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Board and administrators debate CTE expansion, master‑schedule tradeoffs with Northern NM College
Summary
Trustees and administrators discussed efforts to expand career and technical education with Northern New Mexico College, the effects on the high‑school master schedule, and scheduling approaches (bused college blocks, adjusted bell times) to accommodate dual enrollment courses.
Board members and district administrators spent substantial time on career and technical education (CTE) expansion, noting both opportunity and scheduling complexity as the district reengages Northern New Mexico College to offer welding, automotive, construction and electrical programs.
Member Velasquez urged early planning and told the board she expects the district to work with Northern to create coherent student schedules rather than piecemeal offerings. Administrators noted three main constraints: the college’s block scheduling (two‑hour college blocks do not align with the district’s one‑hour bells), students’ absentee rates in college courses, and paperwork/college enrollment requirements that caused some students to be dropped from courses this year.
District leaders said they will form a master‑schedule committee of department heads and counselors and consider options such as bused morning/afternoon blocks to allow students to attend college courses. Administrators also flagged that adding CTE options has shifted elective enrollments; while some electives show low enrollments, combined CTE participation accounted for several dozen students and administrators said they will rebalance elective sections next year.
Trustees emphasized the need for cross‑district coordination so multiple schools can enroll students in a single college section rather than each district seeking individual instructors. Administrators said Northern college leadership has been receptive to partnership and a tentative meeting was being scheduled for late October.
