the matter. Lopez said athletic director Wayne Ferguson should attend board meetings to hear and discuss such concerns.