001YOU ALL GOT SO QUIET. HI, THANK YOU, GOOD EVENING, WELCOME. EXCITED TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE. WE HAVE STANDING ROOM ONLY? SO COOL. I LOVE IT. SO, I OFFICIALLY CALLED THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:05 P.M. SECRETARY WOFFORD, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLE? MR. FRANK? >> HERE. >> MISSED TENORIO? IS SHE JOINING US REMOTELY? I WILL COME BACK TO HER. SECRETARY WOFFORD IS HERE, VICE PRESIDENT NOLAN? HERE. >> PRESIDENT COURT? I AM HERE. BECAUSE WE DO HAVE MISS TENORIO VIRTUALLY WE WILL BE TAKING ALL OF OUR VOTES IN A ROLL CALL. THANK YOU. IS MS. TENORIO, CAN YOU HEAR US, NOW? :, IS SHE --ONLINE? I ONLY SEE THE ONE PARTICIPANT. I DO, TOO. WE HAVE QUORUM, SO LET'S GET STARTED, SHE IS NOT FEELING WELL. WE'LL SEE IF SHE JOINS US IN A LITTLE
002BIT. SO, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME OUR STUDENT ADVISER , ADDISON, HI, ADDISON. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, ADDISON IS FROM ORGAN MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL. YES. AND ADDISON, AS WE SPOKE BEFORE, ANY TIME YOU ARE HERE TO GIVE STUDENT INPUT, WHICH IS VITAL, SO ANY TIME YOU NEED TO, WANT US ANYTHING, PLEASE DO. YES, MA'AM, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL NOW DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WITH THE HELP OF ISABELLA, ISABELLA COMES TO US FROM CORONADO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. ISABELLA, ARE YOU HERE TODAY? HI, SWEETIE, WOULD YOU COME UP TO THE FRONT? YOU READY? EXCELLENT. WE'RE GOING TO PULL THAT MICROPHONE DOWN SO WE CAN HEAR YOUR BEAUTIFUL VOICE, AND IF EVERYBODY WOULD PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I'M GOING TO MOVE
003SO YOU CAN SEE. YOU START US WHEN YOU'RE READY. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] I SALUTE THE FLAG OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND THE SYMBOL OF PERFECT FRIENDSHIP AMONG UNITED CULTURES. [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] LET'S ALL GIVE ISABELLA A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE. WOULD YOU MIND COMING UP? IF YOU WANT TO. COME ON OVER HERE, THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS SOMETHING TO GIVE TO YOU. YOU'RE RIGHT. GREAT JOB, THANK YOU. ONE MORE TIME FOR ISABELLA. YOU SO MUCH. MY GOODNESS. YOUR VOICE WAS BEAUTIFUL AND CLEAR, THANK YOU, ISABELLA, THAT WAS FABULOUS. NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE DIRECTOR OF FINE ARTS, MR. JOSEPH FLOREZ. GOOD EVENING,
004MADAME PRESIDENT CORT, DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT , STUDENT ADVISER ADDISON, WELCOME, EVERYONE ELSE THIS EVENING. I NAME IS JOSEPH FLOREZ, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE YOU THE ORGAN MY SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY TROUBLE CHOIR UNDER THE DIRECTION OF IDA. TONIGHT THE CHOIR WILL BE PERFORMING, BY ZEBULON-. THEY WILL BE ACCOMPANIED ON PERCUSSION BY FINE ARTS SPECIALIST PAUL HALLSTEAD, DISTRICT COLLABORATIVE PIANIST HUNTER MAYBURY, AND MAYFIELD HIGH SCHOOL CHORAL DIRECTOR. AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE ONLY 3 1/2 WEEKS INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND THESE STUDENTS SOUND PHENOMENAL ALREADY. TECHNICAL AND MUSICAL ACHIEVEMENTS SPEAK VOLUMES ABOUT NOT ONLY THEIR TALENT, BUT THE EFFORT THAT THEY ARE PUTTING FORTH IN THEIR LEARNING. AS WELL AS THE QUALITY OF TEACHING THAT IS OCCURRING IN THE CLASSROOM. I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO THEM SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO,
005EVERYONE PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THE ORGAN MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY CHOIR. [ MUSIC ] [ SINGING IN NON-ENGLISH ] WOW. MY GOODNESS, THANK YOU SO MUCH, THAT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL, AND SUCH A WONDERFUL WAY TO START OUR MEETINGS. IT'S MY FAVORITE PART, IF I CAN SAY THAT, TOTALLY MY FAVORITE PART. TRULY WE ARE JUST BARELY INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR AND THE SOUND THAT YOU HAVE TOGETHER IS TRULY BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THAT WITH US TONIGHT, ONE MORE TIME, EVERYBODY. WELL, THAT WAS FABULOUS. NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET DOWN TO BUSINESS. I WOULD SING IT, BUT YOU WOULD WANT ME TO. IN FRENCH, THERE YOU GO. NOBODY WANTS THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 19th 2025 REGULAR SESSION AGENDA WITH ONE AMENDMENT. WE WILL NEED TO
006REMOVE OUR HONORING OR RECOGNITION OF MICHELLE RONGA, AS SHE COULD NOT BE WITH US TONIGHT. SO MOVED. SECOND. >> MOVED BY SECRETARY WOFFORD, SECONDED BY MR. FRANK. US TO A ROLL CALL VOTE. BOARD MEMBER FRANK? >> YES. >> MS. TENORIO? YES, BUT I HAVE A QUESTION FOR AFTER THE VOTE. OKAY. SECRETARY VOTE YES, VICE PRESIDENT NOLAN? YES. >> PRESIDENT CORT? I VOTE YES. MS. TENORIO? SO WE'RE REMOVING THE RECOGNITION OF MISS RANGA , WAS THERE ANY DISCUSSION TO MAYBE JUST POSTPONE IT? YES, MA'AM, WE'LL BE POSTPONING IT UNTIL THE SEPTEMBER MEETING. SO WE COULD HAVE MOTIONED TO POSTPONE IT INSTEAD OF REMOVING? THIS IS TRUE, WE COULD HAVE DONE THAT, BUT BECAUSE SHE WAS ON THERE, I DECIDED TO REMOVE THAT, AND THEN WE'LL PUT HER BACK ON THE SEPTEMBER AGENDA. I GUESS IF I
007WERE LOOKING AT THE MOTION WITHOUT KNOWING ACTUALLY WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE MEETING, YOU MISSED THAT DETAILS, RIGHT? OF WHY IT'S BEING REMOVED. JUST CURIOUS, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, I INDICATED THAT SHE WASN'T HERE, SO THAT WAS THE REASON WHY, BUT THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 12th , 2025 EXTENDED WORK SESSION MINUTES. SO MOVED. SECOND. MOVED BY SECRETARY WOFFORD, SECONDED BY VICE PRESIDENT NOLAN. MADAME CORT? >> YES, MA'AM. I DID HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AMENDED. AMENDMENTS. OKAY, THANK YOU. WOULD YOU PROCEED, PLEASE? I'M NOT IN FRONT OF THE MINUTES OF THE MOMENT, BUT, IF SOMEBODY COULD BE MY EYES FOR RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE FIRST ONE WAS ABOUT ABSENTEEISM. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED WAS, MORE PROJECT-BASED LEARNING. IF ANYBODY CAN FIND THAT SENTENCE.
008I DID SAY IN THE MEETING THAT IN ADDITION TO PROJECT-BASED LEARNING I SAID, EXTRACURRICULAR AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES, SO, I JUST WOULD LIKE THAT TO BE ON THE RECORD. SO, YOU WOULD LIKE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ADDED TO THAT SENTENCE? EXTRACURRICULAR AND AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. AND THEN THE SECOND TOPIC WAS A DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS BY BOARD MEMBERS TO MR. RUIZ ABOUT CES. AND I MADE SOME COMMENTS , AND I THINK ONE OF THE COMMENTS WAS ABOUT PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA. MAYBE I SPOKE VERY UNCLEARLY, BUT THERE WAS A SENTENCE IN THERE THAT, SOMETHING ABOUT, IF SOMEBODY CAN SEE IT, MAYBE SOMEBODY CAN PULL IT UP. IT WAS JUST MY HOPE THAT I SHOULD HAVE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. I THINK THE MISSING WORD WAS SHOULD HAVE. I UNFORTUNATELY DON'T HAVE THOSE MINUTES IN
009FRONT OF ME EITHER. I CAN'T SEE, SECRETARY WOFFORD? I HAVE READ THROUGH THEM BUT LET'S GO BACK. PRESIDENT, I'M LOOKING THROUGH THE DISCUSSION OF CES STUDY, AND I FIND ONE COMMENT RESPONDED, WE WORKED WITH THE NEW MEXICO-BASED COOPERATIVE SERVICES, PROFESSIONALS, AND WE WERE DOING THIS WITH OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE. WE WERE EXCITED TO GET STARTED BECAUSE WE NEEDED SOME GUIDANCE ON MAKING IT A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT IS -- I THINK IT WAS ANOTHER PARAGRAPH. THERE IS ONE THAT BEGINS, MS. TENORIO THINGS IT WAS A GOOD DECISION, AT THE TIME WE WERE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT COMPANIES, HANOVER AND CES. IS THAT IT, MS. TENORIO? I THINK SO. >> THEN CAN WE DIRECT MISS ROBIN TO MAKE THAT ADDITION, THERE? YOU WOULD LIKE THE ADDITION OF SHOULD HAVE? IF, IF HE
010GOES TOWARD THE END OF THAT PARAGRAPH AND JUST READS THE LAST COUPLE SENTENCES. OKAY. MS. TENORIO IS CHECKING, THEY WANT US TO DO THIS, SHOULD WE DO THIS? SHE ASKED, WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU ALL? WHAT YOU THINK IS GOING TO WORK FOR YOU ALL? SHE FELT, LET'S PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA AND HAVE THE BOARD TALK ABOUT IT. SHE HOLDS RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHENEVER THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. THE QUESTION -- YES. SO, INSTEAD OF SHE THOUGHT, LET'S PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA, SHE THOUGHT , IN HINDSIGHT I SHOULD HAVE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, THAT'S ALL. I JUST WANT SOME CLARITY. VERY GOOD. DO YOU SEE THAT? OKAY, VERY GOOD. EXCELLENT, ARE THERE ANY MORE, MS. TENORIO? KNOW. THANK YOU. SO MOVED. >> WITH THE AMENDMENTS. YES. THANK YOU. LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN. I'D
011LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 12th 2025 EXTENDED WORK SESSION MINUTES WITH THE AMENDMENTS GIVEN TO US BY MS. TENORIO. NOW SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> MOVED BY SECRETARY WOFFORD, SECONDED BY MR. FRANK, ALL IN FAVOR, NO. MR. FRANK? >> YES. MISS TENORIO? YES. >> SECRETARY WOFFORD BOTH YES, VICE PRESIDENT NOLAN? YES. PRESIDENT CORT? >> I VOTE YES, THAT'S 5-0, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING ATTENTION TO THE THINGS THAT NEEDED CHANGED, I APPRECIATE IT. I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AS FOLLOWS. 6A1 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN LCPS AND PEAK BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, 6B1, REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RFP NUMBER 24-25-09P, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ROOF AND HVAC REPLACEMENT, 6B2, REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL RFP NUMBER 25 26 02P, RESOLICITATION SUPPLEMENTAL BEHAVIOR HEALTH SERVICES , 6B3, BUDGET ADJUSTMENT REQUEST OTHERWISE KNOWN
012AS BARS , 6B4, PROPERTY DISPOSITIONS , SIX B5, VENDOR PAYMENTS, THERE'S MORE. 6C1, MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN LCPS AND BEHAVIOR CHANGE INSTITUTE, BCI, MY APOLOGIES. 6C2, MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN LCPS AND CENTRIA AUTISM. 6C3, MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN LCPS AND JOURNEY HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES , IN PARENTHESES, DBA FINNI HEALTH. 6C4, MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN LCPS AND COMPASS ABA, LLC. 6C5, MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN LCPS AND FRONTERA HEALTH, AND 6C CAPITAL SIX, MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN LCPS AND APRENDAMOS. SO MOVED. SECOND. >> MOVED BY MR. WOFFORD, SECONDED BY MR. NOLAN. IF YOU WOULD AGAIN, PLEASE, SECRETARY WOFFORD. MR. FRANK. >> YES. MISS TENORIO? YES. >> SECRETARY WOFFORD BOTH YES, VICE PRESIDENT NOLAN? YES. >> PRESIDENT CORT? I VOTE YES, THAT'S 5-0, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE BOARD MET IN CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 19th 2025,
013FROM 5:05 P.M. TO 5:58 P.M. TO DISCUSS LIMITED PERSONNEL MATTERS IS PERMISSION UNDER SECTION 10-15-1 H2 OF THE NEW MEXICO OPEN MEETINGS ACT. SPECIFICALLY SO, ONE, THE SUPERINTENDENT COULD UPDATE THE BOARD AND LEGAL COUNCIL COULD ADVISE REGARDING SPECIFIC EMPLOYEE MOVEMENT AND CONTEMPLATED MOVEMENT, TWO, THE SUPERINTENDENT COULD UPDATE THE BOARD AND LEGAL COUNCIL COULD ADVISE REGARDING THE INVESTIGATIONS OF CLASSIFIED AND/OR CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES, AND NUMBER THREE, MET WITH LEGAL COUNCIL TO DISCUSS PENDING OR THREATENED LITIGATION AS PERMITTED UNDER SECTION TO 15-1H7 OF THE NEW MEXICO OPEN MEETINGS ACT, SPECIFICALLY TO DISCUSS ANF [ INAUDIBLE ] VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CASE NUMBER D -307-CEE VEE- TNM. AND I IS FIRM THAT THE MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THIS CLOSED MEETING WERE LIMITED TO THOSE STATED HERE. NOW, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO SOME FUN
014STUFF. ARE YOU READY? I AM. LET'S START WITH SOME RECOGNITIONS, AND I'M GOING TO CALL TO THE PODIUM DR. STEPHANIE. THANK YOU. PRESIDENT CORT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, STUDENT ADVISER ADDISON AND SUPERINTENDENT REES. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF TEACHING AND LEARNING FOR K-12 STEM AND CHALLENGER LEARNING CENTER AND IT IS MY PLEASURE THIS EVENING TO INTRODUCE THE THUNDERBOLTS , THUNDERBOLTS INTERNATIONAL LEGO LEAGUE TEAM. GREAT PICTURE. YOU ALREADY SEE THE TEAM OVER HERE, BUT WHEN I SEE YOUR TEAM IF YOU'LL WAVE. ON THE TEAM OF ZIA MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, WE HAVE PARKER, MICHAELA, HUNTER, JACKSON, JIMMY, KATE, JASMINE, SANTIAGO, AND A HIGH SCHOOL MENTOR, CAITLIN. AS WELL AS THEIR AMAZING SPONSORS. I WANT TO SEE THAT THE SPONSORS WHO WORK WITH FIRST LEGO LEAGUE ANY OF OUR ROBOTICS PUT IN A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT
015WITH THESE STUDENTS, SO PLEASE,. CHRISTINA GONZALEZ. JOSH MONTOYA. AS WELL, JOSH MONTOYA WAS ONE OF THE ADVISERS AT THE TIME. AND ALSO TO OUR PRINCIPAL FOR THE SUPPORT FROM THE TEAM. AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THEY'RE BEING RECOGNIZED TONIGHT AND WHY THIS IS SO SIGNIFICANT IS THAT THIS TEAM REPRESENTED LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I WOULD SAY NEW MEXICO, AT A REALLY UNIQUE EVENT CALLED THE WPI ANNUAL FIRST LEGO LEAGUE EVENT, ALSO CALLED WAFFLE, IN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS. THIS WAS ATTENDED BY TEAMS FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AS WELL AS INTERNATIONAL TEAMS. FROM THE REGIONS, FROM ALL REGIONS OF THE WORLD. THEY COMPETED IN VARIOUS MISSIONS WITH THEIR LEGO ROBOT , PRESENTED THEIR INNOVATION PROJECT ON MAPPING THE ANTARCTIC OCEAN, TALKED TO JUDGES ABOUT HOW THEIR TEAM WORKS TOGETHER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, THEY ALSO GOT
016TO ENJOY MEETING TEENS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, LEARNING ABOUT CULTURES AND OVERALL HAVING FUN ON THEIR TRIP. THESE STUDENTS REPRESENTED THE SCHOOL AND LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH ENTHUSIASM, WITH PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR, AND THEY REALLY PROVED THAT THEY HAD A LOT OF GREAT CHARACTER. AND EVEN THEY WERE ABLE TO FACE CHALLENGES, AND CAME AWAY TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY FACED IT AS A TEAM. SO, CONGRATULATIONS , XIA THUNDERBOTS TEAM. WOW, THAT'S SO AMAZING AND THAT YOU REPRESENTED US TO THE WORLD HIM A THAT'S PRETTY SWEET. SO, I HOPE YOU'LL STICK AROUND BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO TAKE SOME PICTURES IN JUST A LITTLE BIT. I'M SO PROUD OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. SO COOL. I AM NOW GOING TO CALL MISS SHIRLEY O'BRIEN TO COME UP AND TALK TO US ABOUT ANOTHER AWARD. PLUS MAC
017>> PRESIDENT CORT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT RUIZ AND ADDISON. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL MS. SHAWNA BAILEY UP TO THE PODIUM WITH ME, PLEASE. [ APPLAUSE ] SO, OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO SHAWNA BAILEY, OUR DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES, FOR HER RECOGNITION AT THE NMS AND A ANNUAL CONFERENCE AS THE NEW MEXICO SCHOOL NURSE ASSOCIATIONS NURSE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR. SHAUNA WAS -- [ APPLAUSE ] SHAUNA WAS RECOGNIZED FOR HER EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP , ADAPTABILITY, MENTORSHIP AND DEDICATION TO STAFFING AND SUPPORTING SCHOOL NURSES. IN HER RECKONED THE N AND S AND A AND THE SUCCESS OF THE DEPARTMENT, AND POSITIVELY IMPACTED THE COMMUNITY. PLEASE HELP ME IN CONGRATULATING SEAN ON THIS HONOR. ALL RIGHT, THUNDERBOTS, YOU READY TO COME UP FOR A PICTURE? LET'S DO IT. THAT WAS SO EXCITING. ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE, BEFORE WE MOVED TO
