Five-day week dominates TPS board meeting

The prospect of Tucumcari Public Schools going from a four-days-a-week of instruction to five days in the next school year dominated discussion at the board’s meeting last Monday — including having to submit two different budgets and school calendars for those schedules.

Interim superintendent Dave Johnson said TPS likely would go from about 157 days of instruction to 185 or 187 in the 2024-2025 school year, based on a new plan by the state’s Public Education Department.

Johnson said it remained uncertain whether the 180-day plan would include embedded professional development for teachers.

The plan became official on Thursday, with it slated to go into effect on July 1.

Noting the PED’s plan probably conflicts with current state law, “there’s probably going to be a lawsuit” by the superintendents association over it, Johnson said.

School districts on a four-day schedule can apply for a waiver, but they qualify only if they have an 80% reading proficiency level or make considerable improvement in that criteria, ranging from 8% to 15% in one year.

Johnson said only three school districts in New Mexico have an 80% reading proficiency level.

Johnson also noted that not long ago, a few districts set a goal of a 10% improvement in proficiency levels in one year, only to be told by the PED it was too unrealistic.

Johnson said the district must submit two budgets and two calendars to account for the four- or five-day weeks.

Johnson said he talked to one middle-school teacher who is thinking of retiring early due to the five-day plan.

High school principal Nicole Bright-Lesly said several teachers will consider leaving the profession due to the change.

“We’re better-staffed because we’re on a four-day week,” she said.

Bright-Lesly said the four-day week also enables some students to work more hours on the weekends and provide for their families.

Board member Matthew Pacheco asked Johnson of the PED’s plan: “Do you think they’re setting it up for failure?”

Johnson replied, “Yes.”

Board member Jerry Lopez said he was concerned that additional costs with the plan would eat into the district’s cash reserves.

Business manager Monica Martinez said it was too soon to determine how going to a five-day school week would affect the district’s budget.

Board President Heather Gonzales said the board was “fully behind” the four-day week, but she urged residents “to try to stay positive” about the situation. She said with a five-day plan, poor children would be able to eat two more meals per week.

In other business:

— During the construction update, Johnson said he’s been conferring with the contractor about fixing dimly lighted spots on the baseball and softball fields at night.

Johnson said several areas are dim enough that a ballplayer could lose track of a fly ball during a night game.

“It’s too big of an expense for it not to be right,” he said of the more than $3 million project.

Athletic director Wayne Ferguson voiced concerns about the grass at the fields, with weeds growing through in spots and the turf still appearing to be dormant.

Johnson said the new turf contains a 12-month warranty after final acceptance. The clock on the warranty restarts with any turf that needs to be replaced.

Johnson said bleachers and dugout benches recently arrived at the diamonds. He said a final walk-through on the project might be this week or the following week.

— The board approved participation in the state’s Local Government Road Fund with the aim of building extra parking on South 14th Street near the baseball and softball fields.

Administrative assistant and procurement officer Veronica Hernandez said she received an estimate of about $80,000 for the project. She doubted state road funds would cover the entire cost, as the biggest award the district has received from the state is about $35,000.

Lopez asked Hernandez if the district is awarded funds for the project to request a waiver of the local match. He also asked whether the district could forge a partnership with the city on the project.

— Johnson said new roofs have been installed at the elementary school and Rattler Gymnasium, with roof work set to begin last Wednesday at the middle school. He said roof repairs were nearly done at the high school auditorium.

— The board went into executive session for about 40 minutes with Johnson and Hernandez to discuss personnel matters. No action was taken when open session resumed. Johnson and Hernandez are the district’s search team to find a new superintendent to replace the recently retired Aaron McKinney.

— The board approved these donations: $3,000 from Altrusa International to purchase books for the book machine; $150 from Cody and Eva Ryan for the powerlifting program; $125 from Deborah Kanapilly for the Class of 2025; $200 from Diamondback Booster Club for the cheer program; $500 from Route 66 Smoke Shop for the golf program; $56 from Wells Fargo for the volleyball program; $400 from Altrusa for the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America program; and $30 from Veronica Blea for the STEM program at the middle school.

— During board member comments, Pacheco said he wished condolences to the family of Phil Powers, who once served on the board. Powers died at his home in Texas on March 4 at the age of 75. His memorial was held last Monday at the First Baptist Church in Tucumcari.

— During a work session before the regular meeting to discuss the 2024-2025 budget, Johnson said there would be a substantial increase to the district’s special-education programs, including hiring at least one more teacher.

Johnson said the district has more children in school with severe behavior problems, including those that injure others or are too disruptive during classes.