School board to consider alternative education proposals

CLOVIS — Two alternative education proposals will come back in front of the Clovis Municipal Schools Board of Education for approval at Tuesday’s meeting.

At the board’s Dec. 18 meeting, Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Joe Strickland gave a presentation on the CMS iAcademy, a proposed alternative school that would feature a hybrid of two days in class and three days of virtual school at home for students from sixth grade through high school.

The CMS iAcademy would have a focus on science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics and would aim to serve the approximately 375 students who have left the district in recent years but still live in the area, Strickland said.

At the same meeting, Robin Kuykendall, the director of extended learning at Clovis Community College, gave a presentation on an early college/high school program that would allow Clovis High School students to graduate high school with an associate’s degree, certificate or license simultaneously.

Strickland said the district is hoping to receive approval from the board before submitting applications for the programs to the state and that both programs would start with the 2019-20 school year, if approved.

Also on the agenda for Tuesday’s 5:30 p.m. meeting at the administration building, 1009 Main St.:

• The board will consider a resolution authorizing the ground lease of unused district property at 700 Sheldon Street to Community Development Institute Head Start for six months in the amount of $750 per month.

• The board will consider an application for rural and low income grant funding.

• The board will consider a travel request from Upward Bound for the group’s senior spring cultural trip to Orlando, Florida, in March.