Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
House Schools Superintendent Bonnie Lightfoot received a two-year renewal on her contract and a 6% raise on May 20 after the House Municipal School Board held an executive session.
The contract was renewed through school year 2020-21, and Lightfoot’s salary will increase from from about $96,000 to about $101,600, according to figures provided by Derrick Terrell, the district’s business manager.
The 6% raise was included in legislation passed by the 2019 New Mexico Legislature that provided raises for teachers and school administrators across the board.
The renewal of Lightfoot’s contract became uncertain in March after parents apparently complained on behalf of teachers who had received lower ratings in teacher evaluations than they thought they deserved.
Lightfoot’s contract was the subject of an executive session at that meeting, but the board took no action.
At April’s school board meeting, House High School teachers Emily Priddy and Clyde Davis defended Lightfoot and the New Mexico Public Education Department’s teacher rating system. Both said the system is based on objective standards and leaves little room for subjective opinions from supervisors.
A student, Katelynn Kenyon, also spoke in support of Lightfoot at the April meeting.
The board on May 20 also:
n Approved an application for $4,793 from New Mexico Fine Arts Education Act funds. Terrell said the money pays for a contract with an instructor and supplies.
n Authorized the district to apply for nearly $24,000 in state special education funds. The money would be used for salaries and supplies utilized in special education programs, Terrell said.