018PUBLIC COMMENT I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND OUR AUDIENCE OF THE BOARD'S PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING PUBLIC COMMENT WHICH ARE FOUND ABOARD POLICY VDH, AND ON THE PUBLIC INPUT FORM REFERENCED IN POLICY PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER. HOWEVER, THE BOARD PRESIDENT MAY FURTHER RESTRICT OR WAIVE THESE TIME LIMITS. THE BOARD WELCOMES PUBLIC INPUT. THE BOARD DOES NOT PROHIBIT PUBLIC CRITICISM OR COMMENT UPON PERSONNEL MATTERS. HOWEVER, ANY PERSON MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT SHALL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF THEIR COMMENTS. THE BOARD NEITHER ADOPTS NOR ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY COMMENTS MADE BY INDIVIDUALS DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF THE BOARD MEETING. WE ARE GOING TO START WITH THE FIRST PERSON ON OUR LIST. THAT WOULD BE JAMES ALBA. JAMES? THANK YOU, YES. MY NAME IS JAMES ALBA, I AM A CASE MANAGER
019AT CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, I'M ALSO THE VARSITY TENNIS COACH FOR CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL. I'VE HAD THE LUXURY, AFTER ALL THE CELEBRATIONS, TO BE NOMINATED TO COME OVER AND TALK ABOUT SOME STUFF, UNFORTUNATELY, FOR TENNIS COACHING STIPENDS ACROSS THE BOARD BUT I'M GOING TO SPECIFY ON MY SPORT. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT LOOSELY BASED TERMS, THERE WERE FIVE GROSSLY UNDERPAID STIPENDS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD , COMMITTEE, WHATEVER YOU GUYS WANT TO CALL IT, I BELIEVE IT WAS A GOLF TENNIS, CHEER, AND DANCE. WE HAVE A SAYING THAT I ADHERE TO COMING FROM AN FBI DAD AND MOM WHO WAS IN EDUCATION FOR 34 YEARS. THIS IS NOT AN IMPROMPTU THING, I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THIS SINCE 2022, SO WE'RE CLEAR ON THAT. I'VE ALWAYS SAID, THROUGH MY PRINCIPAL, THROUGH
020EVERYTHING ELSE, AND SO, WHEN I THINK I SAW MR. MONTOYA IN HERE SOMEWHERE, MY PREDECESSOR FOR JEFF, BUT AT CENTENNIAL THEY HAVE A CEILING THAT WHAT YOU DO FOR ONE IS WHAT YOU DO FOR ALL. WHEN IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE STIPENDS, I BELIEVE IT WAS SHEER, POLLEN, DANCE, THEY WENT TO A 200% INCREASE FROM 1800 TO 3601 WENT FROM 2000 TO 6000. TENNIS, SWIMMING, AND GOLF WAS LEFT OFF THE BOARD. I FINALLY HAD IT TO THE POINT WHERE I HAD TO COME TO THE BOARD. I'M THANKFUL FOR ALL MY PLAYERS AND PARENTS, THAT'S WHY IT'S MORE PACKED IN HERE. HAD MY BACK SINCE DAY ONE. I GOT 1:36 LEFT, BREAK IT DOWN, I STEPPED DOWN IN 2023 AFTER COMING OFF, TWO DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS, BECAUSE I FELT THIS POSITION WAS SEVERELY UNDERVALUED. THAT
021WAS IN 2023. COMING BACK AND I WON'T GO INTO THE RABBIT HOLE OF WHY THEY LOST THEIR COACH IN ONE YEAR WHEN I WAS GONE, THAT'S NOT MY PLACE TO SAY. BUT, I WAS COACHING VARSITY BASKETBALL AT THE TIME, I GOT THE CALL THAT THEY NEEDED A COACH AND I WASN'T GOING TO LET MY KIDS DOWN, IT'S NOT ABOUT ME, IT'S ABOUT MY KIDS. WE HAVE ANOTHER SUCCESS ONCE AGAIN, HAVING SAID THAT, WE HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS, AND I HEAR THIS INFORMATION, IT HURTS MY HEART. I DON'T DO THIS FOR THE MONEY, BUT OBVIOUSLY WHEN I FIND OUT PEOPLE WITHIN THE SAME THING, WE ARE A MULTIPLE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEY MAKE $6300 FOR ONE TEAM, IF HE DOES BOTH HE GETS 10,000. WE GET $2275. I DON'T KNOW WHAT DATA YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT CONTRADICTS
022THAT, BUT WHETHER YOU USE TITLE NINE I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT, YEAR-ROUND SPORTS, IT'S BECOME AT THIS POINT, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I FEEL UTTERLY DISRESPECTED AS A COACH. I GOT MY FIRST IN 2004 IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, I'VE ALWAYS DONE IT FOR THE KIDS BUT IT COMES TO A POINT WHERE HE HAS TO SAY SOMETHING. I HAVE DATA, I HAVE PRINTED OFF COPIES AND I WILL GIVE YOU ALL ONE, THANK YOU FOR MY TIME, OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO SPEAK. THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT. JUDY, JUDY, I CAN'T TELL IF THAT'S A H RAY M. OKAY, THANK YOU. I'M COACH JUDY, I STARTED COACHING AT MAYFIELD HIGH IN 2008 WHEN MY SON WAS AN EIGHTH GRADER, AND HE WAS GOING TO PLAY AT MAYFIELD. THEY DIDN'T HAVE A BOYS COACH AT THE TIME, SO I STEPPED UP AND
023BECAME THE BOYS COACH. I WAS THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AT THE TIME WHEN I WAS DOING THIS. I WAS CONTEMPLATING WHETHER TO STEP DOWN AS BEING THE SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO PRESIDENT OR NOT. I HAD A FRIEND THAT SAID, LITTLE DID I KNOW HOW MUCH TIME IT TOOK, SO I PUT THIS SPREADSHEET OR WHATEVER TOGETHER ON THE HOURS THAT YOU DO. I HAD THE HONOR OF COACHING TREATING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, I'VE HAD THREE TEAM STATE FINALIST TEAMS, I'VE ALSO GOT A COACH A SINGLES PLAYER TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND A BOYS TEAM TO THE STATE DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP. I HAD FOUR PLAYERS GET TO GO ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL, PLAYING E1,, D2, D3, SCHOOLS. A FEW I HAD ONE OF MY PAST PLAYERS COMING UP, HE GOES HEY, COACH, I'M GOING TO BE THE NEW COACH
024AT LOVINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, I SAID THAT'S COOL. HE SAID YEAH, HE JUST GRADUATED, MY DAUGHTER GRADUATED WAS THERE AS THE VOLUNTEER COACH FIRST TIME , LAST YEAR HE WAS THE SECOND ASSISTANT COACH. SO, HE GOES, GUESS WHAT HAPPENED AT THE END OF THE YEAR? I GOT A SURPRISE. I DO WHAT WAS THAT? I GOT PAID $6000. I'M LIKE I GOT A $60 RAISED THAT YEAR, I GOT A LITTLE OVER $2000. HE SAID COACH JUDY, I'M SO SORRY, YOU DO SO MUCH FOR TENNIS AND SO MUCH FOR EVERYBODY, I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY'RE NOT PAYING YOU MORE. IT GOT ME THINKING, I TALKED TO JAMES AND STARTED PUTTING THIS THING TOGETHER. AS A COACH, WITH YOUR PRACTICES BEFORE SCHOOL, AFTER SCHOOL, RUNNING TOURNAMENTS, COACHING AT TOURNAMENTS, BEING A DRIVER FOR THE SCHOOL, DOING YOUR PAPERWORK, YOU PUT
025IN AT LEAST 435 HOURS. THAT WAS JUST IN THE SPRING, I TOOK THE CALENDAR OUT AND EDIT IT ALL UP. AS A COACH, THE TIME COMMITMENT YOU HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED AS A COACH IS ANOTHER 18 HOURS, AND I JUST LEARNED FROM ONE OF MY FRIENDS OVER HERE, TO BE A DRIVER THERE'S ANOTHER SIX MODULES YOU HAVE TO TAKE. SO IT'S MORE TIME THAN THAT. I WANTED TO BE A DRIVER FOR THE TEAM BECAUSE IT'S MORE EFFICIENT, IT SAVED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MONEY, AND I WANTED TO, I BETTER TALK FASTER. POSTSEASON COMMITMENTS, THERE'S AT LEAST 64 HOURS, IT'S 517 HOURS THAT ARE THERE. IF YOU WERE TO PAY EVERYBODY A STATE MINIMUM OF $12, THAT COMES OUT TO $6204. THAT I THINK WE SHOULD BE GETTING PAID. I WAS GOING TO , IN CLOSING, THIS
026MAY BE MY LAST YEAR COACHING. I MIGHT THINK DIFFERENTLY IF WE WERE BETTER COMPENSATED, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO GET NEW COACHES TO STEP FORWARD IF THERE ARE NOT BETTER COMPENSATED FOR THEIR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] MELANIE JORGENSEN? HELLO. MELANIE JORGENSEN, I AM THE HEAD TENNIS COACH AT ORGAN MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL. JAMES PRESENTED OUR ISSUE , QUITE WELL AND JUDY EXPLAINED THE TIME COMMITMENT. WHICH I THINK JUST EMPHASIZES THE VALUE IN COACHING, AND WE ALL LOVE WHAT WE DO, LIKE JAMES SAID, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY, IT'S MORE ABOUT EQUAL AND TRANSPARENCY, AND WE WERE JUST WONDERING WHAT THE RUBRIC IS, HOW IT'S DECIDED, HOW THE STIPENDS ASSIGNED ACROSS THE DIFFERENT SPORTS IN OUR DISTRICT, BUT, MOSTLY, THE THING THAT HURT US THE MOST WAS TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE
027THE LOWEST PAID TENNIS COACHES IN ALL OF THE STATE. AND LIKE JUDY WAS PRESENTING, WE PRODUCE STATE CHAMPIONS. WE ARE AT STATE, WE SHOULDN'T BE, WHAT IS THE RUBRIC FOR WHY WE ARE GETTING LESS MONEY ACROSS THE BOARD? OR ACROSS THE STATE. SO, DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE LESS VALUABLE THAN OTHER TENNIS COACHES IN THIS STATE? WHAT ARE THE REASONS? WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT. AND LIKE JUDY SAID, IT'S CHALLENGING WHEN YOU'RE NOT PAYING COACHES VERY MUCH TO FIND THOSE COACHES WHO ARE WILLING TO DO , AND SACRIFICE THE TIME FOR THIS. I HAVE KIDS ON THE TEAM, JUDY STARTED BECAUSE SHE HAD KIDS ON THE TEAM, JAMES AND BILL LOVE THE KIDS, THEY'RE IN IT FOR THE KIDS, BUT, THESE ARE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN THINGS DON'T CLICK FOR US AND WE HAVE TO STEP
028DOWN, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY DIFFICULT TO FIND QUALITY COACHES FOR OUR KIDS, AND I THINK THAT'S JUST A REFLECTION ON OUR KIDS, OUR ATHLETES DESERVE MORE. THEY DESERVE SOMEBODY WHO IS GETTING COMPENSATED EQUALLY, THEY'RE WORKING JUST AS HARD AS THE OTHER KIDS IN THE STATE, THEY'RE WORKING HARD TO GET TO STATE AND TO BE THE BEST ATHLETES THAT THEY CAN. SO WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR EQUALITY, WE'RE LOOKING FOR COMPENSATION FOR OUR KIDS, SO THAT WE CAN BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK JUST LIKE THE OTHER COACHES IN THE STATES GIVE BACK TO THEIR KIDS. THANK YOU. BILL CHILDRESS? THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR HOSTING US HERE TODAY, AND ALLOWING US TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS BILL CHILDRESS, I'M THE COACH FOR LAS CRUCES HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS. AND ALLUDING TO SOME OF THE ISSUES WITH
029GETTING COACHES, I AM A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THAT. MY DAUGHTER WAS A SENIOR TENNIS PLAYER AT LAS CRUCES HIGH SCHOOL, AND THE COACH THAT WAS THERE MOVED ON, HE GRADUATED WITH A MASTERS FROM NEW MEXICO STATE, AND THE KIDS WERE OUT AT LYONS PARK COACHING , PRACTICING ON THEIR OWN, THEY COULDN'T DO IT AT THE SCHOOL. AND SO, THIS TOOK PLACE FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS INTO THE SEASON , WHICH STARTS IN JANUARY. AND I APPROACHED THE ADF HIGH SCHOOL TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR ME TO SIGN UP TO BE A COACH. NOW, I'D BEEN COACHING YOUTH SPORTS FOR 30 YEARS, MOSTLY GIRLS SOFTBALL, AND BOYS BASEBALL. BUT I DID PLAY TENNIS, AND I KNEW THE SKILLS AND I GOT THE COACHING TENNIS AS WELL. TWO BRUSH UP ON THE SKILLS, AND AND THE
030PRACTICE TECHNIQUES FOR THE KIDS. AND I DID THAT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A COACH AND I WAS WONDERING, WHY NOT? THIS IS A REALLY GOOD SPORT, IT'S A COMPETITIVE SPORT. ITS EXCELLENT EXERCISE, JUST ABOUT ANYBODY THAT MAY NOT BE A SUPER ATHLETE CAN COME OUT ONTO THE CORT, AND LEARN HOW TO PLAY THIS GAME, AND THIS IS A LIFELONG SPORT. SO, I DID SIGN UP FOR IT, I SAID IF YOU GET A HEAD COACH, I'LL DO THE ASSISTANT, I WAS AN ASSISTANT COACH FOR THREE YEARS, THAT COACH MOVED ON. I SAID I WOULD HAVE TO GET PICKED UP BY THE NEW COACH AND I SAID, OKAY, LET ME KNOW IF THEY NEED AN ASSISTANT. I GOT A CALL ABOUT TWO MONTHS INTO THE SEASON AGAIN AND THEY SAID, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO APPLY FOR
031THE HEAD COACH? I WAS WONDERING, WHY IS THIS THE ISSUE? I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL I SAW MY FIRST YEAR SALARY OR STIPEND, I WOULD SAY, THAT YOU'RE NOT GETTING A GOOD POOL OF CANDIDATES TO BE THE COACH. FOR A HIGH SCHOOL TEAM THAT BOTH COACHES THE BOYS AND GIRLS TEAM. AND I WOULD IMPLORE YOU GUYS FOR US TO BE COMPETITIVE STATEWIDE IN TENNIS, YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT RAISING THE STIPEND. I WOULD SAY BY AT LEAST $4000 TO AT LEAST MAKE IT SOMEWHAT COMPETITIVE ACROSS THE BOARD. WITH OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE STATE. I REALLY ENJOY COACHING YOUTH SPORTS, IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE EVEN WHEN I HAD A 50 YEAR CAREER WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT'S JUST AN ENJOYABLE THING TO DO. SO, PLEASE GIVE THAT SOME THOUGHT AND CONSIDERATION OF
032AT LEAST RAISING THE STIPEND , BY AT LEAST FOUR OR 5000 TO MAKE IT CLOSE. THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH, APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. KATRINA? KATRINA WINTER? WELCOME. SUPERINTENDENT RUIZ, PRESIDENT CORT, BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. MY DAUGHTER IS A STUDENT AT CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE VARSITY TENNIS TEAM LAST SEASON AND PLANS TO PLAY AGAIN THIS NEXT SEASON. SHE HAD AN HONOR ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF COACH ALBA AND THE OTHER TENNIS COACHES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO GET THE DISTRICT TO RECONSIDER RENEGOTIATE HIGHER STIPEND LEVELS WITH OTHER COACHING STIPEND. AS PART OF THAT PROCESS I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER MAKING THE INCREASE EFFECTIVE OR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OR RETROACTIVELY. LAST SPRING WAS OUR FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH HIGH SCHOOL
033SPORTS AND MY DAUGHTER WAS EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE. ONE REASON SHE CHOSE TO PLAY TENNIS WITH BECAUSE SHE'D HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT THAT TENNIS SCHOOL PROGRAMS. WE BECAME CONCERNED WHEN THE PREVIOUS COACH UNEXPECTEDLY LEFT A MONTH INTO THE SEASON LAST SPRING AND WORRIED THAT THE PROGRAM MIGHT COLLAPSE. THANKFULLY, COACH ALBA STEPPED IN ALONG WITH MR. LEE WHO IS A PARENT AND ASSISTANT COACH , TO NOT ONLY HELP THE TEAM FINISHED THE SEASON BUT LEAD THEM TO COMPLETE EXCESSIVELY AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, SO THAT THEY COULD MOVE ON TO THE STATE COMPETITION IN ALBUQUERQUE. ONE REASON I'M ADVOCATING TODAY IS BECAUSE COMPETITIVE PAY CAN REDUCE TURNOVER AND IMPROVE COACH RETENTION. WHICH A COUPLE OF PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE MENTIONED. THUS ENSURING STABILITY AND CONTINUITY IN COACHING. THE RESULT IS ENHANCED STUDENT PERFORMANCE BECAUSE ATHLETES ARE NOT HAVING TO
034GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING TO KNOW A NEW COACH EVERY SEASON, AND THE COACHES GETTING TO KNOW THE PLAYERS, AND THEY CAN BUILD ON THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM ONE SEASON TO THE NEXT. ADDITIONALLY, FAIR COMPENSATION RECOGNIZES THE SIGNIFICANT TIME AND EFFORT COACHES INVEST IN TRAINING AND MENTORING STUDENT ATHLETES. WHICH CAN LEAD TO BETTER PERFORMANCE AND INCREASED STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN THE SPORT. TENNIS IS A SPORT THAT STUDENTS CAN PLAY THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES, NOT JUST IN HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE. PLEASE HAVE YOUR NEGOTIATING TEAMS TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT STIPENDS AND HELP US CONTINUE TO BUILD ON OUR SUCCESSFUL TENNIS PROGRAMS. SAY YES TO THE PLAYERS, YES TO THE COACHES, YES TO THE NEGOTIATING MORE EQUITABLE STIPENDS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. LANTUS WHITE? DENISE? I'M SO SORRY. YOU SAID IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. UNUSUAL. WELCOME.
035GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT CORT, SUPERINTENDENT RUIZ, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, IT'S A JOY TO BE HERE , THIS FIRST OPPORTUNITY, I'M FAIRLY NEW TO LAS CRUCES, THIS IS MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE, IT WAS AN EXCITING BEGINNING. I ENJOYED THAT. I WANTED , I DIDN'T SAY MY NAME, I AM LANTUS WHITE, I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. THIS IS A DIFFICULT JOB AND I WANT TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR DOING THAT, AND I WANT TO SAY A QUICK PRAYER. FATHER GOD IN JESUS NAME I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED SO DILIGENTLY. WITH THIS DIFFICULT JOB. I ASKED THAT YOU GIVE THEM YOUR WISDOM IN YOUR DIRECTION, YOUR CLARITY, TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO AFFECT EVERY STUDENT IN THIS DISTRICT, EVERY CHILD,
036AND I THANK YOU FOR THEM AND THAT YOU WORK IN THEIR LIVES TO BRING PRAISE TO YOU AND YOU THE VERY BEST FOR THIS DISTRICT. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. THANK YOU. JENSEN ? I HOPE I SAID YOUR LAST NAME CORRECTLY. HELLO, MY NAME IS JENSEN WALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO PREFACE THIS BY SAYING I AGREE WITH THE IDEA BEHIND THE WEAPON DETECTORS IN OUR SCHOOLS. I'M A STUDENT AT CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL, AND I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU A GLANCE OF HOW THESE ARE WORKING INSIDE OF OUR SCHOOLS. I'M A SOPHOMORE AND EVERY MORNING THERE'S A HUGE LINE LEADING AROUND THE PARKING LOT TO GET IN THROUGH THESE METAL DETECTORS. WE ONLY HAVE TWO OF THEM WORKING SO THERE'S ONLY TWO ENTRANCES THAT STUDENTS CAN BE GOING THROUGH. I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY, WE NEED TO KEEP
037WEAPONS OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS, STUDENTS DESERVE TO BE SAFE WHILE GETTING THEIR EDUCATION. IN THE MEANTIME WE CANNOT BE USING THESE, THESE ARE NOT EFFECTIVE, THEY ARE HARMING OUR STUDENTS. OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT ABLE TO GET INTO CLASS IN APPROPRIATE TIME, STUDENTS ARE BEING LATE TRYING TO GET THROUGH THESE METAL DETECTORS, STUDENTS ARE MISSING HUNGRY AND GOING TIRED IN THEIR CLASSES, RUSHING TO GET THROUGH THESE METAL DETECTORS. STUDENTS WILL BE PUNISHED FOR BEING LATE TO CLASS EVEN IF IT'S THE FAULT OF THESE METAL DETECTORS IN OUR SCHOOLS. THERE'S ONLY TWO OF THEM, THERE ARE OTHER ENTRANCES THAT STUDENTS ARE MET IN THROUGHOUT THE DAY THAT ARE NOT CHECKED. THE ITEMS YOU PLACED TO THE SIDE AS YOU GO THROUGH THESE METAL DETECTORS ARE NOT CHECKED. ITEMS THAT YOU HAVE TO REMOVE IN ORDER TO GO
038THROUGH THESE METAL DETECTORS ARE PERFUME WATER BOTTLES, BINDERS, NOTEBOOKS, KEYS, COMPASSES, AND THESE WILL ALL SET OFF THE METAL DETECTOR. THERE'S NO WAY WE DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES, WE DO NOT HAVE THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME TO CHECK ALL OF THE THINGS GOING THROUGH THESE METAL DETECTORS IN A WAY THAT WILL MAKE THEM EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. PAUL FIRTH? I INVITED S.T.E.A.M. ARMSTRONG, HE'S A PARENT, HE WAS NOT AWARE, I APOLOGIZE, HE WAS NOT AWARE THAT YOU NEEDED TO SIGN UP AHEAD OF TIME, SO I'D LIKE TO GIVE MY TIME TO HIM TO SPEAK. OKAY. PRESIDENT CORT, DO YOU MIND IF I ASK A QUESTION BEFORE? IS THERE ANY CHANCE AT ALL THAT YOU CAN USE YOUR DEFERENCE THAT THAT GENTLEMAN WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK? THIS
039IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER BEEN HERE, THIS HAS BEEN AMAZING WITH THE CHOIR AND EVERYTHING, I JUST DIDN'T KNOW, IN HIS GENEROSITY, HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW ME. HE JUST SAID TO ME OVER THE SEAT, DO YOU WANT MY SPOT? AND I FEEL SO BAD. IS THERE ANY WAY THAT HE COULD BE, I'LL TRY AND ROADRUNNER THIS SO HE CAN HAVE SOME OTHER TIME. WHAT YOU THINK? I THINK WE CAN MAKE IT WORK. THANK YOU. ALL THE ACT OF GENEROSITY, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO, SAY NO? THAT'S THE POINT, I'M TAKING MY LEAD FROM THE YOUNG LADY IN BLUE. IT'S ALL YOU. STEVE ARMSTRONG, THIS IS THE FIRST MEETING I'VE EVER BEEN TO. AND IT'S SOMEWHAT APROPOS, BECAUSE YOU STARTED THIS OUT WITH A BEAUTIFUL MUSIC PERFORMANCE, THE GOT ALL THESE KIDS HERE, I
040TAUGHT DRUMS HERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, WELL, AT THE TIME, I PARTICIPATED AS A MEMBER OF THE BASEBALL TEAM AT NEW MEXICO STATE. THEIR BAND PROGRAM THERE AS WELL. I'LL TELL YOU WHY I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT, BECAUSE THERE WERE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE THAT ALLOWED ME TO. WHAT'S GOING ON NOW IS WE KIND OF LOST OUR WAY. NOTICE I DIDN'T SAY YOU, I SAID WE. IS THAT BACK IN 2022, SOMETHING REALLY FANTASTIC HAPPENED, I DON'T KNOW IF MR. FLOREZ IS HERE BUT, IT WAS A HUGE HONOR BECAUSE WE WON THE AWARD , THE FOUNDATION AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC. THAT AWARD IS BASED ON A NUMBER OF THINGS, BUT THE MAIN THING IS ACCESS TO MUSIC. IF YOU CAN IMAGINE, YOU TAKE A KID THAT'S 10, 11, WE TELL THEM BECAUSE OF
041THE CURRICULUM THAT WE HAVE, YOU CAN'T PARTICIPATE. NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE A BAD KID, THERE ARE NO BAD KIDS. NOT BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE SKILL LEVEL, BUT BECAUSE WE'VE INVENTED AN ARBITRARY CURRICULUM THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM BEING IN THIS PROGRAM. IF YOU'RE A PIANIST, THAT'S OKAY, YOU CAN PARTICIPATE. IF YOU PLAY BASS, YOU'RE GOOD TO GO. IF YOU WANT TO PLAY DRUM SET, BUDDY RICH IS ROLLING OVER IN HIS GRAVE. YOU CAN'T DO IT. I THOUGHT I'M GOING TO WORK THROUGH ALL THESE PEOPLE AND SEE IF WE CAN WORK THIS OUT TOGETHER. FROM A MUSIC DIRECTOR TO THE PRINCIPAL, TO THE DIRECTOR OF FINE ARTS. AND I THOUGHT ONE OF THE SOURCES COULD BE THE CURRICULUM. SO I PRINTED OUT A NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS WHICH I WILL SUBMIT TO THE BOARD AFTER MY THOUGHTS
042ARE COMPLETE, WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT THE CURRICULUM THAT YOU ALL, WITH ALL YOUR WISDOM HAS APPROVED HAS NO SUCH REQUIREMENT. THE ONLY REQUIREMENT TO DISSIPATE AS A DRUMMER IN JAZZ BAND IS THAT YOU COMPLETE FIRST YEAR BAND. WHICH, IN THIS CASE, MY SON DID. I'M NOT ONLY ADVOCATING FOR MY SON. I'M ADVOCATING FOR ALL THE STUDENTS IN LAS CRUCES. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT. MR. FIRTH? DR. FIRTH, SORRY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SUPERINTENDENT RUIZ, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND OUR STUDENT, ADDISON. FIRST, I WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF A POLICY JICJ, THE USE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES. IN ORDER , THE WAY I THINK OF IT IS MAKE SURE STUDENTS ARE ACTUALLY PRESENT WHEN THEY'RE PRESENT, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN AND NOT DISTRACTED, AND ONE OF THE THINGS
043I'M INTERESTED IN, I BELIEVE OTHERS ARE AS WELL IS, HOW THIS WILL GET IMPLEMENT IT, THE REGISTRATIONS THAT COME FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT AND ADMINISTRATORS, I THINK IT WILL HAVE A GOOD EFFECT. THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO DO, I GOT TO MEET TROOP 64 AND RECOGNIZE TROOP 64 IS HERE. WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE. I DON'T THINK WE'RE DISAPPOINTING THEM, THIS IS A REAL MEETING. AND, THE LAST THING I WANTED TO DO IS JUST PRAY FOR OUR UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. OUR FATHER, OUR FATHER, OUR CREATOR, OUR GOD, OUR MAKER, HOLY AND HALLOWED IS YOUR NAME. FATHER, MAY YOUR KINGDOM, AND MAY YOUR KINGDOM COME TO THE LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS , MAY YOUR KINGDOM COME TO THE ADMINISTRATORS, YOUR KINGDOM COME TO THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS AND YOUR WILL
044BE DONE IN THOSE SCHOOLS. JUST LIKE YOUR WILL IS DONE IN HEAVEN. FATHER, WOULD YOU PROVIDE ALL THAT WE NEED? WOULD YOU PROVIDE RESOURCES, FATHER, FOR TEACHERS? PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN OUR DISTRICT. FATHER, WE ASK FORGIVENESS FOR OUR SINS, OUR WRONG ATTITUDES, FOR THE THINGS YOU'VE ASKED US TO DO AND WE HAVEN'T DONE, THE THINGS YOU'VE ASKED US NOT TO DO AND WE'VE GONE AND DONE THEM ANYWAY, WE ASK FORGIVENESS AND WE OPEN OUR HEARTS AND FORGIVENESS TOWARD AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US, THROUGH THE SCHOOLS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE ASK THAT YOU LEAD US IN TIMES OF TEMPTATION, IN TIMES OF TRIAL, LORD, YOU ALWAYS GIVE US THE RIGHT PATH AND THAT WE CHOOSE TO FOLLOW IT. AND WE THANK YOU FOR
045GUARDING US AND KEEPING US FROM EVIL, THIS ENTIRE YEAR, LORD JESUS, WE ASK THAT YOU GUARD US AND KEEP US FROM EVIL. AND WE PRAY IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. BEFORE WE GO ON TO THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORT, I WANTED JUST TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR A STUDENT AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT WAS KILLED. TWO WEEKS AGO. IF WE CAN JUST KEEP THAT STUDENTS FAMILY, STUDENTS FRIENDS IN OUR THOUGHTS FOR JUST A MOMENT, PLEASE. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. NOW, I'M GOING TO TURN THE MIC OVER TO THE SUPERINTENDENT. SUPERINTENDENT RUIZ, FOR YOUR REPORT. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, FOR MY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT I LIKE TO BEGIN BY INVITING OUR NEA LAS CRUCES PARTNER JULIE WOTJKO FOR HER REPORT. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT CORT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT RUIZ
046, ADDISON, JAMES. OUR TRAILBLAZERS, HERE. THIS YEAR HAS STARTED OFF WELL WITH SEVERAL CHANGES WE ARE PROUD TO REPORT. IN BARGAINING WE LOOKED AT PAY AND GAVE CHEER HUGE INCREASES IN THEIR STIPEND PAY TO RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK THEY DO SHOWING UP TO SUPPORT MULTIPLE SPORTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN ADDITION TO THEIR OWN RIGOROUS COMPETITION PRACTICE SCHEDULE. THIS IS LONG OVERDUE AS CHEER HAD NOT HAD AN INCREASE IN STIPEND SINCE BECOMING AN NMAA SPORT. IN ADDITION EVERY STIPEND RECEIVED A 4% INCREASE, WE ARE FORMING A COMMITTEE TO ANALYZE PAID FOR CLUBS AND SPORTS HERE AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO ENSURE WE ARE FAIR AND EQUITABLE THROUGHOUT. WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH CONCERNED STAKEHOLDERS AND HAVE INVITED THEM TO THE TABLE TO GIVE THEIR INPUT IN THIS IMPORTANT WORK. THANK YOU TO ALL THE COACHES
047AND PARENTS WHO CAME TONIGHT AS WE WORK TO INCREASE STIPENDS. AT THE END OF BARGAINING LAST YEAR WE SET A GOAL OF THE LABOR-MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO WORK THROUGH ISSUES THAT ARISE. I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THIS COMMITTEE, HAS ALREADY MET. JESSE PERIO EMAILED RESOLUTIONS TO OUR FIRST SET OF ISSUES THIS WEEK AND JESSE ALLRED AND I ARE WORKING WITH CERTIFIED STAFF TO RESOLVE THEM NOW. WE PLAN TO MEET EVERY MONTH A WEEK BEFORE OUR MEETING WITH MR. RUIZ TO TRY TO RESOLVE ISSUES BEFORE THEY REACH THE SUPERINTENDENT OFFICE. OUR FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR WAS LAST FRIDAY. AS ALWAYS, HE'S ALREADY FOLLOWED UP THROUGH SOME OF OUR NOTES BECAUSE I RECEIVED AN EMAIL TODAY FROM ONE DEPARTMENT CLARIFYING A QUESTION HE SENT THEM. SO, THANK YOU TO MR. RUIZ FOR BEING A GREAT PARTNER AS
048WE WORK THROUGH SOMETIMES STICKY SITUATIONS. A MAJOR PRIORITY OF NEA LAS CRUCES THIS YEAR IS THE ENFORCEMENT OF POLICY JICJ FA, BULLYING, CYBER BULLYING, RACIALIZED AGGRESSION AND HARASSMENT. WE'VE SEEN A RISE OF RACIALIZED AGGRESSION AND HARASSMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND WE HAVE A POLICY FROM OUR SCHOOL BOARD, WE MET WITH BOARD MEMBER TENORIO, AND OTHER IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDERS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO TO SET GOALS AND HAVE OPEN CONVERSATIONS. THIS IS A TENSE SUBJECT AND I THINK BOARD MEMBER TENORIO FOR THEIR TIME AND DEDICATION. THANK YOU, AND I STAND FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, BOARD MEMBERS. SOMEBODY LEFT THEIR PHONE UP HERE, IT WAS BLINKING. THAT MIGHT BE DR. FIRTH. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, WILL IT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT WACO, WE'LL MOVE ON , DOES NOT HAVE A REPORT TODAY, MEMBERS OF THE
049BOARD, BUT, WE WILL CONTINUE IN OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS AND WITH PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE. AT THIS TIME I LIKE TO TURN THE TIME OVER, NOW, TO OUR STUDENT ADVISORY REPORT AND ADDISON. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND SUPERINTENDENT RUIZ, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT ORGAN MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL, IN OUR MOST RECENT MEETING WE LOOK AT OUR 2025 TO 2026 OFFICERS, AND ALSO GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH SUPERINTENDENT RUIZ ABOUT THE METAL DETECTORS AND THE LINES THEY CREATED ALL FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS WHETHER IT'S COMING IN FOR LUNCH OR ARRIVING AT SCHOOL IN THE MORNING. WE TOOK TIME TO COMPARE EACH OTHERS SCHOOLS PERSPECTIVE AND AGREED THAT AS A SCHOOL YEAR CONTINUES WILL BECOME MORE OF A ROUTINE FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT IS THE BENEFIT FOR OUR ENTIRE CITY.
