Editorial: $2K choir trips aren’t in APS’ core mission

It is wonderful that Albuquerque Public Schools can offer students the opportunity to live out their “Glee”/ “American Idol” dreams of performing in spangly costumes on out-of-state stages. Like many extracurricular activities, it might be what keeps those students engaged and in school.

But the key word is opportunity.

Because the school district simply can’t cover the costs of those kinds of opportunities for a chosen few. And it is over the line to require parents to sign a contract saying they will come up with a couple thousand dollars cash if they want their son or daughter to participate.

APS is busy telling state lawmakers it can’t afford to hire enough teachers and build enough classrooms to comply with state law on class sizes and is facing a $9 million operating budget shortfall — $6 million of that if it can’t get a class-size waiver.

And it is busy struggling to get at least half of its students proficient in reading and math and more than seven out of 10 students graduated in four years for the $599 million is spends annually on operations.

Expecting the district to also pick up the tab for nonessential extracurricular activities should be a non-starter. As should be discouraging students from participating if their families don’t have a spare $2,000 lying around.

Yet students in the Eldorado High School show choir have to sign a commitment letter promising to pay $2,200 in fees, which cover costumes and a big spring trip.

Yes, fund-raising activities are provided, but undoubtedly there are working families who are as tapped-out on time as they are on cash. Which means those students don’t get a chance to learn, practice and perform at that level.

APS Superintendent Winston Brooks says APS is trying to get away from the mentality that “the more affluent you were, the more opportunities you had. That’s not what a school district should be about.” He’s right.

As such, learning opportunities should be made available to all students, and there should be appropriate opt-out provisions when there’s a large price tag.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.