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LAS CRUCES - The Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education met on Wednesday evening during a special meeting to discuss the selection of a new board member and the naming of the new high school near Dripping Springs Road.
The board determined the process for selecting a qualified candidate to replace Serene Shoop, former school board representative of District 2. Shoop's resignation was effective Jan. 31.
Under state law and LCPS policy, the school board has 45 days from that date to select a qualified candidate for the balance of Shoop's term, which ends in February 2013. If the board does not name a replacement within 45 days (by March 17), the New Mexico Secretary of Education will name the replacement.
Candidates for the position must be at least 18 years old and a registered voter residing in District 2. Candidates must submit a letter of interest and questionnaire by 5 p.m., Feb. 23 to LCPS chief of staff Karen Robles. The questionnaire will be available online at http://www.lcps.k12.nm.us/.
The superintendent's office will then verify the eligibility of each candidate, who will be invited to attend a public forum on March 1. At the forum, candidates will make brief opening statements and answer questions posed by the board.
During a special meeting on March 8, the board will discuss candidates' qualifications and each member will select and rank five candidates. The board president will then tally the results
In addition, the board determined a process for the naming of the new high school and they expect the high school to be named by March 15.
The new high school is under construction at Sonoma Ranch Boulevard near Dripping Springs Road and is scheduled to be substantially complete by late spring of 2012. The 72-acre, 344,000 square-foot structure will house an estimated 2,000 students from ninth to 12th grade. The cost of the high school is $100 million, funded by the state, a 2008 bond issue and the Public School Capital Outlay Council.
From Feb. 11 to 18 the board will be seeking input from the community on the new school's name, colors and mascot. A subcommittee will then review and narrow the submissions to 10. From Feb. 23 to 25 all middle school students can vote for their favorite names online.
The top five nominations from each category will be reviewed by the school board and a determination will be made on March 15 during the school board's next meeting.
Board member Chuck Davis participated in the meeting via phone from the hospital.
Christine Rogel can be reached at (575) 541-5424.
Interested?
•Qualified individuals seeking to represent District 2 on the LCPS Board of Education must submit a statement of interest and completed questionnaire by 5 p.m., Feb. 23. to:
Karen Robles
505 S. Main Street, Suite 249
Las Cruces, NM 88001
•For more information, visit www.lcps.k12.nm.us.
