Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
New Tucumcari Public Schools District 1 representative Carlos Romero (left) and board President Heather Gonzales listen to the business manager during a regular meeting Oct. 21 at the TPS unit office.
The newest member of the Tucumcari Public Schools board was sworn into office a few minutes earlier than anticipated before its regular meeting on Oct. 21.
Because two members were absent, the board would have lacked a quorum to do business.
The swearing-in ceremony for new District 1 board member Carlos Romero had been scheduled as the third item on the board's agenda.
But because of the lack of a quorum, Quay County Clerk Ellen White administered the oath of office to Romero a few minutes before the meeting.
That gave the board its third member and a quorum it needed.
The two absent members were Jerry Lopez and Robert Lucero, who happened to prefer another candidate, Andrea Madrid, to be the District 1 representative instead of Romero.
Superintendent Carl Marano said Lopez had texted him, stating he wouldn't make it to the meeting.
Lopez said in a phone interview later in the week he was unable to attend the meeting because he was at a doctor's appointment that afternoon and couldn't make it back in time.
The same afternoon, Lucero called the district's main office to say he wouldn't make the meeting because he had the stomach flu.
In September, the board deadlocked twice between Romero and Madrid to be the new District 1 representative to replace Matthew Pacheco, who resigned in August after he moved out of his district. TPS board President Heather Gonzales and fellow board member JD Knapp voted for Romero. Lopez and Lucero favored Madrid.
That threw the final decision to New Mexico Public Education Secretary Mariana Padilla, who chose Romero to fill the vacancy.
Romero previously served for years on the TPS board, including as president, before he declined to run for re-election in 2019.
After being seated, Romero received thank-yous from administrators and board members for offering to serve.
"Thank you for coming back to us," Marano said.
"Thank you for letting me come back on the board," Romero later replied.
In other business:
- Marano reported enrollment from kindergarten through 12th grade totaled 859 at the 40-day mark of the school year.
That was an increase over the projected 842 and the total of 827 recorded last year.
He surmised the additional students came from homeschool environments and other areas.
"We're in really good shape enrollment-wise," Marano said. "A lot of good things are happening at Tucumcari Public Schools."
- Marano announced the district would add three positions after reviewing its budget.
The new positions are community liaison, a behavior support person and an education assistant for physical education.
The liaison will address attendance issues by reaching out to students, along with their families, who are struggling to go to school.
Marano said the behavior support position would "try to prevent major events from happening, like a fight."
The PE assistant position would be a female hire for the middle school who would be able to enter girls locker rooms.
- Middle school principal Lendall Borden said the number of disciplinary referrals were down by half this year due to the efforts of the school's student dean Doug South and social worker Angel Segura.
Later during board comments, Knapp and Gonzales took note about it being a quieter and smoother school year so far.
"My phone hasn't been ringing as much," Gonzales said.
- Marano said he was putting additional focus on curriculum this year, including teachers posting their learning targets and success criteria. He said also wanted more professional development by teachers.
He said data from midyear student assessments should arrive in the next two to three weeks.
- Marano said after surveying its budget, the district has raised its reimbursement rate to $10 from $5 for each student athlete's road game to lessen the costs of the local booster club.
- Veronica Hernandez, administrative assistant and procurement officer, said re-roofing operations were continuing at school buildings, including for several leaks that occurred during recent rains.
Hernandez said heating issues have surfaced at the middle school, and a new gas pipeline would be installed this week to stop those leaks.
She also said heating issues also have surfaced at the elementary school, and an architect would be consulted to solve them.
- Marano said Terri Maestas was retiring after 34 years as business support clerk at the central office. Nicole McKinney will be replacing her.
- Elementary school principal Deanne McKinney said she received more donations for the school's new sensory room.
- The board accepted these donations: $100 from the Raymond Parker family to the Parenting, Love & Logic program; $349 from American Legion Post 117 to high school boys basketball; $56 from Blackbaud Giving Fund to high school volleyball; $50 from Tucumcari General Insurance to TMS Library Book Fair and Family Night; $100 from Quality Lube & Tire to TMS Library Book Fair and Family Night; $100 from Just Scapin' It to TMS Library Book Fair and Family Night; and $977.75 from middle school bake sale to high school cheerleading.
