Magdalena selects new superintendent

Last Tuesday, the Magdalena School board unanimously voted to offer Dr. George Bickert, a former Ruidoso Municipal School superintendent, a two-year contract for $150,000 a year.

Before the regular board meeting, the board conducted interviews followed by a meet-and-greet with its five candidates. Two of the candidates, Alan Edmonson and Dr. Debra Fountain, had also applied for the Socorro superintendent position last year.

Board president Lynn Major confirmed the next day, April 23, that Bickert accepted the offer.

New requirements

Due to House Bill 171, Magdalena Middle and High School Principal Chris Backstrom explained that the new graduation requirements will no longer require Algebra II for graduation but still require the school to offer the class. He said social studies increased from 3.5 to 4 credits and that New Mexico history can be integrated into U.S. and world history. The bill also reduced electives to 5.5 credits and added a new requirement for a “career pathway completer” in electives, meaning students can’t mix electives.

He said the changes will impact smaller schools.

“Bigger districts are not going to have any issues. They’re already able to offer a lot of different types of different classes,” Backstrom said.

He said the requirements will start with the class of 2029 which is the incoming freshman this fall.

“I put together a proposal. I know it’s tough. We’re going through a transition right now, and it’s something that we always can revisit down the road. If the new superintendent disagrees or wants to talk about it some more,” Backstrom said, “But in order for us to finish schedule, we have to do come up with a plan now.”

The board approved the new graduation requirements.

Backstrom explained to the board that the current policy requires salutatorian and valedictorian students to take four years of science. He felt the policy was limiting, given that only four to six students were taking that class. He suggested changing the requirement to dual credit classes.

Backstrom said it would help better utilize school resources and support building programs like agriculture. He recommended the change, and the board approved the new requirements. The board voted unanimously to accept the new policy.

In other business, the Future Farmers of America (FFA) was recognized for its first- and fifth-place titles, the board discussed the necessary repairs for the superintendent trailer and the board approved new teacher salary schedules.