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Tuesday, January 27, 2009
APS Leaders To Be Picked Next Week
By Andrea Schoellkopf
Journal Staff Writer
Declining revenues, budget cuts and threats of a district breakup are among the biggest issues facing a new Albuquerque board of education.
On Feb. 3, Albuquerque voters will decide four of the seven school board seats. Incumbents are running for re-election in two of those races.
"I think this board, as well as (Superintendent) Winston Brooks, are really at a watershed," said Paul Broome, education adviser to Mayor Martin Chávez. "There are going to have to be some major, major changes and major, major decisions made by the school board and Mr. Brooks in the next six months."
Current board member Jon Barela, who is not seeking election for the seat to which he was appointed in September, echoed those comments.
"I think the major issues are going to be declining revenues to schools, budget pressures from the state and continuing emphasis on school redesign," Barela said.
The state faces a $450 million shortfall in this year's budget, and school districts are bracing for cuts that could mean larger class sizes and delays in textbook purchases.
Reduced state revenues to APS also have meant a $20 million hit to the district's current budget, with more expected to affect the 2009-2010 budget.
Meanwhile, two areas, the West Side and Mesa del Sol, are petitioning the state education secretary to split from Albuquerque Public Schools.
Looking ahead to 2011, the board will have the job of redrawing its own boundaries. That effort has been controversial in the past, with West Side residents contending their fast-growing neighborhoods are underrepresented.
The current board, which hired Brooks in March, recently extended his contract to 2011, leaving no question — for the time being — of who will head the district.
"This is a critical election," former board member Matthew Archuleta said. "... I think with the new superintendent, there's the ability to turn the corner. I think that he needs support."
Broome said the board also will have to confront the district's dropout rate, low proficiency levels and low graduation numbers.
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