050THERE WAS STILL CONCERN ABOUT THE LEVEL OF SETTINGS ON THE METAL DETECTORS, STUDENTS ARE CONCERNED THEY ARE TAGGED FOR THESE THINGS AND THAT SOMEDAY THEY ARE NOT TAGGED, HOW THAT CAN PLAY INTO ITEMS LIKE HARMFUL ITEMS. OVERALL, WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT OUR BATHROOMS ARE CLEANER AND BEING USED CORRECTLY, NOW INSTEAD OF BEING USED AS A PLACE TO SMOKE AND WE ARE EXCITED THAT THE METAL DETECTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO OUR SCHOOLS, AND THAT OUR CITY IS MAKING EFFORT TO BECOME A SAFER PLACE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? I WAS JUST WONDERING, DID THE STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL DISCUSS THE POLICY WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT LATER? MAYBE I SHOULD WAIT UNTIL WE GET TO THAT, RIGHT? I THINK YOU CAN ASK NOW. JICJ. THAT DID COME UP IN CONVERSATION. WE ARE
051ALL TEENAGERS AND ALL LOVE OUR DEVICES. WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS BETTER FOR US, FOR OUR LEARNING, AND WE SEE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CLASSROOM WITH EVERYBODY BEING MORE PRODUCTIVE AND HAVING MORE CONVERSATION WITH EACH OTHER. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE OBSERVED IN THE FIRST MONTH OF SCHOOL. FABULOUS, THANK YOU. WE'LL PROBABLY TUNE IN AGAIN AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THAT POLICY. THANK YOU. HOW MANY METAL DETECTORS DO YOU HAVE , AND HOW DOES IT, WHAT'S THE PINCH POINT LIKE IN THE MORNING? AT ORGAN MOUNTAIN WE HAVE THREE, I BELIEVE, IN THE FRONT AND THAT --OFFICE AND WE HAVE SOME BY THE LUNCH AREA WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME IN FOR MEETING OUTSIDE. FOR US, SINCE WE HAVE LIMITED PLACES TO ENTER THOMAS AS WE ONLY HAVE ONE BUILDING I FEEL LIKE IT'S MORE EFFICIENT FOR OUR
052SCHOOL BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE STAFF AND LOCATIONS BECAUSE THERE'S TWO ENTRANCES THAT THE KIDS GO THROUGH AND IS BECOME MORE OF A ROUTINE. THE SCHOOLS THERE IS A LOT BIGGER FACILITIES , AND I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THAT CAN GET COMPLICATED. THANK YOU, ADDISON. THANK YOU, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, BEFORE I CONTINUE , THANK YOU ADDISON FOR THE INPUT. I VISITED JUST TO SAY HI THE OTHER DAY, LAST WEEK I THINK IT WAS, JUST ON THE GREAT GROUP OF STUDENTS THIS YEAR. WHICH WE'LL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT LATER IN MY PRESENTATION. IN ADDITION TO WHAT ALLISON REPORTED WITH THE SYSTEM WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR PRINCIPLES. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE PRIORITIZING IS ADDITIONAL STAFF, AND BEING ABLE TO HIRE TEMPORARY SECURITY OFFICERS, AND WORKING WITH OUR OPERATIONS TEAM IN HR TO FAST-TRACK THAT AS WELL.
053IN MOVING FORWARD WITH MY REPORT TODAY, WE ARE BACK, WE KICKED OFF THE 2025 2026 SCHOOL YEAR, WITH A STAGGERED START JULY 25th, WE WILL, KINDERGARTNERS, ARE SIXTH GRADERS AND NINTH GRADE STUDENTS TO CAMPUS, JULY 28th, ALL REMAINING GRADES JOINED US. WE STAGGERED START DATES HELPED OUR TRANSITION SETTLE IN BEFORE THE REST OF THE STUDENT BODY ARRIVED. ONE BOTH START DATES, CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF THROUGHOUT SCHOOL SITES TO OFFER HANDS-ON SUPPORT, TROUBLESHOOT ANY FIRST-DAY CHALLENGES AND SHARE IN THE EXCITEMENT OF WELCOMING STUDENTS BACK. THE FEEDBACK FROM OUR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN POSITIVE, THERE'S A GENUINE SENSE OF OPTIMISM ON OUR CAMPUSES. ON JULY 24th, THE COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COMMUNITY GATHERED FOR AN OPEN HOUSE TO CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF THEIR BRAND-NEW CAMPUS. IT WAS A JOYFUL EVENT FILLED WITH STUDENTS, FAMILY, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS EAGER TO
054EXPLORE THE NEW SPACE , THE PRIDE AND EXCITEMENT WERE PALPABLE. SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND PRINCIPAL MICHELLE VALDES, AND THE STAFF AND FACULTY OF COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THEIR HARD WORK AND PATIENCE DURING THIS PROCESS IS MUCH APPRECIATED. WE WILL BE HOLDING A FORMAL RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY THIS FALL TO OFFICIALLY MARK THIS MILESTONE FOR COLUMBIA. ON ANOTHER NOTE WE ARE PROUD TO RELAUNCH OUR DISTRICTWIDE COUNT ME IN ATTENDANCE INITIATIVE. THANKS TO A GENEROUS PARTNERSHIP WITH SAMARA DEALERSHIPS, THIS PROGRAM RETURNS WITH A STRONG INCENTIVE STRUCTURE , INCLUDING QUARTERLY, SEMESTER, AND END OF YEAR PRIZES. WHILE THE CAR GIVEAWAY IS NO LONGER PART OF THE PROGRAM, THEY HAVE COMMITTED $10,000 TO FUND $1000 AWARDS TO BE DISTRIBUTED AT EACH PARTICIPATING HIGH SCHOOL. REVIVING THE COUNT ME IN INITIATIVE GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO REINFORCE THE
055IMPORTANCE OF DAILY ATTENDANCE WHILE ALSO CELEBRATING STUDENTS WHO ARE PUTTING IN THE EFFORT. SUPPORT SENDS US A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT OUR COMMUNITY AND LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE INVESTED IN STUDENT SUCCESS. THE PROGRAM OFFICIALLY RELAUNCHED ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AND WILL RUN THROUGHOUT THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR ACROSS ALL OF OUR LCPS HIGH SCHOOLS, SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT INITIATIVE. AUGUST 7th, I HAD THE HONOR OF PRESENTING AT THE LEADERS OF COLOR SUMMIT IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND. I SESSION WAS TILED FROM INATTENTION TO IMPACT, CO-CREATION COLLECTIVE POWER AND THE PRACTICE OF SOLIDARITY. MY PRESENTATION FOCUSED ON HOW EDUCATIONAL LEADERS CAN MOVE FORWARD BEYOND GOOD INTENTIONS TO CREATE MEASURABLE CHANGE PARTICULARLY FOR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN UNDERSERVED. I SHOWED EXAMPLES FROM OUR WORK IN LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HIGHLIGHTING HOW CO-CREATION WITH STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND STAFF
056LEADS TO STRONGER OUTCOMES AND HOW BUILDING COLLECTIVE POWER WITHIN A DISTRICT HELPS SUSTAIN CHANGES OVER TIME. WE DISCUSSED THE PRACTICE OF SOLIDARITY, NOT AS A ONE-TIME ACTION BUT AS AN ONGOING COMMITMENT TO STAND WITH AND ADVOCATE OUR COMMUNITIES EVEN WHEN THE WORK IS CHALLENGING. THE CONVERSATION WAS DEEPLY ENGAGING WITH LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CONTRIBUTING THEIR OWN INSIGHTS AND EXPERIENCES. IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT THE ON A NATIONAL STAGE AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO A DIALOGUE ABOUT EQUITY DRIVEN LEADERSHIP THAT ALIGNS SO CLOSELY WITH OUR VALUES AND STRATEGIC PLAN. ON AUGUST 13th WE CONTINUED OUR SCHOOL VISITS, CONTINUATION OF THE INITIATIVE THAT WE BEGAN LAST FALL IN PARTNERSHIP TO CONNECT MORE CLOSELY CELEBRATE SUCCESSES, AND LISTEN TO STAFF AND STUDENT VOICES FIRSTHAND. AFTER THAT I VISIT CLASSROOMS DIRECTLY WITH OUR STUDENTS, TALK WITH TEACHERS ABOUT THE
057START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, THESE CONVERSATIONS PROVIDED VALUABLE INSIGHT INTO WHAT'S WORKING WELL, WHERE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT MAY BE NEEDED AND HOW WE CAN CONTINUE BUILDING ON THE POSITIVE MOMENTUM IN OUR SCHOOLS. ON AUGUST 14th LCPS HOSTED A SOCIAL MEDIA TOWN HALL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SINGLETON TO ADDRESS THE GROWING IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN IN ADOLESCENCE. PRESENTERS OUTLINED RESEARCH LINKING HIGH SOCIAL MEDIA USE , PARTICULARLY MORE THAN THREE HOURS PER DAY TO INCREASE RATES OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, SLEEP DISRUPTION AND ACADEMIC DECLINE. THEY ALSO HIGHLIGHTED HOW PLATFORM ALGORITHMS OF THESE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS ARE INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE ENGAGEMENT BY PROMOTING HARMFUL CONTENT. WE HAD OVER 100 PEOPLE ENGAGE WITH US , BOTH IN PERSON AS WELL AS ONLINE. IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL MEETING FOR US, AND OUR COMMUNITY. AND NOW
058I'D LIKE TO UPDATE YOU ON THE LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION AS WE KICK OFF THE 2025 SCHOOL YEAR, THERE ARE SOME EXCITING CHANGES IN THE FOUNDATION, I'D LIKE TO, MISS BRIDGET, AND I THINK JOINING US ALSO IS THE PRESIDENT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR PRESIDENT FROM THE FOUNDATION, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER NOW. THANK YOU, MR. REESE, GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT RUIZ, ADDISON, THANK YOU AND INTRODUCE YOU TO TWO WONDERFUL INDIVIDUALS. SHE LIKES TO HIDE IN THE BACK. I'LL GO AHEAD AND START WITH OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR MANY OF YOU REMEMBER AMY McCARTY. ANY McCARTY CHOSE TO GO BACK TO WHAT SHE REALLY ENJOYED DOING, THAT WAS BEING IN SCHOOLS. SHE IS BACK IN EDUCATION AND WE'RE EXCITED FOR HER, AND VERY EXCITED, TO HAVE OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE REINS, HER AND HER
059HUSBAND HAVE DEEP ROOTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AS PART OF, AND HER FAMILY AS PART OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AS WELL. SO, THEY ARE PROUD CENTENNIAL PARENTS, HER KIDDO WAS THE FIRST GRADUATING CLASS OF CENTENNIAL IN 2014, HER DAUGHTER, GEORGIE, WAS AMONG THE FIRST FOUR ARE GRADUATES IN 2016, AND HER YOUNGEST, JACOB, IS CURRENTLY A JUNIOR AT CENTENNIAL. A GRADUATE OF NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY, GINA EARNED A BACHELORS DEGREE IN HOTEL RESTAURANT AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT AND A MASTERS IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION. SHE IS A LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKER WITH SIGNS AND SMITH REAL ESTATE COMPANY AND TOGETHER WITH HER HUSBAND, OWNS AND OPERATES FORMERLY KNOWN AS TROPHY COUNTRY. WITH HER STRONG LCPS CONNECTIONS LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE AND PASSION FOR SERVING OTHERS, GINA IS EAGER TO HELP THE FOUNDATION CONTINUE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND
060EDUCATORS ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE HER AT THE HELM OF THE FOUNDATION. I'M ALSO EXCITED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR NEW BOARD PRESIDENT, SARAH MARCUS. AS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION, A PROUD GRADUATE OF NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY WITH A DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE, SHE BEGAN HER CAREER WITH FIRST AMERICAN BANK AS A COLLEGE STUDENT, AND TODAY SERVES AS MARKET PRESIDENT AND MANAGING OFFICER OVERSEEING LAS CRUCES AND CHAPERONE MARKETS. DEEPLY INVESTED IN HER COMMUNITY, IN ADDITION TO HER WORK WITH THE FOUNDATION, SHE SERVES ON THE BRIDGE FOR NEW MEXICO, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE, MORE IMPORTANTLY, SHE SERVES ON THE VOLLEYBALL BOOSTER. VOLLEYBALL CLUB. SHE IS ALSO A GRADUATE OF LEADERSHIP LAS CRUCES AND LEADERSHIP NEW MEXICO. THE PROUD MOM OF
061TWO MAYFIELD TROJANS CLASS OF '24 AND SAVANNAH JUNIOR AND VARSITY VOLLEYBALL COCAPTAIN, SHE ENJOYS CHEERING ON HER KIDS, READING, TRAVELING, AND GOLFING IN HER FREE TIME. WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE HER LEADERSHIP GUIDING THE FOUNDATION FORWARD. PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME THESE WONDERFUL INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LEADING OUR FOUNDATION. AND I KNOW GINA WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS IF SHE COULD. GOOD EVENING, MADAME PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, ADDISON SUPERINTENDENT RUIZ, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE THIS EVENING. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, WE ARE TRULY EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU AND CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE. WE DID GET TO PARTICIPATE THIS WEEKEND, IN OUR FIRST ACTIVITY, THE BOTTLES YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU IS WHAT WE PROVIDED TO THE STUDENTS AT THE ATHLETIC
062MEDIA EVENT THIS SATURDAY. SO THESE ARE THE TYPES OF PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE ARE HOPING TO CONTINUE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBER, SUPERINTENDENT RUIZ AND COMMUNITY. I WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE FOUNDATION BOARD THAT WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. OUR ROLE AS A FOUNDATIONS PARTNER WITH THE DISTRICT, TO ENHANCE OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY SUPPORT INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THAT GO BEYOND THE REGULAR BUDGET. THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF DONORS, DEDICATION OF VOLUNTEERS, I WANTED TO NAME A FEW THINGS WE CONSISTENTLY DO AS A BOARD, THAT IS SUPPLY CLASSROOM MINI GRANTS TO TEACHERS, INNOVATIVE TEACHER GRANTS, AND ORGANIZE THE DRIVE FOR HEALTHCARE KIDS THAT ARE PROVIDED TO THE FOUR
063HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS OVER THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR. EACH OF THOSE INVESTMENTS IMPACT STUDENT SUCCESS AND STRENGTHENS THE MISSIONS THAT WE ALL SHARE. ESPECIALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUR CHRISTMAS TREE AUCTION WHICH IS SPONSORED BY FIRST AMERICAN BANK, FOUR TREES THIS YEAR SPECIFICALLY DECORATED FOR THE FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS. WITH SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION WE BELIEVE IT WILL BE A GREATER FUNDRAISER AND COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENTS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ALONG BESIDE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, BRIDGET, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, ALSO THANK YOU TO THE BOARD MEMBERS OF OUR FOUNDATION FOR THE TIME THAT WE PUT INTO THIS, AND THE SUPPORT THAT THEY PROVIDE IN OUR SCHOOLS, OUR TEACHERS, AND OUR KIDDOS. AWESOME. GOOD EVENING, ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, PRESIDENT CORT, SUPERINTENDENT RUIZ. I AM KENLEY CARTWRIGHT, AND
064I'M HONORED TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY IS INTRODUCE OUR 2025 TO 2026 MEMBERS. WE HAVE FIVE RETURNING STUDENTS AND 16 NEW STUDENTS READY TO MAKE LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS THE BEST IT CAN POSSIBLY BE. WE ARE AND DOES THE GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION IS PORTHOLES FOR STUDENTS ACROSS OUR DISTRICT AND THE VALUE YOU SEE IN OUR VOICES. I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE ALL OF OUR MEMBERS FROM ARROWHEAD PARK WE HAVE [ INAUDIBLE ] FROM CENTENNIAL WE HAVE JONAH, ANNIE, AMY, AND BRADEN. FROM LAS CRUCES HIGH SCHOOL WE HAVE GRACE , AMETHYST, CLARISSA, AND MAGGIE. FROM ORGAN MOUNTAIN WE HAVE DREW, ALEXA, YOUR STUDENT TODAY, ADDISON, CASSANDRA. FROM MAYFIELD WE HAVE ELLA, JOSIAH, SAM, AND FINALLY, MYSELF, AND KEEPING US INVOLVED IN ALL OF OUR EVENTS IS OUR WONDERFUL ADVISER, MRS. MELANIE STEWART, AND THE
065COORDINATOR OF ACTIVITIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER A GREAT GROUP OF STUDENTS, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ADVISEMENT AS WELL, THERE VOICE THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE WORK THAT WE DO. FINALLY, THIS EVENING I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR NEW CHIEF OF TECHNOLOGY, ESTHER BRIAN PETERSON, RETURNS TO LCPS AFTER A CAREER IN EDUCATION IN ADDITION TO SERVING LEADERSHIP ROLES IN LCPS, MR. PETERSON HAS SPENT THE LAST DECADE WORKING IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY IN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY. HE CALLS LAS CRUCES HOME, HAS HAD TWO KIDS GRADUATE FROM LCPS AND STARTED YESTERDAY WITH LCPS OVERSEEING THE TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES AND INFORMATION OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT, MR. PETERSON. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT RUIZ, SUPER ADVISER ADDISON, I JUST WANT TO CALL THAT OUT, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. IT'S AN HONOR TO COME BACK TO LAS
066CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IT'S A DELIGHTFUL TO BE HAVE BEEN NAMED TO THIS POSITION AFTER A 13 YEAR DEVIATION , IT FEELS LIKE COMING HOME, IT FEELS LIKE THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT PLACE DOING THE RIGHT WORK. I'M HONORED TO LEAD THIS TEAM OF AMAZING TECHNICIANS, DATA ANALYSTS, HARDWARE SPECIALISTS, WHO WAKE UP EVERY DAY TO HELP TEACHERS DO THE BEST WORK OF THEIR LIVES AND HELP THE STUDENTS FIND THEIR PERSONAL GENIUS. IT IS TRULY HUMBLING. I MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE TEAM TODAY AND I UNDERSTOOD JUST ABOUT 30% OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT. IS TREMENDOUS. THE DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE IS REMARKABLE. I'M DELIGHTED TO LEAD THIS TEAM MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD IF I MADE A COUPLE OF ADDITIONS I
067ATTENDED, YOU WERE THERE FOR THE MEDIA DAY, I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE TEAM AND PUTTING THAT TOGETHER, COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, ATHLETICS TEAM, A GREAT ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR KIDS GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY, THE PROFESSIONALISM, IT WAS GREAT TO BE OUT THERE TALKING TO THEM AND GETTING THEM EXCITED, GETTING ME EXCITED FOR THE SEASON THAT'S TO COME. THE OTHER PIECE TOMORROW, I'VE BEEN INVITED TO WELCOME THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO SAY A FEW WORDS TOMORROW, IT'S AT 9:00 A.M. OVER THE CONVENTION CENTER. AND TO WELCOME AND SAY A FEW WORDS THE THINGS TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF, OUR DISTRICT AND MAYBE SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE A REPORT. APPRECIATE THE TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SUPERINTENDENT. I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU GET UP A LITTLE EARLIER BECAUSE THE THING I SAW SAID
0688:00 TOMORROW MORNING. I BETTER CHECK ON THAT. BUT VERIFY, WHAT I SAW WAS 8:00. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPERINTENDENT REPORT. BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE ARE SO THRILLED THAT THEY CAME AND HUNG OUT WITH US FOR A LITTLE BIT, I'M GOING TO CALL YOU OUT AS YOU LEAVE BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON THE DAIS. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO THE OLD BUSINESS. I'M GOING TO CALL DR. MILLER TOMLINSON UP TO THE MICROPHONE TO TALK ABOUT SECOND READING AND A POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF POLICY JICJ. I MADE YOU GO AGAINST TRAFFIC. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT CORT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT RUIZ, ADDISON. SO, AS YOU NOTED WE ARE HERE FOR SECOND READING AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF POLICY JICJ, USE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES BY STUDENTS.
