Scott Elder says his time in Albuquerque Public Schools has been filled with victories and challenges. Elder, who officially retires June 30 as superintendent of New Mexico’s largest school district, issued a farewell letter to the community May 24, discussing his 33 years with APS and his plans going forward. Elder wrote that he’s “fascinated […]
Education
School calendar case heading back to court
A hearing has been scheduled for June 18 in a lawsuit between New Mexico school districts and the state’s Public Education Department, to determine whether outside parties can participate in the case. The controversial issue at the heart of the case is a new PED requirement that all schools in the state have students in […]
Two seats open on APS audit committee
Albuquerque Public Schools is looking for two community members to serve on the district’s audit committee. They will serve alongside board members, the superintendent and the district’s chief financial officer. One of the community representatives must have experience in accounting or financial matters. The other seat is for the parent of a student currently attending […]
A Lakota student’s feather plume was cut off her cap during commencement at Farmington High School
ASSOCIATED PRESS A Lakota student’s traditional feather plume was cut off her graduation cap during her high school commencement ceremony this week in northwestern New Mexico. It was during the national anthem Monday night when Farmington High School faculty members approached the student, Genesis White Bull, and confiscated her cap, the Tri-City Record reported. The top […]
Are APS students prepared for life after high school?
Teachers and staff in Albuquerque Public Schools have a lot of work to do in terms of helping students build the skills they’ll need for success after leaving the district. That was the message a group of student interns shared with the APS Board of Education at Wednesday’s meeting. Albuquerque High School juniors Elsie Miller, […]
Gaza Solidarity Encampment defies UNM’s ultimatum for 12 hours before State Police arrive
BY AUSTIN FISHER / Source NM Twelve hours after the deadline to either pack up and leave or face more police raids, the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at the University of New Mexico stayed in place. By 7 a.m. on Wednesday morning New Mexico State Police and UNM Police moved the group from the encampment, taking several […]
Judge halts 180-day mandate
A district court judge late Friday issued a temporary restraining order preventing the New Mexico Public Education Department from enforcing a rule that mandates at least 180 days of instruction for all schools in the state. For now, four-day-a-week schools are allowed to convene for 155 days next year, the current standard. The New Mexico […]
What to Expect: APS board to consider applying for arts money
Albuquerque Public Schools is seeking nearly $12 million in state money to bring the fine arts to more of its students. At its Wednesday meeting, the district’s Board of Education will consider applying to the New Mexico Public Education Department for the money, authorized in the Public School Finance Act. The allocation would provide instruction […]
Day care prices aren’t getting better. So states are stepping in
ASSOCIATED PRESS Across the country, the story for families is virtually the same: Child care is unaffordable for many, hard to find for those who can pay, and financially precarious for day care operators and their employees. The Biden administration and Congress tried to alleviate some of these problems when the pandemic crippled the child […]
WANTED: Hundreds of instructors to help New Mexico kids read, pay starts at $35 per hour
BY AUSTIN FISHER / Source NM State officials are looking to hire workers — teachers and non-teachers alike — to teach elementary and middle school students how to read this summer. The New Mexico Summer Reading Program will provide reading instruction in small group, four-hour classes of children ranging in age from those becoming kindergarteners to […]