Las Cruces Public Schools approves new student transfer policy limiting transfers to 15% with superintendent flexibility

The Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education on Jan. 21 approved a new student transfer policy, JFB (retitled Student Transfer), that sets a districtwide cap on transfers and creates a ranked set of priorities for approving requests.

The board approved the policy at third reading by roll-call vote, 5-0. Member Ed Frank moved the motion and Member Patrick Nolan seconded it.

Board policy now limits transfers to no more than 15% of a school’s enrollment, applying both to students transferring in and transferring out. The policy also requires annual renewal of transfers rather than automatic multi-year guarantees and establishes a priority order the district will use when capacity is limited. The board inserted language allowing the superintendent to “adjust these percentages at the discretion of the superintendent” to allow short-term flexibility during the multi-year rebalancing that follows redistricting.

Why it matters: The board tied the policy to prior redistricting work meant to right-size schools across the district. Officials said the cap is designed to protect school staffing, class-size planning and building capacity while still allowing limited exceptions for documented hardship, siblings, children of employees and other priorities.

What the board debated: Much of the discussion focused on definitions and how to apply the 15% limit in practice. Board members and staff clarified that the limit is intended to apply to both inbound and outbound transfers — i.e., no more than 15% may transfer in, and no more than 15% may transfer out from a given school — and that the district will monitor inbound and outbound flows to maintain enrollment balance. Staff also explained the cap is a tool while schools rebalance over multiple years, especially for kindergarten patterns that are unpredictable.

Dr. Wendy (staff member leading the policy presentation) asked the board to consider two specific edits: adding a sentence expressly authorizing the superintendent to adjust the percentage thresholds when necessary, and inserting the phrase “in this order” so application priorities would be processed in ranked sequence. The board agreed to both edits during discussion.

Board members pressed for clarity on practical scenarios: President Tenorio emphasized that school capacity and statutory maximum class sizes remain binding, and members asked staff to include statutory class-size language in the policy/regulation so the 15% cap cannot be read to override state law.

Public input and principal feedback: Staff said principals supported centralizing the transfer process (to relieve school administrators) but asked that attendance be considered when evaluating transfer requests because transportation gaps can cause chronic absenteeism. The policy now says attendance may be a factor and that documented extenuating circumstances may justify requests outside the regular application window.

What was voted: The motion approved the policy as amended at third reading. The board recorded a 5-0 vote (Member Frank: yes; Member Nolan: yes; Secretary Wofford: yes; Vice President Court: abstained earlier on a different agenda amendment but later voted yes here; President Tenorio: yes).

What happens next: Staff said the district will finalize regulations and application forms describing the priority matrix, the annual renewal process and how waiting lists will be managed when class-size limits are reached. The board asked staff to include class-size compliance language in the regulation and to provide guidance on how transfers will be phased in over the next two years.

Ending: Board members said the policy aims to preserve equitable enrollment while allowing narrowly defined exceptions for student safety, siblings and other documented hardships.