069THERE HAS BEEN NO PUBLIC COMMENT SINCE FIRST READING , I WILL NOTE THAT IN YOUR PACKET, THE VERSION THAT YOU HAVE FOR SOME REASON THE, WHEN THE TRACK CHANGES DID NOT, IT CREATED TYPOS AND THOSE HAVE BEEN, ADDRESSED, AND WITH THAT I WILL STAND FOR QUESTIONS. BOARD MEMBERS. IT'S AN INTERESTING POLICY, IT DOESN'T REALLY BAN CELL PHONES OR A PIECE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES, IT'S PUTTING THEM AWAY, AT THE TIME WHEN THEY REALLY SHOULD BE PUT AWAY. I THINK THIS POLICY, , IS THE MINIMUM THAT WE COULD DO TO ENFORCE THE STATE LAW. AND I THINK THAT'S GOOD. I HOPE STUDENTS APPRECIATE THAT. WE ARE RESPECTING , THEIR RIGHT TO HAVE THESE COMMUNICATION DEVICES , JUST REGULATING IT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. AND I MEAN, IF IT DOESN'T WORK I CAN SEE, THE ONLY OTHER CHOICE
070WOULD BE TO GET EVEN STRICTER AND I HOPE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. THIS POLICY SUCCEEDS, AS TO WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? I DO HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD. IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE TEACHER AND THE CLASSROOM AND HOW THEY ENFORCE THE RULE. I HAVE TEACHERS THAT WANT IT 100% AWAY IN THE BACKPACK AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS, THEY MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS FOCUSED, AND I HAVE OTHER TEACHERS WHO BELIEVE, YOU ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL, YOU SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO GET YOUR WORK DONE AND NOT BE DISTRACTED ON YOUR DEVICE. IT HASN'T COME UP IN CONVERSATION, OR IN THE SYLLABUS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. I WILL SAY IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH THE TEACHER ENFORCES IT IN THEIR CLASSROOM. THANK YOU, THAT'S HOW IT'S
071ALWAYS BEEN, RIGHT? DO YOU HAVE , WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? PERSONALLY, FOR MYSELF, MY PHONE HAS NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE BECAUSE I FOCUS ON MY EPIC ACADEMICS A LOT. AS I SPEAK FOR OTHER STUDENTS I DO FIND IT IS A DISTRACTION BECAUSE WE HAVE DAYS WHERE WE FEEL THAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO WORK AND A PHONE IS AN EASY DISTRACTION SO IN THE CLASS IS THAT IT IS ENFORCED, I SEE EVERYBODY BEING PRODUCTIVE, AND WE'RE DOING MORE REPORT WITH NOT HAVING OUR PHONES WHICH IS EVERYONE IS CONTRIBUTING BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO BUT DO YOUR WORK. WHICH IS GOOD, RIGHT? >> IT'S VERY GOOD, ADDISON. I WILL ECHO ADDISON'S THOUGHTS THAT, YES, IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO OUR REGULATION AND IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO OUR ENFORCEMENT. SO FAR,
072DO YOU FEEL LIKE IT IS MORE ENFORCED? DO YOU FEEL LIKE IT IS THE SAME AS IT'S BEEN THROUGHOUT YOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL? I FEEL LIKE IT'S MORE ENFORCED THIS YEAR, JUST BECAUSE IT HAS COME UP TO THE STAFF, I DO HAVE TEACHERS THAT CONTINUE EVERYDAY, PUT YOUR PHONES AWAY, AND THEN THERE'S TEACHERS THAT IT'S NEVER COME UP AGAIN, IN THE BACK OF CLASS. THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO, IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO, WITH THAT, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO COMMENT, MADAM CORT? I FEEL LIKE YOU NEED A CLOSING COMMENT RIGHT NOW. I CAN PROVIDE ONE, THANK YOU FOR THE FEEDBACK. AND, IN OUR REGULATION AND IN THE GUIDANCE, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR PRINCIPLES SO THEY CAN DETERMINE WHEN IS APPROPRIATE, SO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, NO USAGE DURING THE DAY ,
073AT HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS DO HAVE THE LATITUDE TO ALLOW CELL PHONE USAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES, AND SO, I BELIEVE WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH PRINCIPALS TO MONITOR THAT, TO SEE HOW IT'S GOING AS WE BRING, ONCE THE POLICY IS APPROVED AND WE BRING THE REGULATION INTO EFFECT. PERFECT. >> THANK YOU TO MESS UP THE CLEAN ENDING, I AM CURIOUS ABOUT, I HEAR ABOUT HIGH SCHOOLS, MY DAUGHTER, CENTENNIAL, AND THEN LIKE ALLISON SAID, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERY HIGH SCHOOL, SO, THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS, I'M WONDERING HOW IT'S GOING. ELEMENTARY SEEMS MOST OF THOSE KIDS WON'T HAVE A PHONE ANYWAY, I'M CURIOUS , WHAT HAPPENED IS HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL? RESIDENT CORT, VICE PRESIDENT NOLAN, MIDDLE SCHOOLS WERE EARLY ADOPTERS IF YOU WILL. THEY STARTED PUTTING THIS INTO EFFECT LAST YEAR, REALLY LIMITING CELL PHONE USAGE
074DURING PASSING PERIODS, DURING LUNCHTIME. AND, THERE WAS DISCUSSION OVER THE SUMMER ABOUT TAKING IT FURTHER, NOT ALLOWING CELL PHONE USE BEFORE SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL, AND, THEY QUICKLY REALIZE THAT THAT WOULD BE UNTENABLE TO MONITOR , AND ENFORCE, SO THEY STUCK WITH WHAT'S WORKING. AND I THINK IT CONTINUES TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL. AND PRESIDENT, IF I MAY ADD TO THAT AS WELL, SOME OF THE FEEDBACK I RECEIVED AS I KNEW WITH PRINCIPALS IS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, THEY'VE SEEN A DIFFERENCE IN DISCIPLINARY SITUATIONS, ET CETERA. THEY ARE SEEING A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY THEY'RE IMPLEMENTING AND ENFORCING IT AS WELL. YES, MS. TENORIO. THANK YOU. SORRY, MY BRAIN IS A LITTLE STUFFY, BUT THANK YOU, ADDISON FOR YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT OBSERVING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DIFFERENT TEACHERS AND THEIR APPLICATION OF THE
075RULES. POLICY , CURRENTLY, I THINK WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS THAT , YOU HAVE STUDENTS, GETTING MIXED MESSAGES, AND I'M CURIOUS WHAT KIND OF , IF THERE IS A CLEAR COMMUNICATION THAT HAPPENS IN EACH CLASS, IF THAT HAPPENS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR LIKE, I AM A NO CELL PHONE TEACHER, OR, I HAD HEARD AT SOME POINT THAT THERE WAS A RED, YELLOW, GREEN, IS THERE ANY TYPE OF SIGNAGE ON THE DOOR? TO LET THE KIDS KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN THEY GO INTO THE CLASSROOM? YES, MA'AM. WE DO HAVE POCKETS IN EVERY CLASSROOM, TO PLAY CELL PHONES. FOR STUDENTS THAT HAD MULTIPLE WARNINGS TO PUT THEIR PHONE AWAY, THEY WOULD BE ASKED TO PUT IT IN A AT THE FRONT OF THE DOOR, AND I WILL ADD THAT, OUR CELL PHONE USAGE IN THE
076HALLWAYS IS MONITORED REALLY WELL, DURING PASSING PERIOD NO ONE IS ON THEIR PHONE, NO ONE HAS HEADPHONES IN. LIKE THERE'S SOMEONE REMINDING US TO PUT IT AWAY OR IN OUR POCKET WHILE WE'RE WALKING SO I WILL ADD THAT THAT HAS CHANGED A LOT IN THE SCHOOL. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY SIGNS IN MY CLASSROOM. IN ANY OF MY CLASSROOMS BUT I HAVE THE POCKETS FOR THE PHONES. WHICH SCHOOL ARE YOU AT THAT? ORGAN MOUNTAIN. OKAY, THANK YOU. JUST CONSISTENCY MAY BE. CLEAR COMMUNICATION, I THINK IT'S HARD FOR STUDENTS TO HAVE, I DON'T KNOW, TO GOING TO ONE CLASS, HANGING ON THE DOOR. I'M JUST CURIOUS, IF THERE IS SO MUCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE SCHOOL AND ANOTHER SCHOOL, ONE CLASS AND ANOTHER CLASS, SO, PRESIDENT CORT, MEMBER TENORIO, AGAIN, AT HIGH SCHOOL THERE IS LATITUDE FOR TEACHERS
077TO ALLOW USAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONAL , INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES, AND REALLY IT'S AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PRINCIPAL TO WORK WITH TEACHERS TO ENSURE THAT WHEN PHONES ARE OUT, IN THE CLASSROOM, IT IS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES, AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAID AS WE PUT THE REGULATION INTO EFFECT, ONCE THE POLICY IS APPROVED, WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH PRINCIPALS ON THAT MONITORING PIECE. AND SEE HOW IT'S GOING, AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY TWEAKS TO THE REGULATION THAT NEED TO BE MADE. THANK YOU. MOVING BACK TO OUR POLICY BECAUSE WE WERE CONCENTRATING, MR. FRANK, GO AHEAD. I'M STARTING TO THINK THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS POLICY. STUDENTS ARE PROHIBITED FROM USING A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE DURING INSTRUCTIONAL OWL HOURS. I WAS DEFINING INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS AS THE TIME THE STUDENTS ARE IN CLASS. IF YOU LOOK AT C BELOW
078B, THE PROHIBITION AGAINST STUDENT USE OF DEVICES SHALL NOT APPLY IF A TEACHER PERMITS A STUDENT USE OF A RELIABLE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES IN ALIGNMENT, SO, THAT GUIDANCE APPLIES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. AND THAT WILL BE IN REGULATION. I UNDERSTAND THAT. I HAVE OBSERVED CLASSES WERE CELL PHONES ARE USED EFFECTIVELY. FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES. BUT, THE WAY I'M READING IT, A STUDENT WOULD BE ALLOWED TO USE THEIR CELL PHONE IN THE HALLS BETWEEN CLASSES. THAT'S NOT INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS. THE WAY I'M LOOKING AT IT, ARE WE DEFINING INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS AS THE LENGTH OF THE SCHOOL DAY? INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, WHEN WE CALCULATE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME PASSING. SCOUT AS INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. SO, THE PROHIBITION OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES WOULD EXTEND TO PASSING PERIOD , LUNCH AND THE PASSING PERIODS BEFORE AND AFTER LUNCH DO NOT COUNT
079AS INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. CAN WE BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT DESCRIBING THIS? IN THE REGULATION IT IS. IT IS SPELLED OUT, YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO, MOVING BACK TO POLICY JICJ, DOES ANYBODY SEE ANY OTHER ISSUES WITH THE POLICY? WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE REGULATION OF ANOTHER TIME BUT AT THIS POINT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE POLICY. AND ARE THERE ANY ISSUES WITH THE POLICY ? ARE WE GOOD TO MOVE FORWARD? I SENT A FEW EDITING CORRECTIONS BEFORE. OTHERWISE I THINK , WE COULD ACT ON THIS POLICY. ALL RIGHT. I LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE POLICY JICJ WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE. SO MOVED. MOVED BY MR. FRANK. >> SECOND. SECONDED BY VICE PRESIDENT NOLAN. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE TAKE THE ROLE? MR. FRANK? >> YES. MISS TENORIO? >> YES. >> SECRETARY WOFFORD VOTE YES, VICE PRESIDENT NOLAN?
