Cloudcroft School House Talk: End-of-School-Year Updates
Cloudcroft School House Talk: End-of-School-Year Updates
As the ‘23-‘24 session draws to a close, the Cloudcroft Municipal Schools Board of Education gears up for the next scholastic year.
This school year’s last two monthly Board of Education meetings heralded change in staffing and administration, cell phone policies, days of attendance, and the board itself.
RETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS, AND RESTAFFING
Big news first: Superintendent Tana Daugherty retired on Tuesday, May 28th.
In a letter of thanks, Daugherty states, “It has been gratifying to witness the growth and achievements of our students, and I will carry the memories of our shared experiences with me always.”
In April’s Board of Education (BoE) meeting, Daugherty addressed the “slew of positions available due to district transfers and retirements,” of which all but three are now filled:
The board welcomed a few in-house promotions: A new position was formed for a second 1st grade classroom, which former teacher’s aide Brent Jewell will head. The appointment is fast on the heels of completing his Elementary Education bachelor’s degree from Western Governors University.
Current elementary instructors Heather Engle and Theresa Smith will move into the middle school. New hires will fill their posts: Daniella Welchel will teach 4th grade, and Heidi Twining will teach 5th.
Sidni Comino will work as an Educational Assistant and Special Education instructor. Kindergarten through 8th grade welcomes new PE instructor, Tami Alexander. The K-12 music position is still open.
Terri Snoddy will move to Creative Writing in the middle school, and new hire Nicole Mitchell will teach English/Language Arts. Cathy Gaffney will move from middle school Math to 5th grade Math and Science.
Matthew Scott will take over Social Studies at the high school, and Gracie Dreikosen will serve as Librarian and Educational Assistant.
Noel Romero will coach girls’ basketball, and Randall Lackey will coach boys’ basketball. Joni Watson is now Athletic Director upon Sheri Wimsatt’s retirement. Read our interview with Coach Wimsatt about her career, life, and what comes next. We’re looking forward to sharing it this weekend.
Amy Coor will coach the high school Varsity Track team, and Vanessa Hughes will coach volleyball and powerlifting. Mike Sakala will coach Football, and Chase Shelton will coach Cross-Country running.
Teresa Housler retired from her post as the administration’s receptionist, secretary, and Athletics Secretary. Grace White is currently training with Housler, and will assume her role.
Nolene Adams took the helm as elementary and middle school principal after Robyn Cook’s retirement.
Due to Adams’ new position as EMS principal, her spouse, Kody Adams, resigned from his position as Board of Education Vice President on pleasant terms.
The board held a special meeting on Tuesday, May 28th, to discuss proper procedures for finding a replacement. The board will accept letters of interest for two weeks and hope to name an appointee by the June 18th regular meeting. If you would like more details, please visit here.
In the May meeting, the board discussed contracting custodial services to fill in for several vacant positions.
A complete list of employment opportunities is listed on the school’s website.
THE CALENDAR AND THE STATE
Several mentions of new state and federal policies that affect our schools cropped up—most recently, the NM Public Education Department (PED) calendar-day policy—the new rule forces schools to have five-day school weeks, which affects many rural districts. You can read our early coverage of the issue.
A judge has granted a temporary restraining order on the new rule. Cloudcroft has submitted a four-day calendar and budget to the state for approval. (However, the school has prepared a safeguard: a backup five-day calendar and budget have been drafted, just in case.)
Of note: NM PED has come under fire for falling miserably short of many federal requirements. Their failings are less about student test scores and more about services they offer, data collection and review, and finances.
If PED doesn’t meet compliance standards, it may affect federal funding, title funds, etc. Join the Cloudcroft Reader for timely updates.
Also of note: Due to enrollment numbers and class sizes, out-of-district students will now be put on a wait list. Registration begins at 8:00 AM on Monday, July 29th.
THE CELL-PHONE POLICY
An important but potentially controversial change in the handbook: the BoE talks of adopting a new cellphone policy.
The board is considering implementing stricter cellphone use standards, citing massive distractions, behavioral and social issues, liabilities, and inconsistencies in disciplinary measures from room to room.
