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Tularosa board approves high‑school 4x4 block schedule and updates to graduation rules
Summary
The Tularosa Municipal Schools board approved a 4x4 block schedule at the high school and a set of handbook revisions that change graduation credit requirements, expand CTE course progressions, and refine credit‑recovery and attendance policies.
The Tularosa Municipal Schools board voted to adopt a 4x4 block schedule for the high school and approved related revisions to the student handbook and graduation requirements.
District staff told the board the change will move high‑school students to four 90‑minute classes per semester, allowing students to earn up to 32 credits over four years. Staff said the schedule will reduce the year‑to‑year credit requirement from 27 to 24 for some cohorts while creating more time for lab and career‑technical education (CTE) classes.
"This gives more time, especially classes like that," the district presenter said, noting classes such as welding and lab sciences will benefit from longer instructional periods. Staff also explained that dual‑credit and online courses will continue to count toward the 51% schedule threshold used to determine modified senior schedules.
Board members raised concerns about athletics and attendance under the new schedule, asking whether more missed days would translate to lost seat time. A district leader cited NMAA rules and said attendance policies—including a 10‑day rule for filling credit—will remain in force and staff will enforce credit recovery procedures for seniors who fall behind.
The handbook changes approved at the same meeting include expanded telehealth training for staff, clarified check‑in/out and attendance rules, restrictions and procedures for credit recovery (emphasizing in‑person recovery with a teacher where feasible), and new CTE course progression language tied to Perkins/NextGen funding. The board also updated criteria for valedictorian and salutatorian designations to reflect the district’s emphasis on CTE concentrator and capstone completion.
The board approved the schedule and handbook revisions by voice vote. The district said it will monitor the rollout at the high school this year and consider broader adoption if the model succeeds.
