Portales school boss supports transition

PORTALES — It’s by no means a perfect choice, but Portales Superintendent Johnny Cain feels a transition to the SAT for state-level testing is a step in the right direction.

Cain discussed the state’s pending move to make the SAT required for high school juniors in place of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers during a brief Portales Municipal Schools Board of Education meeting Tuesday night.

The state made it official Friday, with Public Education Secretary Designee Ryan Stewart announcing the test would be a requirement for juniors in the spring of 2020.

A task force convened by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said that any new assessment should have meaning beyond high school. Cain said because most colleges require either the SAT or ACT, using the SAT creates an incentive for students that didn’t exist with PARCC.

“It’s got, I think, a better purpose to it,” Cain said. “It doesn’t help us with the kiddos looking for a career, but it’s better than PARCC.”

The plan right now, Cain said, is to give eighth-graders the pre-SAT. He’s unsure what freshmen and sophomores will get, or if they’ll have a test during those years.

In other business at the Tuesday meeting:

• The board approved an out-of-state travel request for FFA advisor Jerry Faver and the Portales High School floriculture team to compete at the FFA national competition in Indianapolis. The students will depart Oct. 29 and return Nov. 2.

• A first reading was approved on policy changes for staff orientation and training, use of technology in instruction and prevention of harassment and bullying.

• Board member Randy Rankin noted the Baptist Children’s Home would celebrate its 100th anniversary the following week, and he thanked the school district for all it does with the home.

“I have never not felt support,” Rankin said.

• The next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 11.