FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Clovis, New Mexico — Clovis Municipal Schools (CMS) is proud to announce the opening of the Los Niños Child Development Center (LNCDC), with a target opening date aligned to the first employee reporting day of the 2026–2027 school year. This initiative represents a strategic investment in workforce stability, early childhood education, and long-term community growth.
The reopening of Los Niños is directly aligned with the District’s Facilities Master Plan, which prioritizes the thoughtful repurposing and revitalization of district facilities to meet evolving community needs. By transforming the Los Niños facility into a Child Development Center, Clovis Municipal Schools is able to maximize the use of an existing district asset while supporting the workforce that serves our students each day. Operational funding for the center will be provided through New Mexico’s Universal Childcare initiative, which was made possible through recent state legislation establishing sustainable funding for early childhood education and care.
Located at 3001 N. Thornton, Los Niños will operate as a CMS-managed Child Development Center designed to serve the children of CMS employees.
“This project reflects both strategic planning and responsible stewardship of resources,” said Mandy Carpenter, Executive Director of Talent Management & Development. “By aligning our Facilities Master Plan with the opportunities created through the Universal Childcare Act, we are able to reinvest in our workforce while strengthening our broader community.”
Program Overview
The Los Niños Child Development Center will initially serve children of CMS employees ages 12 to 48 months. The program will operate as a self-sustaining early childhood center funded through the State of New Mexico’s Universal Childcare Act, which provides dedicated funding for childcare services statewide. Because the program is supported through this state funding stream, no district operational funds or local tax revenues are used to operate the center. This model allows Clovis Municipal Schools to expand access to high-quality early childhood care while maintaining its commitment to responsible stewardship of district resources and preserving local funding for core educational operations and facility maintenance.
Program Details:
Total capacity: 96 children
Year-round, full-day childcare
Operating hours: Monday through Friday, 7:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Play-based, developmentally appropriate learning model
FREE breakfast, lunch, and snacks provided through CMS Student Nutrition
Cost to Families
The Los Niños Child Development Center will be free to CMS employees. The program will be funded through the New Mexico Universal Childcare Program. By eliminating financial barriers to childcare, CMS aims to support employees returning to work after parental leave and significantly strengthen recruitment and retention across all job categories.
Long-Term Impact
The Los Niños Child Development Center is designed to:
Strengthen workforce stability
Support employee recruitment and retention
Expand early childhood access through state partnership
Advance strategic goals outlined in the CMS Facilities Master Plan
Contribute to long-term community growth
Current CMS employees will have the opportunity to request an internal transfer to Los Niños if they wish to be considered for positions at the Center. After internal transfer requests have been reviewed and finalized, any remaining positions will be posted publicly on the CMS website at: https://www.clovis-schools.org/page/job-openings
“We are proud to invest in our employees and provide care for the most important part of their family, while they care for ours,” Carpenter added.
Clovis Municipal Schools remains committed to innovative solutions that align facility planning, state funding opportunities, and meaningful support for employees and families.
###