New policies in place at Clovis, Portales schools

What seems to be a new standard nationwide in school safety will be enforced in Clovis Municipal Schools with the new school year.

“Classroom doors closed and locked when students are present,” said Loran Hill, CMS’ senior director of operations.

And one entry point will remain the rule for many schools, including locally.

“For several years we’ve had a policy in place of only one point of entry at each school,” Hill said.

Hill said all 18 CMS sites have a secure vestibule as an entryway.

“In no Clovis school may you walk past the front office and gain access to children,” Hill said.

Closed and locked doors became a school safety concern after the May 26 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, left 19 students and two teachers dead.

An investigation into the shooting showed the perpetrator entered the school through unlocked doors.

“We also have a new discipline matrix in place,” Hill said.

On the district’s website Hill had outlined procedures for students and parents involving emergencies.

Parents are asked not to call the school as phone lines need to be kept open during an emergency.

Communications with parents and guardians will be via the Skyward communications system.

Hill said is a student management system in which parents and guardians can get details on their student including emergency status.

CMS administrators have advised parents that when it comes to emergencies students “will be released only to a responsible adult who has been identified on the ‘emergency medical authorization/signature card’ form that is filled out at the beginning of the year.”

CMS administrators also want parents and guardians to impress upon children to follow the directions of any school personnel “in times of an emergency.”

Hill also brought up new devices planned for installation in Clovis’ secondary schools.

“We’re in the procurement process for vape sensors,” Hill said. “They’re going in the restrooms; 75 vape sensors for middle schools and the high school at a cost of $1,300 each.”

Hill said CMS is also in the procurement process for weapons detection systems.

He said that system uses AI (artificial intelligence) to scan and if the system believes a weapon is present on the scanned individual it sends a message to a call center and action proceeds from that point.

In June CMS superintendent Renee Russ said Clovis Municipal Schools partners closely with local, regional and state law enforcement agencies when it comes to campus security.

In Portales, schools Superintendent Johnnie Cain said the school district works closely with the Portales Police Department and officers routinely visit schools throughout the week so there is a police presence.

Cain said Portales school regulations state all exterior doors remain locked and are not to be propped open.

Something new for Portales schools in the 2022-23 academic year: a new policy regarding cell phones on campus.

Portales High School Principal Art Ontiveros said the action on cell phones came with instructors seeing cell phones are a distraction in the classroom and that students are dependent on the devices.

Part of the notification of the new policy was handled via social media outlets such as a posting on the school’s Facebook page titled “Portales High School Cell Phone/Electronic Device Policy.”

The post noted: “Students may not use cell phones or have them out for use in any building during the school day.”

There were exceptions: Cell phones “may be used in the cafeteria during breakfast and lunch,” “outdoors during breakfast, lunch and passing periods,”

The posting outlines where cell phones should be kept such as pockets, backpack, purse or case and must be silenced.

Penalties for violating the new policy were outlined including the confiscation of the violator’s cell phone.

Ontiveros said at Portales High faculty will be going over the policy in person with students “in a week or two” after the start of school.