Cloudcroft named Small School Board of 2016
CLOUDCROFT – The Cloudcroft Municipal Schools Board of Education triumphed over the weekend as they were named Small School Board of the Year during the New Mexico School Board Association's (NMSBA) annual convention.
"School board members, while they are elected officials, are really volunteers within their community," said Cloudcroft Superintendent Travis Dempsey. "I've got such a great board and they work incredibly hard so this was a really nice recognition of the work that most people don't see."
The NMSBA said with an outstanding record of attendance at all local meetings, regional meetings and state conferences, the Cloudcroft Board of Education accentuates the type of dedication needed to support public education.
The NMSBA highlighted some of the district's achievements such as the middle school being named a National Blue Ribbon School, top high school graduation rates and growth in dual credit program. The NMSBA also gave the district kudos for their completion of a field house and new football field as well as increasing scholarship opportunities for the Class of 2016 by securing over $1 million in scholarships.
All Cloudcroft board members also attained NMSBA’s Exemplary Status for 2014-2015, which equates to each member attending 24 to 36 hours of training.
"This wasn't just something you apply for and get it, we were selected by all of the other school boards around the state," said Board Member Arlan Ponder. "That shows big things for Cloudcroft. We're trying our best to take care of our kids and so by us being out there and seen, we're taking care of all the kids in New Mexico."
Ponder said he and the board go to Santa Fe for three days to educate legislators about their efforts.
"We try to educate them on what we're doing and that we're having difficulties down here," Ponder said. "We have to educate our legislators that we can't afford many more budget cuts and we've got to find ways to pay for education."
Ponder, who has been on the Cloudcroft Board of Education since February 2011, was also selected by the NMSBA to serve as Secretary-Treasurer of the Association for 2017.
"The other members of the school board, they're my brothers," Ponder said. "We disagree sometimes and then there's other times you think one of them is not going to agree with you on something and they do. The coolest thing is that I won this with all my brothers."