School board discusses long trip policy changes

CLOVIS — Sometimes you can’t wait three years between opportunities.

While acknowledging the community will only be able to help fund so many opportunities, Clovis school board members on Tuesday seemed amenable to making changes to the current policy for long trips.

As she introduced the current policy and her suggested edits, Superintendent Renee Russ said, “I believe we’ve had a somewhat restrictive travel policy in place,” and had a pair of extracurricular advisors discuss its impacts.

Under current policy, “no group sponsored by the School District and with a school employee on duty will take a trip of more than 600 miles, one way, more than once every three years.”

Russ asked board members to add the following to the policy: “Unless an exception is granted by the Superintendent. Exceptions can be granted when status of an organization is dependent on national competitions, organizations advance through local, state and regional competitions, or when adequate local, state and regional options are not available.”

Russ invited Clovis FFA advisor Kalynn Baldock and CMS Music Education Director Brandon Boerio to talk about the importance of competitions and exhibitions that go beyond New Mexico and the states bordering it.

The Clovis High band has won the last seven titles at the Zia Marching Festival, generally recognized in the band community as the state championship, and just last year placed eighth at the St. Louis Super Regional.

During its work rehearsing and perfecting its Dia de Muertos show, Boerio said two consultants were brought in from across the country.

“They both said our kids could hang with anybody in the country,” Boerio said, but with a travel policy that only allows one large trip every three years, “what’s the outlet for that?”

Baldock said in the case of FFA, a group that wins at the state level can never compete in that category again, so that may be their only chance at making the national FFA competition.

“Some of our kids walk away with scholarships and internship opportunities,” Baldock said. “It opens up all kinds of doors.”

The board members took no action, as it was an introduction of board policy to be considered at a future meeting. But they seemed inclined to fall on the side of student opportunities.

Board member Paul Cordova said the three-year restriction can limit Clovis’ chances at success. If a group goes to a national competition every three years, they’re essentially rookies every time because the last CHS group to experience it likely all graduated.

Board member Shawn Hamilton agreed, noting, “There’s no cadence to these things; sometimes every three years works and sometimes it doesn’t.”

Members also wanted the trips to be memorable, and not just “get off the bus, compete, get back on the bus” affairs. Board President Cindy Osburn felt the long trips should have some type of opportunity to enjoy the culture they visit.

“You can’t go five days early,” Osburn said, “but if you’re going to go to St. Louis you should see the arch.”

Board member Terry Martin said they obviously can’t happen year in and year out for financial reasons, but there were benefits to pursuing things like Clovis High’s home-and-home football games with Clovis, California, in the 1996 and 1997 seasons.

“Clovis cleaned the streets, they rolled out the red carpet,” Martin said.

A few board members appreciated Russ giving parameters for a superintendent to approve such trips, but felt the policy would be adequate simply by eliminating the “once every three years” clause and simply adding, “unless an exception is granted by the Superintendent.” Any such trip would already require board approval, since it would be an out-of-state trip requiring an overnight stay.

Following the discussion, Boerio was back at the podium to request one such trip to St. George, Utah, to compete in the November Bands of America Utah Regional.

Boerio asked the board to waive the “every three years” requirement because of the band’s St. Louis trip last year. He said the trip would focus on competition and education, with a tour of Hoover Dam and a Blue Man Group performance included. He said the band planned to spend the money it fundraises wisely, and find every way possible to provide a good trip without wasting money.

Due to where it falls on the school calendar, the trip would only cost band students one day of school.

Boerio reiterated the kids would not stay in Las Vegas overnight, to which Hamilton countered in jest that a Las Vegas trip can be educational.

A repeat trip to St. Louis was looked at, Boerio said, but it conflicted with the Zia Marching Festival, and, “there is no way in the world we’re ever going to miss Zia.”