080YES. >> PRESIDENT CORT? I VOTE YES, THAT'S 5-0. I APPRECIATE ALL THAT INFORMATION. WE'RE NOW GOING TO MOVE TO NEW BUSINESS, I'M GOING TO CALL MISS O'BRIEN BACKUP TO THE PODIUM. FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF NMSBA INNOVATIVE RESOLUTIONS. GOOD EVENING AGAIN, PRESIDENT CORT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT REESE ADDISON, I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY ROUNDING US IN THE GUIDELINES FROM NMSBA ON WHAT'S REQUIRED. AND SO, LET ME JUST SWITCH THIS TO THE NEXT SLIDE. SO, EVERY YEAR AS WE KNOW, NMSBA CALLS FOR THESE RESOLUTIONS FROM SCHOOL BOARDS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. THIS IS THE SESSION COMING UP IN 2026 IS A 30 DAY SESSION, WHICH IS LIMITED TO BUDGET AND FINANCE. YOUR RESOLUTION THAT YOU SUBMIT TO NMSBA MUST BE APPROVED THE BOARD, SO IT LOOKS LIKE, EVENTUALLY, AT
081SOME POINT THE NMSBA HAS A COMMITTEE OF 24 PEOPLE THAT WILL CHOOSE WHICH RESOLUTION ALL OF THIS IS A REMINDER TO YOU ALL, OF WHAT'S COMING UP. NEXT IS A QUICK TIMELINE, SO WE HAVE TIME SET ASIDE TO THIS BOARD MEETING, AND, IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL TIME, WE CAN PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE SEPTEMBER 2nd WORK SESSION. AS I SAID, IF THE BOARD WANTS TO DO THAT. WE DEFINITELY ARE HERE TO SERVE AT YOUR PLEASURE. AGAIN, AS A REMINDER THEY'RE DUE SEPTEMBER 8th. SO, THE RESOLUTION TOPICS FOR CONSIDERATION , THE FIRST ONE IS INCREASE IN TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, WHICH INCLUDES TO AND FROM AND ACTIVITIES. THE SECOND ONE IS FEDERALLY FUNDED POSITIONS, AND THE THIRD ONE IS OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA, SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE THESE ON AND CHAMPION THIS
082WORK, SO, IF YOU DON'T MIND, YOU HAVE A PACKET, SHOULD BE THE SPECIAL EDUCATION RESOLUTION. MEMBER TENORIO AND MYSELF WORKED ON THIS ONE. AND AS I SAID, YOU HAVE PAPER COPIES, IN CASE WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL AS, AND SO, MEMBER TENORIO, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SHOULD. THANK YOU. I THINK THIS WAS PROPOSED TO ME BY MISS O'BRIEN AND MR. MONTOYA, I BELIEVE THAT THEY PUT A LOT OF THIS TOGETHER, AND I JUST RAN A COMB THROUGH IT, AND I THINK IT'S A REALLY STRONG RESOLUTION, TO PROPOSE TO THE LEGISLATURE, THANK YOU, YES. THE FUNDING FORMULA FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS. AND I THINK I GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT, AND I SLEPT ON IT, SORRY, I DO HAVE SOME OTHER THOUGHTS, NOW WE HAVE EXTRA TIME TO
083WORK ON IT. AND I THINK I'M STILL ON THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE. SO, I'LL BE TAKING THIS IN PERSON TO ALBUQUERQUE. AND WHATEVER ELSE , WHATEVER ELSE WE DECIDE TO PASS. BUT, ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS THINKING ABOUT IS THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE REALLY LOVES IT WHEN IT'S USING THAT UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE, LIKE, THE WHOLE STATE , ALL OF OUR BOARD DISTRICTS, ALL OF OUR SCHOOL BOARDS, THAT LANGUAGE IS UNIVERSAL, IT'S MORE APPEALING THAN WHEN WE USE OUR SPECIFIC NAME AND WHEN WE SIGN IT ON THE BOTTOM IT'S FROM US. BUT I THINK IF WE CAN MAKE IT MORE APPEALING TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO ARE VOTING AND TO THE OTHER SCHOOL BOARDS, I THINK THAT WILL BE VERY GOOD. I ALSO THINK, IF IT'S AT ALL POSSIBLE TO ADD A DOLLAR AMOUNT,. I DON'T KNOW IT'S
084POSSIBLE. IT WOULD BE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS. WE DID HAVE THAT DISCUSSION, PRESIDENT TENORIO, WE FELT LIKE IT WOULD BE BETTER TO LEAVE IT THERE ISN'T A DISTRICT IN THE STATE THAT IS GOING TO TELL YOU THEY DON'T NEED MORE FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, BUT TYING A SPECIFIC NUMBER TO IT, COULD HAVE A DIFFERENT EFFECT FOR DIFFERENT DISTRICT. UNDERSTOOD, I JUST WAS WANTING TO. SHARED WITH THIS EARLIER, BUT, I HAD TO SAY IT OUT LOUD, NOW. ANYWAY. I THINK YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THE EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA? I THINK IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING I WOULD BE PROUD TO SUPPORT. SO. THANK YOU, VERY WELL DONE. ARE WE , ARE WE OFFERING A RESOLUTION THAT IS
085UNIQUELY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE WHICH HAVE ASKED FOR MORE FUNDING IN THE PAST? THE NMSBA SAYS IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR THE SAME THING THAT , WE WANT MORE SPECIAL ED MONEY, THEY MAY JUST SAY WE ALREADY HAVE THIS. SO, DO WE HAVE A CLEAR ASK FOR THE SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING TO BOARD MEMBER TENORIO'S POINT? IF WE HAVE MORE SPECIFICITY IN TERMS OF WHAT WE ARE DESCRIBING AS THE PROBLEM, THEN WE ARE CUTTING OUT A NICHE OF THAT FUNDING HERE AS A PROBLEM? THE SAME THING IS TRUE IN THE ONE THAT I WORKED ON. I SUGGESTED THAT IF WE COULD PROVIDE SPECIFIC FUNDING, I KNOW YOU JUST TOLD ME YOU THOUGHT ABOUT IT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN, IT JUST GETS REJECTED BECAUSE WE'VE ASKED FOR MORE SPECIAL ED FUNDING IN THE PAST. SO, WHERE,
086SPECIFICALLY, IN THE SPECIAL ED BUDGET, IS MOST CRITICAL , THE UNDERPAYMENTS? WITH LEVEL D? CAN YOU PUT YOUR FINGER ON THAT? MEMBER WOFFORD, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I WILL SAY THIS. IT'S UNDERFUNDED ACROSS THE BOARD. THAT'S WHY WE SIMPLY SAID INCREASE. ANY INCREASE IS GOING TO BE A WIN FOR US, TYING IT TO SPECIFIC DOLLARS MAY BE PROBLEMATIC. I DON'T KNOW , WOULD LIKE TO CHIME IN ON THIS AS WELL. AND PRESIDENT CORT, MEMBER SECRETARY WOFFORD, THERE'S A LOT OF COMPONENTS TO THIS, RIGHT? THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS. THAT IS A CHALLENGE. SO, THAT'S A FEDERAL FUNDING, RIGHT? AS THAT CHANGES, IT TASKS, FOR LACK OF BETTER WORD, REALLY HURTS ON THE OPERATIONAL SIDE AND THERE'S OTHER DIFFERENT COMPONENTS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PINPOINT ONE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY MOVING PARTS, MAYBE
087A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES, AS WELL AS MR. MONTOYA WHO DEALS WITH THE BUDGET ON A DAILY BASIS. COULD GIVE US INSIGHT ON THAT. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. RUIZ, SO, YES, THE WAY THE FUNDING FORMULA WORKS IS, THE GENERAL FUND FOR STUDENTS, EACH LEVEL GIVES YOU A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE, THE STUDENTS WILL GIVE YOU A POINT WHATEVER THE GENERAL FUND IS. THAT'S ONE STUDENT, WHAT THEY DON'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IS THAT A D LEVEL STUDENT, THAT IS AN EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED STUDENT, THAT HAS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, THAT WE HAVE A TEACHER, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, THE SOCIAL WORKER, WE HAVE , MAYBE HE IS VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR HEARING IMPAIRED, ALL OF THAT IS TIED IN BUT WE GET .125. TO PROVIDE ALL THAT. WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS TO LOOK AT A NEED INSTEAD
088OF JUST ONE PERSON, ONE STUDENT. LOOK AT THE NEED OF THE ENTIRE STUDENT AS OPPOSED TO JUST ONE STUDENT, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS TO THIS. SO, AS THE FEDERAL FUNDS , THIS HASN'T BEEN LOOKED AT SINCE 2014. SO, WE HAVE NOT HAD ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SINCE THEN. AND THINKING THAT, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS ROUTED TO THE STATE, SO IT AFFECTS US. AS WE GET MORE AND MORE RAISES AND HAVE TO HIT THIS GUY UP FOR MORE MONEY, BECAUSE IT'S ALL USED UP ON SALARIES. YOU'VE MADE A VERY GOOD POINT. MY SUGGESTION IS THAT WHEN WE PUT THAT IN, WE SAY, WHEREAS, WAS FUNDED AT 40%, INITIALLY IT CAME INTO BUDGET AT 2004, WHEREAS NOW, IT ONLY COVERS THIS PERCENTAGE. THAT'S WHAT I MEAN BY PRECISION OF
089NUMBER. AND THE STUDENTS WHO ARE 1.125 MULTIPLIER, WE SHOULD IDENTIFY WHAT THE INCREASE IN MULTIPLIER MIGHT BE. DO YOU HEAR WHAT I'M SAYING? AND BOARD MEMBER TENORIO HAS BEEN ON THIS COMMITTEE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. SO SHE HAS A LOT OF INSIGHT INTO THE SPECIFICITY WITH WHICH THOSE WHEREAS CAN GET THROUGH. BECAUSE THEN YOU ARE CLEARLY SELLING THE POINT TO THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE STATE FROM WHAT THE EXACT THING IS. I THINK WE'RE TALKING THE SAME THING. YES. PRESIDENT CORT, IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE WE CAN INCORPORATE, FOR EXAMPLE THE POINTS YOU WERE JUST MAKING, WITH THE MULTIPLIER REVISITED SINCE 2004 AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. MAYBE WE CAN ADD THAT. IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, OKAY. IT LOOKS LIKE MAYBE THAT ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIFTH, IT SAYS UNDERFUNDING,
090YEAH. I THINK TENORIO HAS HER HAND UP. ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU. I WAS BUSY LOOKING AT THE POLICY. PLEASE. GIVE ME A SECOND, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE 2024 AND 2025 RESOLUTIONS THAT THE COMMITTEES VOTE APPROVED. I DON'T SEE ANYWHERE WHERE THE RESOLUTION TODAY, IT'S NOT REPLICATING ANYTHING. ESPECIALLY THE FUNDING FORMULA, THAT'S NOT ONE THAT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE. THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED IN THE PAST IN THE PAST, WERE MORE MEDICATION. OKAY. SO, ONE OF THEM WAS SPECIAL ED, SPECIAL ED STAFF. AND THEN ANOTHER ONE WAS , WHAT WAS IT. THE STIPENDS, THAT ONE GETS ME. MAD. THAT ONE DID NOT PASS BECAUSE IT BECAME A SLIPPERY SLOPE OF, WELL, EVERYBODY TEACHES SPECIAL EDUCATION KIDS SO THEY SHOULD ALL GET THE STIPEND. AND THAT WASN'T THE POINT. I THINK WE'RE GOOD AS FAR AS
091THIS BEING SOMEWHAT UNIQUE. NOT BEEN PROPOSED IN THE PAST THREE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN THERE. I THINK MAKING THE LANGUAGE MORE UNIVERSAL AS FAR AS THE STATE DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE KIND OF THING, IF WE COULD SAY, JUST A BROAD ESTIMATE OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, OF A DEFICIT OR DIGGING INTO OUR OPERATIONAL. OKAY. MEMBER TENORIO, WE'LL CIRCLE BACK AND MAKE THESE EDITS AND WE CAN BRING IT FOR THE SEPTEMBER 2nd MEETING IF THAT'S OKAY WITH EVERYBODY. ABSOLUTELY. MR. FRANK? I WANT TO MAKE ONE COMMENT, THIS IS NOT JUST A RESOLUTION. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO GET OUR STATE SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION TO ADOPT IT. AND MAKE IT PART OF THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. IN THE HOPE THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM OF UNDERFUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION. YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
092MEMBER FRANK, THIS HELPS US AS A DISTRICT ALSO CREATE OUR LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE FOR THE SPRING, SO, WHATEVER WE DETERMINE HERE , IF THE BOARD WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD EVEN IF THEY DON'T GET ADOPTED, WE STILL ADVOCATE FOR THESE ITEMS. VICE PRESIDENT. WE'RE NOT WRITING LEGISLATION HERE, THIS IS A RESOLUTION, WE'RE SENDING VALUES INTO THE WORLD, SIGNALING WHAT WE THINK IS IMPORTANT. WE DON'T NEED TO GET SUPER INTO THE WEEDS. IN A RESOLUTION. BUT I DO LIKE THOSE EDITIONS ON THE SPECIFICITY THAT MR. MONTOYA, YOU MENTIONED. THAT IS GOOD. THAT'S IT FOR ME. RESIDENT, I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE MADE IN THE FIRST WHEREAS, WHERE IT SAYS LCPS, THAT LANGUAGE SHOULD SAY THE NMSBA, SAME THING IN, THEREFORE THE TO BE RESOLVED, SO THAT IT IS NEW MEXICO SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION MAKING THE RESOLUTION. WOULDN'T THAT
093BE SOMETHING, IT FEELS AWKWARD WHEREAS NMSBA IS COMMITTED, I DON'T KNOW. THAT FEELS WEIRD. I'M JUST NITPICKING, HERE. THEY WILL NOT CHANGE THE WORDING OF OUR RESOLUTION. BECAUSE THEY EITHER ADOPTED OR THEY DON'T. SO, THERE'S SOME CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO HOW TO GET EVERYBODY ON BOARD. I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT, I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE DON'T SPEAK FOR NMSBA, WE STILL SPEAK FOR LCPS. WITHIN SOME OF THOSE WHEREAS, WE CAN SAY THE STATE OF THIS ACROSS THE STATE EXPERIENCE, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL EXPERIENCING SOMETHING SIMILAR, BUT WE WOULD NOT SAY , ON BEHALF OF NMSBA OR, WE WON'T SIGN IT THAT WAY. WE WON'T VOTE ON IT THAT WAY, AND IF YOU LOOK BACK , IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE NMSBA WEBSITE, AND GO TO , CLICK ON THE
094WEBSITES, WE GO TO THE THREE MENU BAR, AND GO TO ADVOCACY LEGISLATURE, AND YOU SEE EXAMPLES OF WHOEVER ELSE, YOU MENTIONED THE DISTRICT WITHIN THE RESOLUTION, BUT, THEY ALSO, WHAT I'M SAYING IS IT'S STRONGER WHEN YOU CAN TAKE YOUR SELF OUT OF HER BUBBLE, AND LOOK AT THE GREATER PICTURE, THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. THAT'S WHO WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT TO. THANK YOU. OKAY. YEAH, I THINK WE'RE GOOD AND WE WILL BRING THAT TO THE BOARD OCTOBER 2nd. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT. OKAY, PRESIDENT CORT, THE NEXT RESOLUTION IS THE FEDERALLY FUNDED POSITIONS. AND IF DR. LOZANO WILL JOIN ME AT THE PODIUM, I'LL LET HIM TAKE OVER. I'LL TAKE NOTES. THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. ADDISON , RIGHT? I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH MR. WOFFORD ON
095THE FEDERALLY FUNDED POSITIONS, SO AS WE KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EXTENSIVELY OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, JUST A GAP THAT HAS BEEN CREATED OVER THE YEARS IN THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WE ARE RECEIVING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. FOR SEVERAL REASONS WHETHER IT BE STUDENT POPULATION, WHAT'S REALLY HURT US THE MOST IS A GOOD THING, BUT, UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, TEACHER RAISES, RAISES ALTOGETHER COST OF INSURANCE, RETIREMENT, ET CETERA, THAT'S ALL NOT TO THE FEDERAL FUNDING WE GET. THE INTENT OF THIS RESOLUTION IS TO ASK THE STATE TO INTERVENE, AND TO HELP US OUT WITH ENSURING THAT WE CONTINUE SERVICES FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE. THANK YOU, DR. LOZANO, BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUICK ONE, DID WE DO THIS ONE LAST YEAR? AND IT DIDN'T GET ADOPTED?
