School board commends Lady Rams for state title

Tony Parra: PNT Staff Writer

The Portales School District Board members and Randy Fowler, Portales superintendent, took their time during a school board meeting to congratulate the newly crowned 2005 Class 3A New Mexico State Volleyball champion Portales Lady Rams.

Many of the girls were in attendance from the volleyball team which went 22-3 this season and defeated Pojoaque on Saturday for the title. The volleyball team had four seniors — Ashleah Richards, Rebekah Gonzales, Morgan Hill and Megan Kabrick.

Ruth Chavez has been the head volleyball coach for the last five years and in those five years Lady Ram teams have won three state titles and finished runner-up once.

“Success can only be gained through great leadership,” Melvin Nusser, high school principal, said about Chavez.

Chavez complimented the team on the players dedication to winning. An example of that was when Chavez opened the gym in in the summer she expected to have two or three girls show up before the July 4 holiday. Chavez said 23 girls were standing by the gym doors waiting for her.

“I worked them hard,” Chavez said. “I can’t tell you how hard it is to win a state championship. We battled. We’re proud to bring this (trophy) home to Portales.”

In other business at the meeting:

• Portales School Board members unanimously approved a resolution to have a Special Public School Capital Improvements tax election on Feb. 7. According to the resolution, the board members approved to have an election to have a property tax increase to help pay for school district improvements.

If approved, the mill levy would mean an additional $2 per each $1,000 of net taxable value of the property. The property tax would be imposed for each year from 2006 through 2010.

“It is so important to the school district to have the two-mill levy for maintenance,” Fowler said. “For things such as new carpeting and leasing vehicles. It’s about the only discretionary money we have anymore.”

• During the fall semester, grade school students and faculty members in the school district worked together to raise money for different charitable causes. Todd Morris, Valencia Elementary principal, said Portales School District faculty members enrolled in payroll deductions for the United Way fund.

Morris said through payroll deductions faculty members raised more than $9,000 and in the previous year had raised $3,000.

“It’s a great accomplishment by our teachers and administrators,” Morris said. “We had small meetings in our schools and made it more personably. We told them about how United Way helps out (through different organizations).”

Jackie Burns, Brown Elementary principal, said through different fund-raisers throughout the semester, students, teachers and parents were able to raise $693 for the American Red Cross for relief for hurricane victims.

Michael Terry, James Elementary principal, said through a bake sale and other fundraisers the James Elementary students raised money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

• The Portales School Board members approved a contract worth $6,000 with Mike Miller to provide lobbying services for the school district.

Fowler said during the previous school board meeting discussion was raised about Miller performing additional duties besides lobbying during the New Mexico Legislative Session.

Rod Savage, school board member, said he wanted Miller to be involved in other sessions which affect the school district outside of the New Mexico legislative session.

Fowler said he felt confident Miller is capable of accomplishing these tasks.