New classroom named for educator

PORTALES — A former Portales Municipal Schools Board of Education member’s long record of service was written into the history books Tuesday evening.

Portales High School’s new home economics classroom was named the Mary Lou Rowley Family and Consumer Sciences Center after the 28-year board veteran and former teacher.

Superintendent Johnnie Cain read a resolution naming the classroom after Rowley because she “has unselfishly supported the program, staff, and students of the Portales Municipal Schools and the Board of Education.”

An emotional Rowley was asked to cut the ribbon for the grand opening of the classroom, but had some words for the district first.

“I have loved you all, for sure, have prayed for you a lot, but I sure didn’t expect this, and didn’t even think it could be, anyway. Thank you so much,” she said.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting:

• Board members approved a resolution allowing all junior high and high school students living north of the city’s railroad tracks to ride a school bus.

Cain said the resolution would also designate the tracks as “hazardous walking areas,” due to recently increased traffic.

“As it would stand right now, all students on that side of the town who are less than the walking distance is for the junior high or the high school, they would now meet at or could meet at (Lindsey-Steiner Elementary School), and they would be able to meet a bus at Lindsey and ride that to the junior high or the high school, instead of having to walk that distance,” he said.

• Board members approved $11,257 for dual credit instructional materials from the New Mexico Public Education Department, as well as $22,659 in general obligation funds to purchase library books.

• The district’s budget and expenditure report, as well as the revenue report, for July 1 through Sept. 30, was approved.