Clovis board reviews data on schools

CLOVIS — Clovis Municipal Schools got an outsider’s perspective on their elementary and secondary schools, with a good share of highlights and growth opportunities mentioned at Tuesday’s CMS board meeting.

Laura Adkins, executive director of language, culture and at-risk services for CMS, reviewed the Scholastic Family Engagement Assessment. The data was compiled through a combination of surveys, site visits, phone calls and document and website analysis. Secondary and elementary schools were graded in the areas of welcoming, two-way communication, infomation and family participation.

The site visits were as low-key as possible Adkins, with the key question being, “If they were strangers walking into our school site, what is the first impression?”

There were some disconnects, Adkins said, most notably that the perceived level of family involvement was high if you asked families and low if you asked teachers.

The schools were given high marks for ample parking at facilities, friendly staffs, an iformative website and access to bilinguial materials. Growth opportunities included protocols for returning after-hours calls, creating welcome packets for families and increased emphasis on the home environment supporting learning.

“It really did a mindset chance for all of our schools,” Adkins said. “It was good.”

In other business at the Tuesday meeting:

• The board approved travel requests for the choir and Wildcadette dance group. The choir plans to attend a Music in the Parks contest in May, while the dance troupe is heading to a competition in San Antonio in March.

• The board approved several policy tweaks as presented by Joe Stirckland, director of employee services. Strickland said the policy revisions were a “balancing act” between protecting the district and being fair to employees.

He noted a change to poilcy G-5361, in that Level I teachers receive two annual evalations and higher levels received one annual evaluation.

• The board approved renewal of a contract with Snider Electric for electrical, fire alarm, fire suppression, public address system installation and repair services. Board member Kyle Snider abstained from the 4-0 vote.

• Following the meeting adjournment, board members and Superintendent Renee Russ had a closed-door session for an informal evaluation.

• The next board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Nov. 19.