Possible closure faces small school districts
Updated: Sunday, 16 Jan 2011, 1:19 PM MST
Published : Sunday, 16 Jan 2011, 1:19 PM MST
Published : Sunday, 16 Jan 2011, 1:19 PM MST
- STELLA DAVIS,Carlsbad Current Argus
Baca said it's her understanding school redistricting legislation is being drafted and will be proposed during the upcoming 60-day legislative session that begins Tuesday. "The Government Restructuring Task Force has made the recommendation. The task force was formed by former Gov. Bill Richardson to explore ways to reduce the state's budget shortfall," Baca explained. One area the task force considered was consolidation of small school districts. Baca said there are 89 school districts in New Mexico, and more than 60 percent are considered small.
In a pamphlet sent to Loving parents and others in the community, Baca said "redistricting is premature and an ill-conceived concept to save a few bucks on the backs of small school districts. Consolidation is not the answer to closing the New Mexico funding gap." Baca has urged parents and district supporters to contact their legislators. Before the Christmas break, some parents in Loving began circulating a petition opposing any proposed legislation to close small school districts.
"We have the ability to speak with a united voice and help our local legislators spread our message. We should not let Santa Fe make decisions for our community and rural New Mexico," Baca told parents. Baca said research does not support the concept larger school districts will improve learning, nor will it be less expensive. "They don't have a model for that," Baca said. "It will require a costly and time-consuming study. Even if they decide to close and consolidate the small districts, it's not going to happen this year or next year. Also, I think politically, it will face great difficulty."
Baca said she believes if the proposal is approved, small communities like Loving will lose representation as they're absorbed into larger districts. Baca said that until the mid-1980s, when Loving approved a bond to build a high school, students from Loving attending Carlsbad High School had a roughly 50 percent graduation rate. Since the high school opened in Loving, the rate has increased to about 81 percent. One reason may be the low student-teacher ratio of 11 to one.
Parents said the closure of the district would be devastating to students. "It would be a tragedy," said Maria Hernandez, mother of a high school senior. "These kids have grown up together from kindergarten through their senior year. If this happened today, my son would have to start over again at another school. This school is their life. They are like family."
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Information from: Carlsbad Current-Argus
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ReplyDeleteI empathize with these parents. I hope that all of the parents from all three SLC schools will inundate their representatives with their stories and their hope that the small school size adjustment is not done away with. These small schools are where the teachers and administrators make a difference because they are "family". In our schools we have an inordinate amount of these types of teachers/administrators. I prefer to call them Rock Stars, because in short they are. They inspire, they challenge, they innovate, they lead, and above all, they care about our kids. Let your voice be heard, together we can affect positive change for the education of our children.
ReplyDeleteJerry Duran
Board President SPLC
This is scary stuff. I have been following the possible small school closures and I am starting to believe it can actually happen. My son has thrived at an Albuquerque charter school. The last thing I want to do is put him back into West Mesa.
ReplyDeleteThank you for keeping all of us charter parents posted on these issues. I am going to implore our school to begin to do the same thing.