Molina named director of instruction

Belen

The Belen School Board named the district’s new director of instruction Tuesday.

Superintendent Don Duran recommended Bernadette Molina, currently the district’s personnel, for the position which has been vacant since Christina Wright retired in June.

“Bernadette Molina has a wide range of experience that will benefit this position,” Duran sand. “She has the skills to understand the K-12 continuum of curriculum which is necessary as we focus on students being successful all through their education career.

“She has taught from the pre-school level through high school. She has served on the University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus school-to-career committee and worked with vocational programs through the federal government. She has experience opening a new school.”

“I look forward to the challenge,” Molina said of her new duties.

Molina will be handling both positions, human resources and instruction, until the district has filled the now-vacant human resource position.

Meanwhile, the board approved allowing students to earn one physical education credit for enrollment in marching band. Earlier this year, the state legislature approved enrollment in marching band as qualifying for a physical education credit.

The policy will effect students, beginning with the graduating class of 2003.

In other action, the board approved budget adjustments for the $221,200 generated by the $25 increase in the unit value. Allocated is:

• $120,000 for an assistant principal and counseling position for the vocation and career academy.

• $47,200 for an additional music teacher for the elementary schools. Currently, there are two teachers dividing duties at seven elementary schools.

“Having a music program is important to the child’s total learning. Research has shown that music does get students ready for reading. The part of the brain that is worked on through music is the part that does abstract and concrete connections as they read,” Duran said.

• $30,000 for a new substitute assignment system. Duran told the board that, currently, each school’s secretary must call the substitute list when they need someone. “Frequently, a person is called by two or three schools. This system would eliminate that duplication of time,” he said.

• $10,000 will be used for a consultant to study the career ladder in regards to paying people for getting more education.

• $14,000 to continue to provide staffing for the Belen High School swimming pool. “Inadvertently, these positions had been left out of the budget that was approved,” said Brad Phillips, executive director of operations.