Portales school board votes to join lawsuit

Eastern New Mexico News, Clovis, N.M.
·1 min read

Mar. 26—As of Monday, Portales Municipal Schools Board unanimously voted to be a part of the statewide lawsuit to challenge the state's Public Education Department's proposed changes to school calendars.

The board approved a resolution supporting PMS Superintendent Johnnie Cain joining the New Mexico Superintendents Association's opposition to the 180-day rule ordered by the PED.

Multiple area school superintendents, including Clovis schools Rene Russ, have said they also will join in the planned lawsuit. The mission is to prevent PED from implementing its 180-day rule set to go in effect with the 2024-2025 school year.

Though Portales will not be negatively impacted by the 180-day rule, Cain said it is unethical what the PED is doing.

"It's in my opinion and I think the opinion of a lot of folks in the state that the PED is over extending their authority. This rule doesn't fit with statute," Cain said.

Currently Portales has 178 instructional days with the inclusion of rarely released days. Cain said the 180-day rule requires at least 5.5 hours of instructional time to make a full day. Marking the end of early release.

Cain said in order to meet the 180 days, Portales will have to adjust their schedule to having five full days per week and decrease the number of professional development days for teachers.