Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 124, No. 55 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
March 5, 2015
www.rdrnews.com
THURSDAY
Ortega: Student protests misguided By Jeff Tucker Record Staff Writer
About 20 Roswell Independent School District students walked out of school this week as part of a statewide revolt to the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers testing that began Monday. Roswell Independent School District Superintendent Tom Burris said he respected the students’ opposition to the new statewide tests, but said those who walked out of school in protest will receive unexcused absences. “We have a standard,” Burris said. “Are you where you’re supposed to be when you’re supposed to be there? It’s a question that we ask every day of every kid. If your schedule says you’re supposed to be in this class in this period, and you weren’t there, you were counted absent.” Burris said about 20 students walked out of classes at Roswell High School on both Monday and Tuesday. “I don’t know exactly how much of the day
they walked out for,” Burris said. “I know (Tuesday) was drizzly, so I’m guessing they went back to school at some point in time in the morning. Testing is going on. It wasn’t their grade that was being tested (Tuesday), it was ninth grade. The kids that were absent were absent because they were sick.” Burris noted the 20 or so student activists are only a fraction of RISD’s total enrollment of about 6,400 students. Burris said the parents of about 20 students from third grade through 11th grade opted out of the PARCC tests. “We had really good percentages (taking the tests),” Burris said. “I appreciate that they’ll move through and take the test. If it goes this way, I’ll work with them to pen a letter to the (New Mexico) secretary (of education). I know the secretary will answer a letter from Roswell.” Roswell school board member Eloy Ortega Jr. said the students who walked out of classes See RISD, Page A3
Courtesy Photo
Newly elected members of the ENMU-Roswell Community College Board, from left, Ralph Fresquez, Dawn Tschabrun and Mireya Trujillo, are sworn into office by District Court Judge Steven Bell. Seated is Eloise Blake, board president.
New ENMU-R board approves new certificate By Dylanne Petros Record Staff Writer
Bill Moffitt Photo
Roswell High School students hold signs Tuesday, across the street from the school, protesting Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers testing that began Monday.
Newly elected board member Dawn Tschabrun and re-elected board members Ralph Fresquez and Mireya Trujillo were sworn into the Community College Board at ENMU-R Tuesday night.
Once the three were sworn in, it was right down to business to discuss the legislative session, the lottery scholarship, a new certificate and the expansion of a current program. See ENMU-R Page A3
When ending up in the doghouse is a good thing By Todd Wildermuth RPD public information officer
When Roswell Animal Control Services officers found themselves repeatedly having to return to a residence on West College Boulevard to make sure the owner of a 1½-yearold Doberman-mix dog named Copper was providing it shelter for all the time it spent in the yard, they knew something more had to be done to actually solve the problem. The thrown-together shelter of old wooden pallets and a shrink-wrap material was enough to meet city ordinance requirements to provide some sort of shelter for the dog, but animal control officers knew it wasn’t really giving the dog much protection from the weather and elements. What the dog needed was a real doghouse, but the officers knew the
Submitted Photos
Above: Malachi, nephew of Frank Betts, the dog’s owner, with Copper in front of his new doghouse. Right: Animal Control Officer Amy Bondurant makes the all-important finishing touches.
Middle schooler eligible for Nat’l Geographic State Bee Staff Report Stephen Jones, a sixthgrade student at Sidney Gutierrez Middle School, has been chosen as a National Geographic Society semifinalist eligible to compete in the 2015 New Mexico National Geographic State Bee. The contest will be held at the National Dance Institute in Albuquerque on Friday, March 27. This is the second level of the National Geographic Bee competition, which is now in its 27th year. School Bees were held in schools with fourththrough eighth-grade students throughout the state to determine each school champion. School champi-
Jones ons then took a qualifying test, which they submitted to the National Geographic Society. The National Geographic Society has invited up to 100 of the top-scoring students in each of the See BEE, Page A2 Today’s Forecast
HIGH 39 LOW 20
owner could probably not afford one. So the staffers at Animal Control undertook a special construction project during the time between calls for service and their other responsibilities at the animal shelter. They collected some scrap wood that was donated by Mayes Lumber and McCoy’s Building Supply and a couple staffers pitched in to buy a couple boards. Some paint was also available through all the paint that local stores donate to the city’s graffiti cleanup detail. Thanks to the efforts of Animal Control Officer David Allen and Animal Control Supervisor Joseph Pacheco, the doghouse took shape. Adding some finishing touches was Animal Control Officer Amy Bondurant, who provided some artwork to the front See DOGHOUSE, Page A3
Teacher Power Max Scally Photo
Retired teacher Shirley Power, front and center, received a commendation last month from the state Legislature for her many years of teaching and dedication to students in Roswell and Valley View Elementary School. She also received a letter from Rep. James G. Townsend of District 54 for devoting her time and sharing her love of reading with young people. The letter also mentioned her service with the American Legion Post 28 auxiliary. With her at the American Legion in Roswell were, from left, auxiliary president Ruth Brooks, post commander Jimmy Montoya, fellow teachers Irma Nevarez and Jaime Torres (both of whom taught with her for 16 years at Valley View) son Bob Power and Patsy Sylva, also auxiliary president.
Index
Today’s Obituaries Page A6
• Louis Archuleta • Jerrold Keith Johnson
• David Keith Pottle • Phillip Jaramillo
Classifieds...........B6 Comics..................B5 Entertainment. ....A8 Financial..............B4
General...............A2 Horoscopes.........A8 Lotteries. ............A2 Opinion.................A4
Sports. ................B1 Weather...............A8 World..................A6