Parents prioritize learning catch-up

CLOVIS — Parents seemed to think extra help to catch up after a year of virtual learning should be the top priority for spending $16.4 million in federal COVID-19 pandemic emergency funds the Clovis Municipal Schools district is expecting.

Requests for extra tutoring and summer school classes to help kids catch up with learning they lost due to COVID-19 pandemic school closings have been dominant among the 70 parents who have responded to the district’s survey on how to spend the money.

The district must apply for the money, even though it has been informed about the amount, said Laura Adkins, who directs the district’s language, culture and at-risk student programs.

At a public forum Wednesday, two parents spoke. Megan Palla, a member of the Clovis city commission and a parent of one high school and one middle school student, asked for extra help in both mathematics and English.

The extra help should be available to “all students,” she said, no matter how well they perform in these areas.

She also asked for “less computer time” and “more face-to-face time” between students and teachers.

“Chromebooks are a blessing, she said, “but we need to get (students) out of the screens.”

She also asked for better “quality of life” for students, meaning “all kids should have an opportunity to play sports and extracurricular activities.”

Daniel Gleaton, a parent of three district students who is also a social worker for the district, called for more tutoring, which could “require more staff,”

Tutoring should occur during regular school hours and after class, he said.

He also suggested the district increase its outreach to get more children into kindergarten, going door-to-door where necessary to recruit the youngsters.

He also said the district should increase its effort to make sure internet access is available to all students.

And he said schools should make it easier for students and family members to meet inside of schools.

A forum on Tuesday also had only a few speakers, Adkins said.

Another opportunity for parents to speak will occur at the CMS district board meeting at 5:30 p.m. July 27, Adkins said.

The grant request is due Aug. 24, she said, which should give her time to process all the parent input and assemble a detailed request based on their responses.