APS board shows improvement in latest self evaluation but some members didn't partake

Showing slight improvement from the past two quarters, the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education gave itself a 60 out of 100 on its latest self-evaluation — essentially a D by the district’s grading standards for high school students.

In its last two self-evaluations, the district scored 58. Board members score their work and perceived success in six categories: vision and goals, values and guardrails, monitoring and accountability, communication and collaboration, unity and trust, and continuous improvement, with the potential to earn 100 points.

The two points of improvement came from a higher score in the continuous improvement category because the board performed the self-evaluation within 45 days of evaluating the superintendent’s performance.

“Board members have been asked to individually complete the self-evaluation form for our board actions from the last quarter,” Board President Danielle Gonzales said Wednesday during the board’s meeting. “The majority of us have done this and have submitted individual results to the board office.”

The discussion on the self-evaluation was shorter than in previous meetings, and included less debate. However, it displayed a continued divide on the board.

Gonzales confirmed to the Journal that board members Heather Benavidez, Josefina Domínguez and Ronalda Tome-Warito did not participate in the self-evaluation. Those three members comprise the teacher union-backed faction of the gridlocked board.

“I want to recognize the confusion some community members have expressed to me and other board members regarding the purpose and process of the board’s self-evaluation,” Benavidez said. “As a board, we must hold ourselves accountable, not only to the evaluation process, but also to the values and concerns voiced by those we serve.”

The three business-backed board members, Gonzales, Courtney Jackson and Crystal Tapia-Romero, completed the self-evaluation. Janelle Astorga, broadly seen as a swing vote who won her seat without backing from either faction, also completed the self-evaluation.

The board set its goal for the next quarter of work at a 74, a C by district grading standards.