TPS board deadlocks again over District 1

The Tucumcari Public Schools board deadlocked again last Monday in selecting a representative for its vacant District 1 seat, sending the decision to the state’s Public Education Department chief.

Board President Heather Gonzales and fellow board member JD Knapp voted for Carlos Romero, a former board president until declined to run for re-election in 2019.

Board members Jerry Lopez and Robert Lucero favored Andrea Madrid.

That was the same result as during the board’s special meeting on Sept. 9 after members interviewed applicants Romero, Madrid and Carmen Maria Gonzalez.

The board president, Gonzales, said after the vote she held no ill will against other board members who dissented.

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” she said. “Everybody’s entitled to their opinion.”

Gonzales encouraged Madrid, who was in the audience, to volunteer on the district’s other boards or run for election next time if she wasn’t chosen by the Education Secretary.

Gonzales also decried “mudslinging” on social media against Madrid.

“I’m sorry your family got dragged into this,” she said.

The board held the option of scheduling a special meeting on Sept. 23 before its statutory deadline of Sept. 26 of choosing a District 1 replacement.

But TPS superintendent Carl Marano said after last Monday’s meeting the board had no appetite for another meeting, adding “there’s no sense in beating a dead horse.”

Marano said Wednesday after consulting with New Mexico School Boards Association officials that he would send a memo Thursday to the Education Secretary Mariana Padilla informing her of the deadlocked vote.

Padilla now will be tasked to choose the District 1 representative for the board.

“I don’t know what the next steps are from the Education Secretary’s vantage point,” Marano said.

Marano, however, anticipated a District 1 representative would be appointed before the board’s next regular meeting on Oct. 21.

The previous District 1 representative, Matthew Pacheco, resigned in mid-August after he moved out of his district. District 1 in in the northern portion of the Tucumcari district.

In other business:

— During his superintendent’s report, Marano said the district is implementing a senior mentor program where certain seniors will help freshmen during weekly meetings.

“It’s to add that additional layer of support as they enter high school,” Marano said of the freshmen, adding that the program also will help seniors acquire leadership skills.

During board member comments, Knapp said he was happy to hear about the program.

“To have positive role models is huge,” he said.

— The board approved a measure to stock emergency medications at each of its schools.

District nurse Adella Vargas recommended the measure, saying 65 children in the district have allergies and only two carry their own epinephrine in case of a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Vargas said epinephrine and albuterol, the latter given for respiratory emergencies, would be kept in lock boxes in a climate-controlled room at each school. She or a health aide would be responsible for administering the medication.

Vargas said a regional physician would be in charge of the drugs’ inventory.

— Marano said enrollment at the school district has increased by about 35 students, though that would be confirmed soon by the 40-day reporting period.

He said the total number of students was 244 in the high school, 211 in the middle school and 396 from kindergarten to fifth grade. Prekindergarten students are not counted in enrollment numbers.

— In a discussion of Diamondback Booster Club funding, Marano said he was looking at a new policy that would allow the district to use its funds for other purposes.

Gonzales said the club is paying about half the cost of sports teams’ meals on the road, which amounts to $8,000 to $9,000 per year.

— The board approved the disposal of a wooden storage shed at Rattler Stadium built in 1976.

District documents stated the shed would be replaced with two box cars that are lockable.

— High school principal Nicole Bright-Lesly said College Day would be held next week. She said 28 college recruiters would speak not only to THS students, but those from Logan, San Jon, House and Grady.

— Marano, experiencing his first Tucumcari Homecoming as superintendent, said he was impressed.

“The school culture and school spirit has been really exciting,” he said, especially with high-school students meeting elementary pupils during Spirit Week.

— Marano said One9, the truck stop under construction on South First Street, will donate $10,000 to the district’s STEM and media programs during its grand opening on Oct. 1.

The board also approved other donations: $300 from Route 66 Smoke Shop to Parenting, Love & Logic; $500 from Tucumcari Alumni Association to THS volleyball; $500 from Tucumcari Alumni Association to THS cheer; $856 from Class of 1984 to THS cross country; $20 and $25 from J&J Sewell and T&A Clark to THS volleyball; $112 from Blackbaud Giving Fund to THS volleyball; $150 from Nutrition Club to THS volleyball; $300 from Altrusa International to Parenting, Love & Logic; and $50 from Mark Moreland to THS golf.

The board also accepted $2,592.75 in donations from 68 people via Ryzefunds to THS volleyball.

— Marano said the district recently won $5,000 from the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights campaign and is eligible for a $25,000 prize.

He said the grand prize would be a $2 million renovation of Rattler Stadium, including a new field, new lighting and new sound system.

Marano said T-Mobile officials likely would present the $5,000 check during the THS football game against Santa Rosa on Oct. 10.

— During board comments, Lopez said board members hear parents’ frustrations about alleged bullying, but he implored them to notify administrators and teachers of such incidents.

“I have confidence in them,” Lopez said, adding the board is limited in what it can do.

Gonzales agreed, adding: “Running to Facebook for everything solves nothing.”

— Procurement officer Veronica Hernandez said replacing the roof at the high school has begun.

She said a new playground that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act would be built at the elementary school. Hernandez said one playground on on hill would be eliminated because it is difficult for students in wheelchairs to access it.

— Gonzales said the district has about $18,000 available to help homeless students, including gift cards so they can buy shoes or groceries from local merchants.