The restricted use of phones would involve stowing the devices away in small magnetic pouches that can be unlocked with a patented magnetic “key.”
At the April meeting, a YONDR Pouch vendor presented the individual magnetic pouches used to stow phones away at concerts and schools. (Dave Chapelle, Kevin Hart, and Jack White use the company at their performances.)
YONDR rep Luke Stultz said, “Our solution is simple. We have a low-tech solution to a high-tech problem. It’s not a punitive or disciplinary measure; it’s about changing school culture.”
Present administrators and board members questioned if students could “hack” their way around the tech if medical students would still have phone access, and more—and seemed to get satisfactory answers.
The School Board will approve the budget and review all handbook policies in June and July this summer.
ON CAMPUS
Operations Director Daniel Dirkhising and the maintenance crew—along with National Construction out of Alamogordo—will be busy over the break. Here are a few summer projects:
Deep cleanings of the buildings, including classrooms.
Construction on the bus barn is scheduled for completion by August 12th.
Elementary and Middle School (EMS) widows and door replacement.
Parking addition to the football field area to accommodate larger groups.
An E-rate matching grant will provide internet, hardware, and other tech-adjacent upgrades.
PED policy has changed, and school boards are now required to allow community feedback in person and online. Cindy Preslar, who works on Social Media Management and Community Engagement for the schools, is testing closed captions and more for live-streamed school board meetings through the school’s Facebook page.
LET’S HEAR IT FROM/FOR THE KIDS
From the April board meeting, a word from several Cloudcroft High School (CHS) Seniors on their internships through a school program:
Lucas Medina gave a report on his internship with the Otero County Electric Cooperative’s (OCEC) Vegetation Management Coordinator Janscen Davis, as well as his days spent in other positions within the company, such as the Staking Department, Human Resources, and the Line Crew.
After the experience, Medina enrolled in a 15-week Lineworker Pre-Apprenticeship Program with Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), aided by OCEC and CNM scholarships. Medina said, “I’m really excited about it. I’m going to [continue] to see how our community works and how our power system works.”
Jayden Hughes presented on her Architecture internship with Shelly M. Hughes (no relation) and said, “It’s been an eye-opening experience, and I’m glad for the opportunity to learn more about this field.”
Senior Cadence Truver presented on her work-study with preschool students with special needs and announced that she had received a full-time position at the Preschool upon graduation.
High School Principal Jocelyne Gillespie, English and Yearbook Teacher Wendie McKelvie, and Counselor Melissa Adkins presented CHS’s focus on “graduate profiles,” the desired skills and outcomes for Cloudcroft’s graduates.
The school’s skills-based focus led to technical offerings in fire-fighting and EMT courses, restaurant management, certified nursing assistance, welding, and agriculture. Next year, entrepreneurial courses will be offered to develop skills with 3D and resin printers, binding and engraving machines, tee-shirt printers, and more.
Cloudcroft students are exceeding in many fields, as evidenced by many placing scores in competitions, including:
NM Technology Student Association (TSA) State Competition
Powerlifting State Championships
Firefighting at the Skills USA State Competition
Quiz Bowl ‘23-‘24
The Cloudcroft High Track Team excelled all the way to state and back, with awards:
Dominic Ciulla placed 2nd in Pole Vault, 6th in Discus, 16th in the 100-yard dash, and 13th in the 1600 Sprint Medley alongside Dominic Romero, Soren Moore, and Connor Smith
Ellie Beug placed 2nd in Pole Vault, 6th in the 4x200, 9th in the 4x100 and 1600 Sprint Medley Relays alongside Rylee Walsh, Kylie Adams, and Aurora Trejo
Aubree Lockner and Marissa Romero placed 3rd and 8th in Javelin, respectively
Bella Johnson, Abby Marshall, Sophey Sakarya, and Cassia Moore placed 12th in the 4x800 relay
Dominic Romero placed 12th in the 800-yard dash
Wyatt Renfro placed 13th in Javelin
Congratulations are in order for the 2024 CHS graduating class—wishing you the best in your next chapter.
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