Parents are joining the ranks of regular faces in the halls and cafeterias at Sarracino Middle School and Socorro High School with the Socorro Consolidated School District’s Parents on Patrol program.

Four parents have volunteered to be an extra set of eyes in the school to help prevent issues before they occur outside of class times. There is plenty of room for more volunteers in the program.

“You can never have too many positive role models for the youth,” said Sarracino Middle School principal Holly Mayfield.

One parent is already coming in during lunches, while a second is set to start coming in before school to be an extra pair of eyes when the kids are held in the gym.

“They walk around and visit with kids and are an extra set of eyes,” Mayfield said. “If they have a concern, they just let us know.

“We told them that sometimes at the age we’re dealing with, there’s a lot of big emotions, and sometimes it’s hard to get those out to come to the office to explain what’s going on. But, when they see their friend’s parent who they’ve known for a long time and they already have a relationship with them, sometimes it is easier for them to go to that parent and say, ‘hey I don’t know what to do about this situation,’ or, ‘can you help me with this?’ And then we’ve just asked the parents, be proactive and come to us and help us to understand how we can better provide for these students.”

Parent volunteers are vetted through the district office with a background check, which is mandated for any volunteers in the schools, and have to go through videos and training to meet legal requirements from the state.

The program is a good way to get the community involved in the school, said vice principal Al Otero.

“I just think it’s great that we’re starting this program because it’s an extra set of eyes, and it also gets students to meet people in the community, and it’s basically another way to advocate for our students,” Otero said.

Socorro High School principal Christine Peguero said that now would be a great time for more parents to volunteer for the program. Volunteers were set to start at the high school last week.

To volunteer, contact the school’s principal or the Socorro Consolidated School District office.

What’s the School Board up to?

The Socorro Consolidated School Board had their first 2023 meeting on Monday, Jan. 30, where they discussed a successful robotics competition, heard an update on the ongoing legislative session and heard an update on the search for a prom location.

• School Board member Tara Jaramillo attended the meeting remotely, because she is at the Roundhouse serving as House District 38 representative. She highlighted several legislative proposals for the board. There are roughly 40 bills related to schools being considered.

Several bills would increase the required number of hours in a school year.

“The discussions on increasing hours that we’re looking at, is that based on just a general increase in hours?” asked board member Michael Hargather. “Or is it looking at where we stand as a state to neighboring states? What’s some of the rationale there?”

Jaramillo answered that in many meetings legislators have had, they’re not basing an increase of school hours on school performance, which causes concern.

“So, every school district would be asked to increase these hours,” said Jaramillo. “Some would not have to increase, because they’re already there. Las Cruces and APS are already at the full hours. Some would have to increase a whole lot more, and I’m not sure about how many hours we’ll have to add to meet that, but I think there’s 30 percent that will have to increase.”

Jaramillo also updated the board on funding proposals.

There is a bill considering 80 percent coverage of health care cost for school staff, while another bill proposes 100 percent coverage.

One senate bill would double the pay for educational assistants to $24,000.

Funding for outdoor classrooms is being considered, as is $25 million for school safety. There should be more funding to implement reforms required by the Martinez v. Yazzie case and more funding for at-risk children, Jaramillo said.

The legislature is also considering house bills related to cannabis and vapes in schools, which would ask the Department of Health to weigh in on the regulations of those items in schools, said Jaramillo.

Sarracino Middle School hosted a robotics competition, and principal Holly Mayfield told the board that 21 teams participated.

The competition was coordinated by Jim Jackson, the state coordinator for FIRST Tech Challenge youth Robotics, and teams came in from Virginia, Colorado, Washington, Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Texas. The New Mexico state competition was opened this year because a lot of states haven’t been able to revive their programs after COVID, said Mayfield.

“That means our local teams get to see some of the best from across the nation. It really improves our program,” she said. “So, it was an absolutely chaotic event. The whole day, the kids had so much fun. They were running around. It was phenomenal. But really, Jim Jackson and his crew from New Mexico Tech and Mr. Mayfield did a lot of the work.”

Maintenance staff also worked to provide tables last minute for the event.

• Student board member Alana Romero updated the board that Socorro High School’s student council is considering two prom venue locations: Macey Center and the City of Socorro Convention Center. Macey Center may be out of the budget, said Romero. The other board members said they could help try to negotiate a rate.

The next School Board meeting will be Monday, Feb. 27, 5:30 p.m., at the district office.