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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Moore

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/24/06

HB 72

SHORT TITLE Curry County Vocational High School

SB

ANALYST Earp

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$50.0 Non-Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Clovis Community College (CCC)

Higher Education Department (HED)

Public Education Department (PED)

Public School Facilities Authority (PSFA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 72 appropriates $50,000 from the General Fund to the Higher Education Department

for expenditure in fiscal year 2007 for Clovis Community College to develop a vocational high

school for Curry County.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $50,000 contained in this bill is identified as a non-recurring expense to the

general fund. However, creation of a charter vocational high school following the completion of

the planning process could have significant expenditure implications (operational and capital

outlay) for the higher education and public school funding mechanisms, as well as the school dis-

tricts in Curry County. No specific estimate of these potential future costs is available at this

time. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining from the appropriation at the end of

fiscal year 2007 shall revert to the general fund.

House Bill 72 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

While CCC would perform a lead roll in the development of the proposed charter high school,

the actual establishment and administration of such a school would be subject to procedures out-

lined in the public education statutes and regulations relating to charter schools.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation in this bill is made to the “Higher Education Department … for Clovis Com-

munity College to develop a vocational high school….” This language would require HED to

administer the appropriation even though the proposed project is to be undertaken by CCC. No

significant administrative impact is evident.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

Information provided by CCC indicates the appropriation requested in this bill would be used to

evaluate multiple approaches to a vocational high school in order to identify a model that would

best suit the needs of the area. The study would be conducted in cooperation with the Clovis and

Texico school districts. Superintendents from those districts apparently approached CCC to par-

ticipate in this project.

CCC currently administers a Technical Career Center (TCC), an area vocational school for high

school students in twelve career fields. The TCC students meet Monday through Thursday from

12:40-2:40 on the CCC campus. The proposed new charter vocational high school would in-

volve only three or four career fields and would be a full service high school. It is estimated that

up to 500 students could be attracted to the school. No location has been identified for the pro-

posed charter school, although it is possible that Clovis Municipal Schools may have a vacant

facility available.

The Higher Education Department confirms that a dual credit program exists between CCC and

the Clovis Public School District. The Clovis School District and CCC are partnering to create

more vocational programs that would address the educational needs of the general and student

population of Curry County, and as a result create a more skilled workforce. It is estimated that

one-fourth of the high school graduates in Curry County earn bachelor's degrees while the re-

mainder of the district's and county area high school graduates will pursue careers in vocational

fields. The creation of a vocational high school would provide the means for the majority of the

county’s high school graduates to receive training in vocational fields that pay good salaries.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

What is the rationale for appropriating the funds to HED rather than directly to CCC.

DE/mt