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Tularosa board approves agenda and minutes, considers handbook revisions and adopts domestic‑partner insurance change
Summary
The board approved the meeting agenda and minutes, reviewed revised middle/high‑school handbooks (disciplinary rubric and cell‑phone rules among the changes) and moved to add a domestic‑partner option to school insurance benefits; cafeteria staff reported initial budget holds and new menu ideas.
The Tularosa Municipal Schools board handled routine business including approval of the meeting agenda and prior minutes, reviewed proposed handbook updates for middle and high schools and moved forward a domestic‑partner change for school insurance.
Early in the meeting the board unanimously answered "Aye" when asked to approve the agenda and the minutes from July 10, 2024. The items were moved by a board member and called for voice approval.
Principals described handbook revisions. The high‑school principal (speaker 2) said the disciplinary rubric was revised to increase out‑of‑school suspension (OSS) days for higher‑level offenses and to clarify the path to long‑term suspension or expulsion hearings; examples included moving certain harassment and assault responses to longer OSS periods. The principals also clarified student driving language (calling driving a privilege rather than using the word "parking") and proposed a middle‑school cell‑phone policy that prohibits phones on students' bodies during the school day with a three‑strike confiscation rule (first offense: confiscate and return at end of day; second: parent picks up; third: phone withheld). The middle‑school principal said the schools are working to make handbook language consistent across campuses.
Board President brought forward a proposed domestic‑partner insurance policy so long‑term partners could be added to school insurance; the item was presented as recommended for approval and sent to state authorities for processing.
Cafeteria staff reported three budget lines initially placed on hold pending PED approval, progress toward more from‑scratch cooking and an equipment grant that requires product purchase from a specific vendor; staff described a planned ramen‑style customizable menu item for older students.
Several principals praised staff and volunteers for back‑to‑school efforts and noted operational issues such as crowded middle‑school enrollment and locker repairs; the board offered condolences for a recently deceased board member and discussed upcoming calendar and conference attendance.
Next steps: the board moved handbook items for approval and directed administrators to finalize language; insurance changes were transmitted to the state for processing.