096AND IF WE DID, WHAT LANGUAGE DO WE NEED TO CHANGE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT LAST YEAR WE DID NOT DO THIS ONE, A COUPLE YEARS AGO YOU DID DO A SIMILAR ONE, AND IT WAS SPECIFIC TO COVID FUNDING. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M REMEMBERING IT FROM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? THANK YOU. MS. TENORIO? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WHICH RESOLUTION IS THIS? THIS IS TO CLOSE THE FUNDING GAP FOR FEDERALLY FUNDED POSITIONS. I REMEMBER THAT, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER. HOW FAR IT WENT. DR. LOZANO SAID, WE HAD DONE THAT WHEN WE WERE LOSING OUR COVID FUNDING. MAKING SURE THAT WHATEVER CLIFF THAT WAS WE WEREN'T GOING TO FALL OFF OF IT. IT'S DIFFERENT IN THAT RESPECT. IF I MAY. DR. LOZANO. MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT IS CORRECT, THE INTENT
097OF THAT ONE WAS THE ANTICIPATION OF THE FUNDING, THAT WE UNFORTUNATELY DID EXPERIENCE WHEN WE DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO COVID FUNDING. THANK YOU. I THINK IF IT DOESN'T PASS, YOU CAN KEEP PROPOSING IT. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. WE DID THAT WITH , WE SUBMITTED IT MORE THAN ONCE. PERFECT. >> DID IT LIKE THAT WE MADE SOME AMENDMENTS TO IT. THEY NOTICED. EXCELLENT. SO, WE'RE GOOD ON THIS ONE, BOARD MEMBERS? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, DR. LOZANO, TROOP 66. RIGHT? 64. >> MY APOLOGIES. TROOP 64, WE'VE GOT ONE MORE RESOLUTION TO GO. YOU'RE DOING GREAT AND WE WON'T BE OFFENDED IF YOU NEED TO LEAVE BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY 8:00. YOUR FORTITUDE RIGHT THERE. WHATEVER BADGE OR ANYTHING YOU GET, YOU'VE EARNED IT. OUR THIRD AND FINAL RESOLUTION IS REGARDING DAILY TRANSPORTATION, INCLUDING ACTIVITIES AND I'M GOING TO
098TURN IT OVER TO MR. RODRIGUEZ. GOOD EVENING, MADAME CORT, SUPERINTENDENT RUIZ, MADISON. REALLY, THIS IS US ASKING FOR FULL FUNDING, NOT JUST FOR DAILY TRANSPORTATION BUT ALL INCLUDING OUR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, SPORTS, ACTIVITIES, WE'RE PAYING WELL OVER $3 MILLION AT THE COST OF PORTIONS OF IT IS TO AND FROM, BUT ALSO OUR ACTIVITIES IN OUR SPORTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON. THIS RESOLUTION IS LOOKING AT ASKING FOR THAT FULL FUNDING OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE DISTRICT. WHICH WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL DISTRICTS, TO HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION FULLY FUNDED FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO PARTAKE OF THAT AS WELL. WITH THAT, I STAND FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. IT'S JUST EQUITABLE. I BELIEVE IN OUR TITLE AFTER SCHOOL, SHOULD BE TWO WORDS. I NOTICED THERE WERE TWO AS WELL. I TOOK ONE OUT. THAT'S
099A POLICY, IT WAS A LONG PAUSE. SO WE COULD PONDER A LITTLE BIT. WE COULD CREATE MORE GENERAL LANGUAGE IN THEIR IF THE BOARD THINKS THAT WE SHOULD. IT ALSO SAYS DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE INCLUDING LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND, WE HAVE PUT IN THIS TRANSPORTATION BEFORE, BUT, WE STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY MONEY. IT'S WELL WORTH IT. AND IN THERE, IT SAYS ACTIVITY BUSES, AND THAT'S LIKE DAILY ACTIVITY BUSES SO THE KIDS CAN PARTICIPATE ON A DAILY BASIS WITH TUTORING, SPORTS, CLUBS, WHATEVER. MAKES IT EQUITABLE FOR ALL KIDS. WE ALSO PUT IN THERE THAT INCREASES THE ATTENDANCE RATE, THE TRANSPORTATION IS NOT A BARRIER TO STUDENTS COMING TO SCHOOL. THAT WE HAVE THAT AND ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT. ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? MADAME CORT? SO, I DON'T FIND THESE RESOLUTIONS IN
100THE PACKET. I KNOW MAYBE YOU HAVE A PAPER COPY, I'M NOT SURE. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE GET PUT IN PACKETS FOR PUBLIC ACCESS, AND I HAVE ACCESS TO THE ONE THAT I WAS WORKING ON, I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE PACKET AND COULDN'T FIND THE OTHER ONES. THEY WEREN'T IN THE PACKET, BECAUSE WE WERE ZOOMING TO GET THEM IN, I THINK EVERYBODY DID THEIR WORK OVER THE WEEKEND AFTER THE PACKET HAD BEEN RELEASED. THEY WILL BE , WE'LL PUT THEM ON THEIR HOWEVER THAT WORKS. IN THE SEPTEMBER 2nd, ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S WHEN WE'LL VOTE ON THEM. OKAY. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS ME, THANK YOU. NOT JUST YOU, WE'LL MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC HAS ACCESS TO THEM. YOU SO MUCH. REMIND ME, WHEN ARE THEY DUE? SEPTEMBER 8. SO WE'RE GOOD. ON SEPTEMBER
1012nd WE CAN GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THEM , AND ALSO HAVE SOME TIME, MORE TIME TO THINK ABOUT THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOOD WITH OUR WORDING. THAT SOUNDS GREAT. >> MISS GALLEGOS? I JUST WANT TO MENTION, SOMETHING IN THE PACKET, IT'S BEING DISCUSSED, IT CAN BE ADDED TO THE MINUTES. PERFECT. THAT MIGHT BE ANOTHER WAY OF MAKING SURE TO FOLLOW THIS CONVERSATION. EXCELLENT. [ INAUDIBLE ] THAT'S EXCELLENT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THIS AFTERSCHOOL TRANSPORTATION AND THINGS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR KIDS, WHO WERE INVOLVED IN SCOUTING. I THANK YOU ON THEIR BEHALF. TO WORK ON THIS. THANK YOU. THEY'RE LIKE WHAT? JUST CHECKING. THEY ARE STILL AWAKE, I THINK. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND THANK YOU, MISS O'BRIEN, IS THAT IT? THAT IS ALL, THANK
102YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO, WE WON'T TAKE ANY ACTION ON OUR RESOLUTIONS TODAY. WE WILL DO SO SEPTEMBER 2nd, TROOP 64. CAN I JUST SAY YOU ALL ARE TROOPERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. AND PLEASE COME BACK ANY TIME. YOU SHOULD HAVE COME TO THE LAST MEETING WE WERE DONE AT 7:40. COME BACK TO THE NEXT ONE. WE'LL TRY TO DO BETTER. ALL RIGHT, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE COME UP AND TALK TO US ABOUT , WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION AND ABOUT THE M.O. YOU BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAS CRUCES. MADAM PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I WAS TRYING TO TALK STUDENTS INTO STAYING BUT THEY REFUSED, THEY WANTED TO GO HOME. I TOLD HIM THEY WERE MISSING OUT ON THE BEST PRESENTATION OF THE NIGHT. WHO DOESN'T LOVE ON M.O. YOU? EXCITING
103STUFF. TELL THEM THEY CAN WATCH IT LATER. ABSOLUTELY. MADAM PRESIDENT, I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO PRESENT TO YOU AND GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS M.O. YOU, TYPICALLY WE PUT M.O. USE AS CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AT THE REQUEST , AND I THINK VICE PRESIDENT NOLAN, WE WANTED TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS M.O. YOU BECAUSE WE ARE GRACIOUS FOR OUR PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF LAS CRUCES AND HELPING US OUT. LET ME GIVE YOU A QUICK BACKGROUND AS YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS ACROSS OUR HIGH SCHOOLS. AS YOU KNOW WE ENGAGED IN A DIFFERENT M.O. YOU, TO SERVE ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS RECENTLY, THAT HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT GAP IS ENSURING THAT STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS IN PERSON EVERY DAY, IT BECAME A BIGGER PROBLEM AFTER THE PANDEMIC, COMPANIES
104MOVED AWAY FROM DOING IN PERSON, SO THEY WERE OFFERING A LOT OF VIRTUAL. ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND THROUGH TALKING TO OUR STUDENTS, OUR ADMINISTRATORS, AT THE SCHOOL SITES WAS THE NEED FOR IN PERSON. SO, AGAIN, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF LAS CRUCES, THEY WERE GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO HELP US, AND ALLOCATE FUNDING FOR OUR DISTRICT, TO BE ABLE TO FILL THE GAP. SO, THIS M.O. YOU IS CONNECTED TO AN RFP THAT YOU RECENTLY APPROVED, WE HAD TO PUT THE RFP OUT FOR SERVICE PROVIDER. YOU APPROVE THAT AND WE HAD A DISCUSSION DURING THE BUDGET MEETING A COUPLE DAYS AGO. SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND THANK THE CITY OF LAS CRUCES, THE CITY COUNSELORS FOR STEPPING UP, AND MAKING THIS A REALITY. IT GREW FROM A CONVERSATION WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE, I KNOW SUPERINTENDENT
105RUIZ WAS INVOLVED WITH SEVERAL COUNCILMEMBERS, THE MAYOR, AND WE'RE SUPER GRACIOUS THAT THEY, HERE YOU GO, LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP AND THEY DID IT. IT'S A ONE YEAR AGREEMENT, THE FUNDS ARE USED FOR STAFFING, TRAINING, AND EQUIPPING PROVIDERS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, AND THE PROVIDER IS GOING TO BE DIRECTLY WORKING WITH OUR STUDENT HEALTH-BASED CENTER AND THE PROVIDER THAT WE WORK WITH. AND WITH THAT, PRESIDENT CORT, I STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS AND AGAIN, I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK THE CITY OF LAS CRUCES FOR ALLOTTING $150,000 TO OUR DISTRICT. ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THAT TO US. BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I WANTED TO CALL DR. LOZANO'S APPRECIATION FOR THE CITY OF LAS CRUCES, THERE IS BROAD AGREEMENT ABOUT TO SEE THESE PLACES FUNDED AND OPERATING AT
106FULL CAPACITY IS GREAT FOR STUDENTS, GREAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, GREAT FOR OUR SCHOOLS, WE'RE GOING TO USE THAT FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, IS THAT WITH THE VISION IS? THAT'S CORRECT, IT'S TO FILL THE GAP. WE DID AN RFP TO BE SPECIFIC THAT IT'S IN PERSON. WE DON'T WANT TO GET THIS MONEY AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE VIRTUAL, IS TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS IN PERSON SUPPORT. THERE WAS A STORY AFTER THE YOUNG PARK INCIDENT, I DON'T REMEMBER THE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT HE WENT TO A PLACE AND WAS DENIED SERVICES BECAUSE THERE WAS NOBODY THERE TO HELP HIM. HOW MANY TIMES THE KIDS GO AND ASK FOR HELP? AND THEN, I AM HOPEFUL THIS WILL CLOSE THAT GAP, AND GET THE HELP KIDS NEED. THANK YOU. AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE CITY
107OF LAS CRUCES, THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT IS GOING TO HELP OUT OUR STUDENTS, I LOVE IT WHEN WE PARTNER AND IT WORKS. SO THANK YOU. MADAM CORT? I HAVE A WEIRD QUESTION ABOUT THE SOURCE OF THE FUNDING. I KNOW THERE'S OTHER , AWARDS OR MONIES THAT THEY HAVE, THAT THEY HAVE BEEN THINKING THOROUGHLY ABOUT HOW TO SPEND IT IN THE COMMUNITY, I'M CURIOUS, IF THERE WAS A SOURCE. MADAM PRESIDENT, IF I MAY? I KNOW THAT THIS WAS APPROVED ON MAY 21st, AND I WILL DOUBLE CHECK THIS, VERIFY THIS BUT I BELIEVE IT'S FROM THE GENERAL FUND. I DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS FROM ANY SPECIAL TYPE OF FUNDING. IF I MAY, I BELIEVE THAT THE FUNDING THAT BOARDMEMBER TENORIO IS POSSIBLY REFERRING TO IS THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDING. WHICH WE WILL HAVE MORE
108INFORMATION FOR YOU ABOUT. THAT'S CORRECT, THANK YOU. >> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. PRESIDENT CORT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I WANTED TO ADD THAT THIS IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION VICE PRESIDENT NOLAN MENTIONED THE YOUNG PARK SHOOTING AND AT SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE WERE HAVING AFTER THAT, THIS CAME OUT OF THAT INITIAL CONVERSATION SUCH AS THIS, THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAD OPENING IN THE SUMMER, SO REALLY THE CITY HAS STEPPED UP, AND PARTNERING WITH US TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OUR KIDS, CAN WE DO BETTER? THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO DISCUSS AND COLLABORATE AROUND. WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? HOW CAN WE IMPROVE OUR SUPPORT FOR OUR KIDS? THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THAT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
109APPROVE THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE CITY OF LAS CRUCES. SO MOVED. SECOND. >> MOVED BY VICE PRESIDENT NOLAN WAS SECONDED BY SECOND SECRETARY WOFFORD. IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE. MR. FRANK STEPPED OUT FOR A MOMENT. MS. TENORIO? YES. SECRETARY WOFFORD VOTE YES, VICE PRESIDENT NOLAN? YES. PRESIDENT CORT. >> YES. 4-0, UNANIMOUS. -ISH. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR INFORMATION, THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. LOZANO. WE'RE NOW GOING TO MOVE TO OUR HUMAN RESOURCES QUARTERLY UPDATE WITH THE LOVELY AND TALENTED MR. DONNELLY. GOOD NEWS, HERE. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT CORT, THANK YOU FOR THAT SUPERINTENDENT RUIZ, THE BOYS LEFT AND THAT'S OKAY. HAPPY TO BE HERE THIS EVENING, WELCOME BACK TO A NEW SCHOOL YEAR. WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE ANOTHER YEAR , IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO STAND BEFORE YOU AS WE
110LAUNCH INTO A YEAR FILLED WITH PROMISE AND PURPOSE. A HEARTFELT THANKS WE START OFF WITH TO OUR STAFF, WHO WERE OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS, THEIR DEDICATION AND SURE WE ARE READY TO WELCOME STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WITH CONFIDENCE. THE SUMMER OUR TEAMS PRIORITIZE WITH FAMILIES, ENSURING TRANSPARENCY, TRUST, AND READINESS. A NOTABLE OUTREACH INCLUDED UPDATES ON STAFFING, TRANSPORTATION HELP PROTOCOLS AND STUDENT SERVICES ALL CRAFTED TO SUPPORT A SMOOTH TRANSITION INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR. I LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR --OPERATION SUPPORT STAFF, THEY HAVE PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE FOR CUSTODIAL TEAMS PREPARING SPACES TO I.T. ENTERING SYSTEMS WERE READY TO TRANSPORTATION MAPPINGS SAFE AND EFFICIENT ROUTES. OUR FOCUS WAS ON STRATEGIC STAFFING, IS EQUIPPED WITH THE TALENT AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO THRIVE. WE STARTED OUT THE YEAR WITH OUR NEW EMPLOYEE ON BOARDING BREAKFAST THAT
111TOOK PLACE THIS YEAR ON JULY 16th, SINCE THEN WE'VE CONTINUE TO WELCOME NEW EMPLOYEES INCLUDING OUR NEW CHIEF OF TECHNOLOGY , WE WELCOME RYAN TO THE TEAM, AND CONTINUE TO DO SO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. OUR NEW ON BOARDING IS ACROSS DEPARTMENT OF COLLABORATION DESIGNED TO ENSURE EVERY NEW TEAM MEMBER FEELS INFORMED, SUPPORTED, AND CONNECTED FOR DAY ONE. SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DONE THIS PAST YEAR IS MADE A MORE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, WHAT YOU SEE THERE IS THE AGENDA, THAT'S IN PLACE. THAT INCLUDES PAYROLL, WHERE THEY ENSURE CLARITY AND COMPENSATION, DIRECT DEPOSIT SETUP AND TIMELINESS. RISK MANAGEMENT IS PART OF THE ON BOARDING PROCESS AS WELL. PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND WORKPLACE EXPECTATIONS. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS INCLUDED, INTRODUCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT AND CONNECTION WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS. EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS EXPLAINED, HIGHLIGHTING
112WELLNESS , RESOURCES, AND CONFIDENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES. THE BENEFITS IS OVER VIEWED, DELIVERING IN DETAIL TO HELP EMPLOYEES MAKE INFORMED CHOICES ABOUT RETIREMENT AND OTHER OFFERINGS. IS INTEGRATED APPROACH EMPLOYS EXCESSIVE RETENTION, STARTING WITH A STRONG FOUNDATION. ON TO SOME GREAT NEWS. I'LL JUST TAKE A MOMENT, HERE, TO CELEBRATE THAT THE DISTRICT IS PERFORMING EXCEPTIONALLY WELL WITH AN OVERALL RATE OF 96% FILL RATE. SHOWCASING OUR COMMITMENT TO STAFFING EXCELLENCE, OUR TEACHER FILL RATE AS OF THIS PAST THURSDAY BUT EVERYONE IN MY HALL HEARD ABOUT WAS THAT 99%, A PHENOMENAL, PHENOMENAL STATISTIC THAT IS ALMOST UNHEARD OF. MOST DISTRICTS ACROSS THE NATION ARE STRUGGLING TO GET TO THE 90% AND WE'RE AT A 99% STATUS. SO, WITH THAT, I ALSO WANT TO INCLUDE THAT OUR HIGH PERFORMING AREAS OF SECURITY AND NURSE ROLES ARE WELL STAFFED AT 97%
113, 99%, SUPPORTING OUR DISTRICT DEDICATION TO SAFETY AND WELLNESS. FOOD SERVICES HAD STRUGGLED WITH RETENTION, AND AN 89% AND CONTINUE TO DO WELL IN RETAINING STAFF. WE'RE SO PROUD OF HER STAFFING SUCCESSES AND WILL CONTINUE TARGETED RECRUITMENT. THE STAFFING ADJUSTMENTS AS YOU MAY RECALL , WE PRESENTED ADHERE TO REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN THE REGULATIONS. SO, A MULTI-YEAR PLAN WAS IMPLEMENTED TO REACH THE TARGET RATIOS GRADUALLY THROUGH NATURAL STAFF TURNOVER. DISTRICTWIDE, STAFFING ADJUSTMENTS WERE IMPLEMENTED RESULTING IN THE REASSIGNMENT OF ALL AFFECTED TEACHERS AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO NEW ROLES PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. SO, THEY ALL HAVE NEW HOMES, THERE WERE NO INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD TO START OFF AS STAFF TEACHERS IF YOU RECALL, WE DISCUSSED WHAT THAT PLAN WOULD LOOK LIKE, EVERYONE THROUGH ATTRITION WAS ABLE TO START OFF THE YEAR IN A
