The following are profiles of candidates in contested races for the Clovis Municipal Schools board. The election is Tuesday.

Clovis

District 1

Kyle D. Snider

What is one thing the district can do to save taxpayers money without compromising student education?

They do need to seek federal funding that is available. There has been a shortage in federal and state funding for education. I don't want to cut any programs though we should look internally and see what programs might be streamlined and money placed into the core subjects.

What is one area in which you'd like to see the district improve and how you would pay for it?

The thing we need to improve upon is security in schools. The funding for higher security should be a priority for the district and all avenues of funding should be checked.

How should the district evaluate its teachers?

They should be evaluated on both long term development of students and test scores. The test scores will show immediate areas of improvement or the need of improvement. They should also look at the long term to determine if there is continued growth by the student.

Could you support school staff carrying weapons on campus? Why or why not?

No. I would rather have an improved security for the facilities in Clovis' schools to where that would not be necessary.

Name one thing the district could do to encourage parent participation in educating children:

After-school programs and activities designed to bring the parents and teachers together in the best interest of the students education.

R. Max Best

What is one thing the district can do to save taxpayers money without compromising student education?

A tough balance to do. It's a constant struggle to get as many dollars in the classroom as you can. We have been advocating changes in state school funding to address these issues in the school district.

What is one area in which you'd like to see the district improve and how you would pay for it?

I think a couple of areas. I'd like to look at vocational or partnership with the college where kids could receive a broad range of vocational classes to be job ready upon graduation and possibly associate degrees. Also look to improve security at schools.

How should the district evaluate its teachers?

I'm afraid of where we are going one size fits all basing it off the test scores. It's not just the test scores, but many other factors that go into the child's development at the school.

Could you support school staff carrying weapons on campus? Why or why not?

I think I could agree with that, if they were properly trained. If not, could we have a parent group to help monitor the schools for persons or persons who are not supposed to be there?

Name one thing the district could do to encourage parent participation in educating children:

We struggle with this area. We can be better communicators to let parents know about events going on in the school and give them opportunities to partner with the school and be involved. We have a family training center at the Lincoln Center and other programs throughout the district to help the parents to read with the children, but we are always looking for a new interactive way to get the parents involved.

— Compiled by CMI staff writer Thomas Garcia