More Questions for School Board from Concerned Citizens

Here is a list of questions submitted to the school board from the "concerned citizens" group. Though the letter references the February meeting, I think these questions were submitted for the March meeting, which will be Monday, March 8th.

New Admin Policy on Sex Offenders

This email was sent to the Principals and School Board on Tuesday, Feb. 16 by Superintendent Hancock.

Administrative Policy----Personnel-----Sex Offenders List

You are or should be aware of the statute that requires anyone that appears on the sex offenders list to report to you before coming onto campus.  This law needs to be enforced without fail. 

If a person who is on the sex offenders list is present on campus or at any school activity ask them to leave and get enough information that a no-trespass order can be issued from this office.

Beginning today-February 16, 2010- Have anyone that is going to be in a supervisory or instructional role over any student while at school or any school sponsored event fill out the application insert titled “Criminal History Affidavit”, return it to you, and get your sign-off before assuming that role.  Send the signed affidavit to this office to be kept on file and keep a copy for your file.

Each Principal will determine procedures for implementing this policy on their campus.

Tommy Hancock, Superintendent

Cloudcroft Municipal Schools

PO Box 198

Cloudcroft, New Mexico 88317

575-601-4416

thancock@cmsbears.org

Specific Questions Regarding Sex Offender Notification

After doing some research, today I addressed the following email to High School Principal Roman Renteria. I have cc'd Superintendent Hancock and the entire school board, as I would like to see all of them in the loop on this issue:

I have done some research with regards to sex offenders/registration and found the following:

NMSA 1978, Section 29-11A-7 Notice to Sex Offenders of Duty to Register

(8)     disclose his status as a sex offender in writing to his employer, supervisor or other person similarly situated, when he begins employment, begins a vocation or volunteers his services, regardless of whether the sex offender receives payment or other compensation, pursuant to the provisions of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act;

Since it sounds like the cheerleading coach knew that he was a registered sex offender, some notification must have been given. My questions are:

1. How many times has he been at the school or with the cheerleading squad?

2. Did he volunteer his services?

3. Did he provide written notification of his status? If he did, who did he give it to and when?

There should be simple, quantifiable answers to these questions. I would appreciate knowing them.


****UPDATE**** I heard from Mr. Renteria this afternoon. He said that the man had only been at the school twice, once last year and once this year. He said the man had provided written notification of his status last year. He is still reviewing who got this notification and when. He also said that as soon as this issue came to his and Mr. Hancock's attention that the man was notified in writing that he is not to come onto school property.

Letter from Parent re: Registered Sex Offender on Campus

The following letter was sent by parent Jennifer Smith to Superintendent Tommy Hancock and High School Principal Roman Renteria. Every member of the school board was cc'd.

Hello,

It has come to my attention that there was a known sex offender working with the cheerleaders.

I dont know if he happens to have the same name or if he is the same felon listed on the NM state Web site or not.

Either way, the issue has been brought to light that there are absolutely  no background checks done on the people who interact with our children.

As a university professor, I was told by our administration at NMSU-A, that everyone who steps foot on the Alamogordo school campuses are required to have a background check. I also have a student who is not allowed to substitute teach because of a 20 year old misdemeanor charge of possession of less than 1/4 ounce of marijuana.

If the Alamo school are implementing these types of protective measures, why are we not protecting our children as diligently? Yes, they have had their share of personnel sexually assaulting minors. Cloudcroft has it's own history of the same.

Are we going to wait until one of our kids get hurt before we do something? I personally do not want to sacrifice any of our mountain kids before the  policy is put in place.

I know many parents, including myself, will not put this to rest until a preventive policy is put in place. In Alamo, the folks who want to help on campus pay for their own background checks. I know I would.

Thank you for your attention to this matter,

Summary of School Board Meeting from Alamogordo Daily News

Here is a summary from the Alamogordo Daily News of Monday's school board meeting.

Four Day School Week Discussed

The idea of a four day school week was discussed at last night's school board meeting. A petition was provided to the school board signed by 61 teachers and school employees who are in favor of the idea. Most of the people attending last night's meeting appeared to be in favor of the idea. It was pointed out that moving to the four day week would not only help in this budget crisis, but perhaps free up funds to reinstate programs such as chemistry, computer classes, band for elementary students and a second language class for elementary students. It was pointed out that a four day week would extend the school day by approximately 50 minutes.

This research paper: Research Brief: A Review of the Evidence on the Four-Day School Week was provided to offer some background on the idea. It was also pointed out that 20 of New Mexico's 89 school districts are already on a four day week and a four day week does not seem to affect AYP one way or another.

Why is a Registered Sex Offender helping to coach Cheerleaders?

Here is the email that I sent this morning to High School Principal Roman Renteria with a cc to Superintendent Hancock. I will gladly post their reply...


Hi Roman,

It has come to my attention that a registered sex offender is helping to coach the cheerleading squad. He was in the commons yesterday with the squad.

Has this been approved by you or someone else in the administration? Do you think it is appropriate? Have the cheerleader's parents been informed?

Since my kids are involved in extracurricular school activities, I would like to know the school's policy with regards to allowing known registered sex offenders to interact with the kids.

Thank you,
Margo

"Concerned Citizens" ask questions of School Board

This letter was given to the school board prior to last night's meeting. School board president Terry Butram addressed the concerns line-by-line at the end of the meeting. The answers were brief and quick, but I was able to capture the following:

1. What are issues other than test scores that are important to board?: AYP, policies, finances
2. Is it policy that tobacco use is prohibited for school employees?: It is policy for anybody on school campus per state law.
Has there been disciplinary action taken when a school employee has used tobacco?: Don't know.
3. Sexually inappropriate verbal statement made at staff meeting attended by Superintendent. Is this allowed, if not what was done about it?: Don't know about this, no one reported it to Superintendent.
4. Whose responsibility is it to establish procedures for student's and citizen's safety in getting to/from the school building?: The school district's, which includes staff, administration and citizens.
Is it a safety hazard to have children and citizens walk behind/between vehicles due to snow pileup?: Yes
What would be the appropriate time frame for snow removal by school personnel?: As soon as it can be done.

Open Meetings Act

In researching the Open Meetings Act on the New Mexico Attorney General's website, I came across example 40, which reads:

"A local school board, pursuant to statutory authority, meets to appoint a person to fill a vacancy on the board. This paragraph does not authorize closing the meeting to consider that appointment because a board member is not an employee of the school district."

So, it would appear that the executive sessions to appoint both D'dre Brock and Ed Woten to the school board were in violation of the Open Meetings Act.

I have forwarded this information to the school board for their review. 

School Board to discuss Four Day Week

The school board is scheduled to meet this Monday, February 8th at 6:00 pm. The agenda can be viewed here. (Unfortunately, as of this writing it can not be found on the school's web page.) Among other items, they will be discussing a four day school week.