Q&A: Portales schools superintendent talks budget issues, priorities

Editor's note: Portales Municipal Schools Superintendent Johnnie Cain discussed several topics as part of a periodic series checking up on issues related to the school district.

Do you think the Portales Municipal Schools Board of Education will make any changes to Portales High School graduation exercises in the future?

I think, right now, that's kind of a moot point. We just haven't had time to get out and do some polling in the community, but I think we've got some good ideas on how to make sure that we move forward, and that it's fair to everyone that's taking dual credit enrollment and regular classes. I think, internally, we've done some things that are going to make it a fair and good system. I don't know that there'll be any need for changes in the future.

How dire do you believe the state budget situation is going to get for the district? How much has your budget been cut so far?

With the special session, we lost $315,000 out of operational (fund). We lost another $140,000 out of transportation and instructional materials (fund). Now, with the new legislation that just came out, it likes like we're going to be held harmless on that, and we shouldn't lose anymore from the new solvency package. There will be schools that will. Those that carry higher cash balances are going to lose some money, but we're not carrying that high of a cash balance, so it looks like we'll be fine.

I'll tell you what is dire: The next year's school budget. We know we're going to take cuts for next year, from where we are this year. We just don't have any real idea as to where that's gonna be. I think that situation is gonna affect every school in the state. They keep saying they don't want to impact classrooms, but every time they take money away from us, it impacts classroom. It may mean we have to have larger class sizes, and that's an impact in itself on our classrooms. We're going to do everything we can to keep class sizes small, and not let it affect any of our programs throughout the district, but until we see the final numbers, we just won't know exactly how much of an impact it will make on this district.

How has the district worked to improve PARCC scores, and are you optimistic about scores this school year?

I'm always optimistic, because I know how hard the teachers work in everything they do. As far as what we've done for PARCC, Lindsey (Lindsey Steiner Elementary School), I think, kind of set the standard last year in some changes they made, especially within their math curriculum. We've moved that same curriculum to the junior high school, and those teachers are working with that, and I think they're really seeing some success in what they're doing. I see higher expectations there.

In some of the schools where we had some lower English scores, I know those teachers have worked really hard together. They've been reviewing what they're doing, and what they've done in the past, and trying to come up with strategies - and have come up with strategies - that will help their kids do better this year as well.

I think - just from what I'm seeing the teachers doing in the district, and knowing that they want our kids to have the best - that they're working to do that, and so I'm really optimistic that scores will go up.

What are your top three priorities for PMS in 2017?

One of our top priorities, of course, is getting our bond and two mill levy passed. That election comes up on Feb. 7. Those funds prevent us from having to go into our operational funds; for improvements, or for maintenance, or for anything like that. By having the bond and the two mill levy in place, it prevents us from having to impact the classroom. That's what we're trying to not do, is impact the classroom, by using funds from operational.

I don't think, right now, that PARCC and the school grades (scores each school receives on the PARCC test) really tell the full story of what happens in school districts. It's still a priority, because it is something that the public gets to see. I think we've shown over the last several years that we're doing a good job. Our grades have come up, and we keep either bringing them up or maintaining those grades. I think that's kind of important for the public to see; that we are focusing on achievement each year, and doing better each and every year.

A priority could be supporting our teachers and our classrooms, to just make sure that they have the things they need to do their job as best they can. We try to do that all the time, and I think that's an important thing: Supporting those teachers inside their classrooms with the materials, and the supplies, and the equipment that they need to be able to do their best each and every day.

— Compiled by Staff Writer Eamon Scarbrough