Revamped Tucumcari schools salary schedule approved

The Tucumcari Public Schools board approved a revamped salary schedule for the 2024-2025 school year that brings more retention and performance incentives and more equity in pay - especially for supervisors who might be earning less money than their workers.

The board's approval last Monday of the salary schedule was a key component for eventually approving a budget for the next school year - due to be submitted to the state by June 4. A special meeting to approve the budget likely will be scheduled before that date.

During a work session before the regular meeting, district technologist Patrick Benavidez said the proposed salary schedule rectifies inadvertent lower pay for several supervisors - including the special education director, who was receiving less than some regular employees in the department.

"This balances that out so that doesn't happen," he said.

Benavidez said pay in the schedule also is based on work-responsibility factors.

Interim superintendent Dave Johnson said in the current schedule, some employees weren't being paid fairly and that TPS lagged behind other districts.

Newly hired superintendent Carl Marano, who officially takes his post on July 1, said the new salary schedule would help TPS retain workers and attract new ones.

"It puts us in a very good, competitive pay scale," Marano said.

Johnson agreed: "I think this is a pretty stable salary schedule we can work off of."

Business manager Monica Martinez said she estimated the new salary schedule's effect might be an additional $150,000 in costs per year. But she noted several TPS employees have retired or departed, and their replacements likely be paid at a lower salary.

Martinez estimated the district would have $3.1 million in available cash when the new fiscal year begins on July 1.

When asked whether the district's relatively high cash balance might make it susceptible to a clawback by the Public Education Department, Johnson and Marano said they doubted that would happen.

"Realistically, it's not likely," Marano said, adding that the state is in good financial condition.

Martinez also said the district's costs in two areas won't be as high as recently anticipated. She said risk insurance premiums originally were set to rise 38%; that number now is about 15%. Health insurance premiums also are set to rise 10%, down from the earlier 15%.

The board approved the salary schedule but removed the stipend schedule for sports and other extracurricular activities for further evaluation.

Several board members noted the schedule lacks a stipend for a girls wrestling coach. A similar second stipend also might be needed for powerlifting.

Officials also noted they might boost the stipend for cheerleading coach, as that activity goes for much of the entire school year.

In other business:

- The board's packet contained a memo that noted four retirements - high school educational assistant Susie Chavez, high school math teacher Sharon LaTouf, elementary special education teacher Jeannette Perkins and longtime elementary school principal Tonya Hodges, plus four departures of other teachers or staffers.

Hodges' resignation letter stated: "After three decades of dedicated service to our school community, it is time for me to embark on the next chapter of my life. ... The memories we have created together will forever hold a special place in my heart."

Hodges stated in the letter she would help the district ensure a smooth transition for her eventual replacement. She also wrote she wanted to "stay connected" to the TPS community.

Hodges noted in her principal's report during the meeting she "had a little bit of reservations about going," she said.

Hodges estimated she had been elementary principal for 16 or 17 years and was an assistant principal for several years before that.

During board member comments, several gave well-wishes and thanks to Hodges.

- During Johnson's construction update, he said the district still was dealing with drainage issues on the new baseball and softball fields. Workers also are spraying for weeds on the grass outfields.

Johnson said he wants to keep people off the fields this summer as much as possible until the grass becomes more established. He said the district also has to finish construction of a concession stand and changing rooms.

- Johnson said a natural gas line at the elementary school damaged by a joy-riding motorist earlier this year is set to be repaired in June. The school was without heat or cooking for the last six weeks of classes.

He said insurance will cover all but the deductible of the estimated $178,000 repair cost. One person was arrested for the vandalism.

- The board approved a 2024-2025 calendar where classes begin Aug. 19 and the school year ends May 22. A second calendar option contained an earlier start, but staffers and administrators preferred the later one.

- The board renewed a cafeteria food-services management contract with North Carolina-based A'viands, d.b.a. K12 by Elior, for a second year. Johnson said he heard only two minor complaints about food service during the past school year.

- The board approved a textbook committee's recommendation three new textbooks: "Life Skills Culinary Arts," "Welding" and "Personal Financial Literacy." High school principal Nicole Bright-Lesly said financial-literacy courses probably will be state-mandated in coming years.

- During discussions of state policy reviews, administrators and board members discussed a new law where live audio and video webcasts of board meetings must be accessible through the district's website and allows citizens to submit written or verbal comments.

TPS has been streaming its meetings for months, but it lacks a comment capability. Marano recommended an option where residents can submit comments that can be read aloud during the meeting.

- The board also made several presentations during the meeting.

It recognized Ashlynn Box, Bryson Klinger, Lucia Benavidez and MiKayla Klinger for their first-place finish in food science at FFA state competition.

It recognized these Tucumcari FCCLA students for placing in state competition: Sariah Mardo, Rachel Mardo, Maritza Flores, Madison Broom and Alexis Romero.

It gave Excellence in Student Achievement Awards to Johnson and administrative assistant Veronica Hernandez for their efforts in finding a new superintendent. Patrick and Dana Benavidez also received the award for being boosters of THS girls sports and guiding the district's online instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These individuals received administrative service pins: Brenda McDonald (30 years), Patrick Benavidez (10 years), Lester Byrd (10 years) and Veronica Hernandez (10 years).

The board also recognized Reyes Gonzales for shooting photos of many events and posting them on his Tucum Pics page on Facebook.