114PERMANENT POSITION. WE CELEBRATE THAT. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE PRINCIPLES AND LEADERSHIP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, OUR CLASS LOADS WERE BALANCED WITHIN THE FIRST 10 DAYS OF SCHOOL, THIS RESULTED IN SHIFTS OF ASSIGNMENTS WITHIN CAMPUSES OR MOVEMENTS TO OTHER LOCATIONS, AND WE THANK THE LEADERSHIP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS THAT ASSISTED WITH THAT, EACH OF THEM LOOKED WITH THE PRINCIPLES AS TO HOW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE IMPACT AND MAKING SURE OUR CLASS LOADS WERE BALANCED. I LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU OUR CURRENT VACANCY LIFT, 25 BUT WE ARE HIRING SOME OF THEM AS WE SPEAK. THIS IS THE LIST AS YOU CAN SEE THE MAJORITY AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, KINDERGARTEN IS HISTORICALLY THE MAJORITY OF OUR VACANCY AT THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE ATTRIBUTED TO FLEDGLING ENROLLMENT AND LATE REGISTRATIONS, SO YOU WILL SEE A SPRINKLING OF OTHER
115POSITIONS, BUT, NOTHING ALARMING BECAUSE ALL OF THAT AGAIN IS WHAT WE SEE HISTORICALLY AT THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. OKAY? I PICKED THAT UP WITH FROM KELLY'S TEAM. I LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE ALL OF OUR PRINCIPLES, THIS IS WHERE EVERYTHING HAS HAPPENED WITH THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF STAFFING AS THEY CONTINUE TO FILL THEIR VACANCIES, AND HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN NAVIGATING THE STAFFING STRATEGIES THAT WERE SET OUT IN THE SPRING. THEIR LEADERSHIP INSURED THAT EVEN AS WE MADE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS WE MAINTAINED THE INTEGRITY OF INSTRUCTION, AND CONTINUED SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS EFFECTIVELY. PRINCIPLES HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR TEAM TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT BALANCE THE BUDGET REALITIES WITH THE MEANS OF STUDENTS AND STAFF, AND WE DEDICATE , WE'RE EXCITED TO WELCOME OUR NEW PRINCIPLES, AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM LEAD OUR
116STAFF AND STUDENTS TO THE SUCCESS. SO, ALL OUR DEPARTMENT ENGAGED IN STAFFING ASSESSMENTS, AND THESE EFFORTS LED TO STRATEGIC ORGANIZATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT, WITHOUT THE ADDITION OF ANY NEW POSITIONS. HERE ARE THE PLANS FOR THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR. [ INAUDIBLE ] WE ARE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CURRENT APS TO GAIN PRINCIPAL EXPERIENCE , AN EXAMPLE IS A PRINCIPLE THAT IS CURRENTLY ON LEAVE, WE HAVE PLACED AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL THERE TO SUPPORT AS INTERIM, GIVING THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY OF HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE. THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE THERE , TARGETED SUPPORT FOR STAFF INTERESTED IN BECOMING EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE. AND HELPING THEM PREPARE AND SUCCEED. TARGETED OUTREACH AND BRANDING INITIATIVES. WE CONTINUE TO HOLD JOB FAIRS, HOSTING LOCAL FAIRS HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN RAISING AWARENESS AND ATTRACTING QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. EMPLOYER BRANDING, SHOWCASING OUR STRENGTHS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND LOCAL ADVERTISING
117FOR WE HIGHLIGHT OUR DISTRICTS BENEFITS, INCLUSIVE CULTURE, AND CAREER GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES. TO INCLUDE MULTILINGUAL CAMPAIGNS, INCLUSIVE COMMUNICATION, WE'RE USING LANGUAGE INCLUSIVE MATERIALS TO ENSURE OUTREACH RESONATES WITH OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THESE ARE NOT JUST ABOUT FILLING ROLES, THEY ARE ABOUT BUILDING A STRONG, DIVERSE, AND COMMITTED WORKFORCE THAT REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE. IF YOU RECALL, DURING OUR EXTENDED WORK SESSION, WE WENT OVER OUR WELLNESS FRAMEWORK, THAT HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GIVING US INSIGHTS AS TO WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES FEEL THEY NEED. SO, WITH ALL OF THAT, WE HAVE USED THAT DATA OURSELVES TO HELP INFORM OUR STAFFING DECISIONS AND ARE SUPPORT STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE BURNOUT AND TURNOVER. IN OUR OWN DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE ALSO EVOLVED. WE HAVE CHANGED A COORDINATOR POSITION TO WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS AN HR TALENT AND RETENTION FACILITATOR. THAT WILL SERVE
118A DUAL ROLE IN STRENGTHENING TEACHER DEVELOPMENT AND RETENTION THROUGH PERSONALIZED SUPPORT. THE KEY FOCUS FOR THIS POSITION WILL BE TO HELP TEACHERS LEVEL UP THROUGH STRUCTURED GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES WHILE SERVING AS OUR SUB SERVICE SUPPORT. ENHANCING AND DEVELOPMENT FROM OUR SUBSTITUTE POOL AND ESSENTIAL PIPELINE FOR FUTURE HIRES. THAT INDIVIDUAL WAS JUST HIRED LAST WEEK, AND HAPPY TO REPORT THE FORMER EMPLOYEE BY THE NAME OF JAMIE BAKER WILL BE TAKING ON THAT ROLE IN WORKING WITH US AT HUMAN RESOURCES STARTING TOMORROW. WE CONTINUE WITH OUR STAFF DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, THAT WILL PROVIDE THE NATIONAL BOARD PREP SUPPORT AND WORK CLOSELY WITH THE TALENT AND RETENTION FACILITATORS. A QUICK REMINDER THAT WE ALSO HAVE OUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS HAPPENING WITHIN THE TRADES WORLD, WHERE TRADESMEN LICENSE POSITIONS CAN COMPLETE A TWO TO FOUR YEAR PROGRAM, THEREAFTER EMPLOYEES IN THE
119APPRENTICE PROGRAM WILL BE GIVEN SIX MONTHS TO ACQUIRE THEIR RESPECTIVE LICENSES, NOT ONLY ENSURE LICENSED WORKFORCE BUT ALSO SERVES AS A POWERFUL RETENTION TOOL. I INVESTING IN EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT AND PROVIDING A CLEAR PATHWAY TO LICENSURE AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT THE PROGRAM FOSTERS LOYALTY, REDUCES TURNOVER AND STRENGTHENS LONG-TERM WORKFORCE STABILITY. ALL OF OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS AND RETENTION EFFORTS ARE AMPLIFIED BY THE OUTSTANDING WORK OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT. THEIR STORYTELLING AND OUTREACH ENSURE THEIR INITIATIVES ARE SEEN, UNDERSTOOD, AND CELEBRATED ACROSS THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM HAS BECOME AN ESSENTIAL PARTNER IN SHOWCASING THE POSITIVE MOMENTUM WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS AND TEAMS. WE UTILIZE THEM GREATLY. SO, TO CLOSE TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION, WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR WORK AND EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO ALL OF OUR STAFF'S HARD WORK THAT LED TO A GREAT FIRST DAY AND WILL BE A FANTASTIC
120SCHOOL YEAR. AND WILL MY PARTNER, COLLIN, HELP ME WITH THE VIDEO, PLEASE. I'M CRYING, BUT I KNOW HE'S GOING TO BE GREAT. I'M JUST EXCITED FOR HIS FUTURE, ALL THESE KIDS FUTURES. THESE ARE ALWAYS MY FAVORITE DAYS, THE KIDS ARE A LITTLE UNSURE BUT THEY BRING THEIR BEST, AND THEY'RE EXCITED, SO THE ENERGY IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH. THEIR EXCITEMENT AND ANXIETY IS MY FAVORITE DAY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE HERE TO MAKE FRIENDS, TO LEARN, SO, I'M ALWAYS EXCITED. ONE INITIATIVE WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS YEAR HAS BEEN OUR INTERVENTION PROGRAM, OUR COUGAR ACADEMY IS STRIVING ON ALL CYLINDERS, WE'RE READY AND EXCITED TO GET ON THAT DUTY TO TRACK IT, OUR STUDENTS ARE EXCITED BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT WE HAVE NEW INITIATIVES TO HELP THEM GROW AND CONTINUE TO THRIVE HERE. WE'RE SUPER
121HAPPY TO HAVE OUR KIDS BACK, WELCOME BACK, COUGARS, WELCOME BACK LCPS, LET'S HAVE A GREAT YEAR! SO TONIGHT, HR'S UPDATE IS A CELEBRATION OF ALL STAFF. WITH THAT, WE STAND FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? PRESIDENT? >> YES. >> WHAT A FABULOUS REPORT IN TERMS OF STAFFING, IT'S JUST WONDERFUL. ACROSS THE BOARD. THAT'S, THAT'S, FROM WHAT I REMEMBER TWO YEARS AGO. WE WERE STRIVING FOR 80% AT ONE POINT. AT 89%, NOW, WE ARE HAPPY THAT THEY'RE GETTING THERE. THERE WAS A LOT OF TURNOVER. HAS JUST PHASED OUT WHERE WE ARE RETAINING MORE AND MORE EMPLOYEES. HOW ARE WE DOING WITH DISTRIBUTION OF TEACHERS AND FTES, PUPIL TEACHER RATIOS? DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA ON TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS, TEACHERS YES, PRESIDENT CORT, MEMBER WOFFORD, WHEN I SAY WE, WE LOOK AT
122ONE BODY COUNTS, AND WE WENT ON A DAILY BASIS, MAKING SURE THAT WE BALANCED OUT OUR CLASS LOADS. BY THE 10th DAY WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THAT THE CLASSES ARE NOW BALANCED. THEY DIDN'T START OUT THAT WAY BUT THAT WAS WITH THE ENROLLMENT, THERE WAS SOME SHIFTS THAT TOOK PLACE, THAT HAPPENED. THE WAY THEIR NUMBERS WENT DOWN, WHEREAS, AND OTHERS WENT UP. SO, THERE IS A BIG PICTURE THERE WITH ALL THOSE DETAILS, AND THE STATISTICS. OVERALL THE CLASS BALANCES ARE IN PLACE. WE HAVE ALL WITHIN COMPLIANCE OF EACH OF THE DIFFERENT GRADE LEVELS. WE HAD A MOVE OVERALL OF 10 ACROSS THE DISTRICT. THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE CHANGE OF ASSIGNMENTS FROM WITHIN THE CAMPUS. FOR EXAMPLE IF THERE WAS A FOURTH GRADE CLASS THAT WAS SOMEWHAT LOWER THAN EXPECTED, AND WE HAD AN ADDITIONAL
123FOURTH GRADE TEACHER AND THERE WAS THE THIRD GRADE CLASS THAT WAS HIGHER, WE DID SOME SHIFTS OF ASSIGNMENTS WITHIN. THE MAJORITY OF THE SHIFTING TOOK PLACE WITHIN HOUSE. THEY WERE ABLE TO SHIFT THAT WAY. WE DID HAVE SOME SHIFTS WHERE WE HAD TO POST POSITIONS, BUT YET, COLOMBIA WAS GROWING WHICH, WE'RE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT HAS HAPPENED. THEY ARE HIRING NOW, A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER AND A KANDER BILINGUAL TEACHER, THEY HAVE THE ROOM AND THAT WAS WHAT WAS EXPECTED, OUR PROJECTIONS IN THE SPRING WERE VERY CLOSE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING FOR MOST CAMPUSES, FOR THOSE THAT WENT A LITTLE LOW, THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THAT SHIFT WITHIN THE CAMPUSES, AND THAT WAS BOTH FOR TEACHERS. SPECIFICALLY, TO GIVE YOU THAT IDEA WE HAD AN EA ELEMENT OF THAT WE HAD TO MOVE TO MONTA VISTA
124AND WE HAD FOUR TEACHERS THAT WE MOVED. THIRD GRADE HIGHLAND VOLUNTEER TO GO TO MONTA VISTA. THERE WAS A CINEMA THAT WENT TO COLUMBIA, SECOND GRADE, AND WE HAD ONE COUNSELOR THAT SHIFTED IN DUTIES AS A REQUEST TO GO TO LAS CRUCES HIGH SCHOOL. THOSE ARE THE ONLY MOODS WE HAVE HAD TO MAKE, AFTER OUR PROJECTIONS AND STAFFING, SO WE WERE PRETTY HAPPY WITH THAT, CONSIDERING HOW MANY SHIFTS WE HAD TO LOOK AT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND SO THE FACT THAT WE MADE THOSE PERSONNEL SHIFTS AND ARE NOW ABLE TO HIRE TEACHERS WHICH IS OUR BEST PART OF OUR BUSINESS, CONTINUE TO BE VERY DEEP, GOING BACK TO COLUMBIA, THE KANDER AND BILINGUAL TEACHERS THAT ARE POSTED, THOSE POST TONIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET ANYONE WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF OUR OWN, BUT SINCE
125THAT WAS TAKEN CARE OF WITHIN THE 10 DAYS, WE GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO EVERYTHING, OUR HIGH SCHOOLS ARE LOOKING SOLID, SO, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO HIRE SINCE MID JULY, BECAUSE WE TOOK CARE OF THEM AS WELL. SO WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR EVERYTHING, WE LOOK AT OUR DATA, THE 40 DAY COUNT WILL GIVE US ANOTHER MORE ACCURATE PICTURE, WE'RE HOPING THE ENROLLMENT GOES UP, WE'RE HOPING THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO HIRE MORE, BUT RIGHT NOW THE RIGHT SIZING MODEL HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE. VERY GOOD , THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR, NO SIR, WE'RE NOT. THAT WAS TRICKIER TO ANALYZE. JUST BECAUSE OF THE 160, WE'RE NOT OVER ANYWHERE. THERE MAY BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO CONSOLIDATE IN THE SPRING SEMESTER. MAYBE AT THE 40 DAY COUNT WE MAY LOOK AT THAT, BUT RIGHT NOW, NO
126ONE IS OVER , THERE MAY BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO CONSOLIDATE SOME CLASSES. ON STUDENT SCHEDULES AT THAT TIME. AND WE EXCLUDE ADVISORY FROM THOSE. VERY GOOD. REMEMBER, THAT VERY NICE REPORT HERE. ALL RIGHT, YOU GOOD? OKAY, ALL RIGHT. THANKS FOR HANGING IN. THANK YOU, MS. TENORIO, ANYTHING? OKAY. ALL RIGHT, HAVE A GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND NOW A MOVE , NOW WE'LL MOVE TO BOARD REPORTS. WHO WOULD LIKE TO START US OFF? I WILL START US OFF. >> I WOULD LOVE THAT, THANK YOU. I PARTICIPATED IN THE NMSBA RETREAT, AND DEFINITELY LEARNED SOME STUFF, THE COLUMBIA CELEBRATION THAT WAS JUST AMAZING, AFTER A VERY LONG HAUL, THOSE PEOPLE ARE BACK WHERE THEY BELONG. THAT IS REALLY COOL. THAT WAS ALSO ATTENDED, SCARY STUFF, THAT WE NEED TO BE
127AWARE OF. AND, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE EXTENDED WORK SESSION. REALLY, WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THE EXTRA THINGS WE'RE DOING, THAT'S NOT EXTRA. WHAT REALLY MAKES ME HAPPY IS THAT, THE FOCUS THAT WE PUT INTO TRYING TO APPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES AND FOCUSING ON THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY, THAT'S THE MAIN JOB OF THIS BOARD, THAT'S VERY SATISFYING, AND THAT'S THE END OF MY REPORT. THAT'S A GREAT REPORT. THANK YOU, MR. FRANK, UNABLE TO GO TO THE SOCIAL MEDIA THINGS, OR OTHER SCHOOL EVENTS, I'VE BEEN WAYLAID. YES. AND VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT. COLUMBIA WAS GREAT, I ATTENDED THE PED HOSTED THE MARTINEZ YAZZIE, LISTENING SESSION. AND FOR ME HE'S REALLY VALUABLE, THEY HAD DIFFERENT TABLES TO TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT TOPICS. I WAS A FLY ON THE
128WALL, FOLKS WERE TALKING ABOUT THE CURRICULUM THAT IS USED IN CLASSROOMS, TRANSPORTATION ACCESS ISSUES, SALARIES, THERE'S ANY NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT FOLKS WERE BRINGING UP AROUND THIS ISSUE, INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS, AND I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO GO. THEY HAVE A WEBSITE FOR FOLKS TO SUBMIT FEEDBACK, ON THAT PLAN, I THINK WE WILL HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION ON THAT AS A SCHOOL BOARD WHENEVER THAT FINAL PLAN COMES OUT, WHAT DID I SEE YOU IN OCTOBER? GOOD WORKS, EXTENDED WORK SESSIONS, GOOD UPDATE ON STRATEGIC PLANS, WAS GREAT TO HEAR ABOUT PROGRESS WE ARE MAKING WITH OUR STUDENTS, REMARKABLE WORK HAPPENING THERE. AND KUDOS TO THE FOLKS THAT DID THE ATHLETIC OPEN HOUSE. MEDIA DAY. MY DAUGHTER GOT TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE CROSS-COUNTRY TEAMMATES AND ENJOYED IT QUITE A BIT. SO, KUDOS FOR THE HOPE THAT HELPED PULL THAT TOGETHER.
129AND, HAPPY BACK TO SCHOOL DAY EVERYBODY. TWO WEEKS LATE. I COULDN'T WAIT FOR SCHOOL TO START, I IMAGINE I WASN'T THE ONLY PARENT BUT FELT THAT WAY. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PARENTS OUT THERE AS WELL. SO, YEAH, THAT'S IT FOR ME. THANK YOU, MS. TENORIO? I'M GOING TO PASS ON THIS ONE, SORRY. WE HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER. SO, LASTLY, I ATTENDED A BUNCH OF OPEN HOUSES, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO ARROWHEAD PARK OR EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL WHICH I BELIEVE IS TOMORROW. TOMORROW? THURSDAY? I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT ONE, BUT, I'VE BEEN TO A BUNCH OF THEM, AND I LOVE THE OPEN HOUSE VIBE, IT'S SO FUN, THE KIDS ARE NOT MEETING THEIR TEACHERS BUT SHOWING OFF THEIR SCHOOL, IT MAKES ME SUPER HAPPY. I ATTENDED THE SOCIAL MEDIA TOWN HALL , BUT LEFT
130EARLY BECAUSE I WAS INVITED TO FRENCH HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTION AT LAS CRUCES HIGH SCHOOL. THAT WAS NOSTALGIC FOR ME BECAUSE WE HAVE A BOOK THAT ALL THE KIDS SIGN FOR FRENCH HONOR SOCIETY THAT WAS STARTED BY MADAME LENTZ, AND THEY'RE STILL SIGNING THE BOOK, I LOOKED AT MY KIDS NAMES IN THERE. IT WAS VERY SWEET AND LOVELY, AND I LOVE BEING IN THE SCHOOLS. I WENT TO MEDIA DAY, HAD A BLAST, IT GOT KIND OF WARM SO I WENT TO WHERE THEY WERE DOING THE HEAD SHOTS BECAUSE IT WAS AIR-CONDITIONED AND THERE, THEY HAD THE SMOKE, GOING UP AND THEY WOULD DO THE COLORED LIGHTS FOR THE DIFFERENT COLORS, I POSTED SOME ON FACEBOOK, BUT, IT WAS SO COOL, I LOVED IT, THE KIDS WERE SO EXCITED. I LOVE IT WHEN WE DO REALLY COOL
131THINGS FOR KIDS BECAUSE WE DO THEM A LOT, IT MAKES ME HAPPY. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO BRIAN PETERSON. I FIRST MET HIM BEFORE I WAS ELECTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND MY FIRST TIME BEING A POLL WORKER, AND HE AND I WERE POLL WORKERS TOGETHER. AND WE HAD A BLAST. IT WAS THE BEST GROUP, AND I JUST, HAVE SO MUCH ADMIRATION FOR HIS ENERGY, AND THE KIND OF PERSON THAT HE IS, AND I'M SO EXCITED THAT YOU JOINED THE TEAM. I'LL THROW THAT ONE OUT. I WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE HAD MADE A POOR DECISION A WHILE AGO, THAT WE WOULD ATTEND THE CUBE CONFERENCE IN LOS ANGELES. BECAUSE OF BUDGET SHORTFALLS, WHICH MIGHT NOT BE SHORTFALLS, THERE WAS JUST SO MUCH, THE BOARD DECIDED NOT TO
132ATTEND TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FUNDS WERE AVAILABLE FOR OTHER THINGS. I THOUGHT I WOULD SAY THAT PUBLICLY. WE HAD A GREAT TIME, DIDN'T WE? ALL RIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED. YOU BEAT ME WITH THE MOVED. SECOND. >> MOVED BY MR. WOFFORD, SECONDED BY MR. FRANK, CALL US OUT, WOULD YOU? MR. FRANK? >> YES. MISS TENORIO? YES. SECRETARY WOFFORD VOTE YES, VICE PRESIDENT NOLAN? YES. >> PRESIDENT CORT? >> YES. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 8:40, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU TO TROOP 64. YEAH, WAY TO GO.