Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Tucumcari Public Schools board unanimously tabled the final reading of policy advisories regarding gender identity and reproductive or gender-affirming care after hearing opposition to them from seven residents.
Board member Jerry Lopez made the motions during the Oct. 16 meeting to table both items until near the end of the calendar year, when lawyers or state lawmakers might provide more clarity on what to do about those issues.
The advisories were written by lawyers with the New Mexico School Boards Association. Both were one-sentence statements in response to laws passed earlier this year by the New Mexico Legislature.
Advisory 233 reads: “Neither a public body nor a person or entity acting on behalf of or within the scope of authority of a public body shall discriminate against or interfere with a person’s rights or ability to access or provide reproductive or gender-affirming health care within the recognized medical standard of care.”
Advisory 234 reads: “The New Mexico Human Rights Act provides that a government 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).”
Ten people signed up before the meeting to give comments of up to three minutes about the advisories. Seven spoke.
Ann Largent said the law states that in her previous position as a mental health counselor, she would be unable to say anything against a child’s decision for an abortion or gender change and their ramifications without the possibility of prosecution.
“I can only affirm their desire to have an abortion,” she said. “That’s not right.”
Slik Knapp said such state laws regarding gender or reproductive care and gender identity confers rights to children, interferes with parental rights and is “clear government overreach.”
“I believe child’s rights don’t start until they become 18 years of age,” he said.
Matt Bednorz said the laws will “change the away our children will be raised.” He accused the board of not being transparent about online meeting agendas and meetings, and he advocated an advisory committee.
Ann Hall said: “What will be next if we allow this to continue? We must hold our ground.”
Sheriff Dennis Garcia said he is sworn to uphold the Constitution, but “when it comes to the rights of our children, it hits different.” He urged the board to table action on the advisories.
Assistant superintendent Dave Johnson said he called two NMSBA lawyers who reiterated “it is the law” but could not answer whether the district adopting such policy advisories was required.
He said school districts must comply with those laws by early 2024, but what non-compliance means remains unknown.
“Are they going to arrest me and haul me off” if the district doesn’t comply, Johnson asked rhetorically. “Maybe.”
Johnson said the policy advisories are written “to help during a contested situation.”
“I believe they were intentionally gray,” he said. “I believe it will filter into the courts eventually, and we’ll have more clarification.”
Garcia said as a law-enforcement officer, he understood following the law. But he said he believes the district should develop policies regarding those laws.
After the meeting, Johnson said just one Tucumcari Public Schools student in the past five years has changed his or her name and gender identity. That student no longer is enrolled.
Later during the meeting, Lopez asked for information about what other school districts are doing about those policy advisories.
Board President Heather Gonzales said some residents’ concerns were “blown out of proportion.” When asked to elaborate, Gonzales said some residents were convinced the board was “forced” to accept or reject the policies.
Board member JD Knapp said he was glad “we got some participation” from constituents during the meeting.
The board approved other final readings of policy advisories regarding school board elections and holidays, food service regulations and open enrollment.
In other business:
— Athletic director Wayne Ferguson said longtime boys basketball coach John Span will not coach this season because he is unable to handle the rigors of those duties. Span had been undergoing cancer treatment this year. (See other story in this edition.)
— Ferguson said based on Tucumcari’s three-year average of enrollment, it would be dropped from Class 3A to 2A in athletics during the next school year.
He said in what district Tucumcari would play remains unknown. The New Mexico Activities Association is scheduled to hold a vote next month on realigning districts.
— Regarding the ballparks redevelopment project, Johnson said contractors soon would lay sod on the diamonds and were awaiting protective netting to keep balls from flying onto the street or the adjacent fairgrounds.
Johnson said dugouts had been builtm and that McKinney wants the restrooms, concessions and changing room buildings to be built in the coming weeks.
Johnson said the project’s completion probably would be in late November.
“I think it’s coming together, and it’s going to be a nice thing,” he said, adding he was confident the rebuilt fields would be playable by early spring.
— Mesalands Community College Interim President Allen Moss said he wanted to “build better participation” with public schools, especially Tucumcari.
“If we’re not working together, the college is not going to survive,” he said, though he noted its finances “are in much better shape.”
Moss said he wants to build up its vocational-education programs, including welding, plumbing and electrical work.
— Johnson said contractors who completed installation of new climate-control units in the elementary schools were training school personnel on how to use the thermostats. He said teachers were giving positive feedback on the new units.
— Johnson mentioned a $3 million bond issue that was before district voters in the Nov. 7 local elections. He said he cannot advocate a position on the measure, but he said the bonds would not raise taxes. He encouraged residents to vote.
— Elementary principal Tonya Hodges reported low participation during recent Parenting with Love and Logic sessions. She and special education director Dianne McKinney attributed that to conflicts with high-school sports. With the suggestion of Gonzales, they said they may schedule the next sessions in February or March.
— McKinney said students “are having some issues” coping after the deaths of two freshman students this year.
“We’re pretty tender here in Tucumcari,” she said.
She said the district would book Teen Truth youth motivational speaker Brandon McCall, who specializes in resiliency.
— High school principal Nicole Bright-Lesly said vape sensors recently had been installed. She indicated the sensors are being adjusted because they were tripped by cologne and possibly hot water in bathrooms.
— During board member comments, Matthew Pacheco praised staff for their actions after a juvenile stabbed another outside of Rattler Stadium during a two-hour lightning delay at last month’s Homecoming game. He said he also appreciated fans for returning to the stadium after the delay.