Do local school board elections matter to state-chartered charter schools? In short, the answer is a resounding "yes"! This is especially true in Albuquerque.
The Albuquerque Public School's (APS) budget is almost 30% of the entire state budget. The people elected to spend this money yield a lot of influence on policy makers in Santa Fe. Their goals, likes and dislikes, as well as their recommendations for cost savings are taken seriously. School board members and the Superintendent have the ability to command media attention on issues whenever they choose. This in turn influences public perception and beliefs - regardless of the accuracy of the information disseminated.
The "tone at the top" is especially important when it comes to equitable access to resources. A school board member that believes charter school students and their parents are citizens of this community and should benefit from the taxes they pay is much easier to work with and reason with than a school board member who beleives that the district is the annointed provider of education for the city. One only needs to look at the constant battles for charter schools to receive SB9 and HB33 funds on a per student basis as proof.
The battles continue in other areas that impact charter and private school students and their families. For example, APS has lobbied to roll back the requirement that HB33 and SB9 funds be shared with charter schools. APS has recommended that instructional materials funds not be provided to private schools in an effort to save the state additional money. This has morphed into a recommendation that textbooks only be switched out every 8 years instead of the current 6 year replacement schedule - thus impacting all students in a very negative way.
As parents and citizens we must begin to get involved at the most basic level of government - school board elections. We must insist that school board elections be moved to November and placed on the ballot with other major elections such as Presidential and Gubernatorial elections. We must insist that polling places be placed in neutral locations - not in the central office of the district. We must insist that candidates disclose how much money they spent, who contributed to their campaigns, and who those people work for. Currently, school board elections in New Mexico are the only elections without any campaign reporting requirements.
Albuquerque is currently in the midst of a school board election. Early voting and absentee voting has begun. The official election date is February 1, 2011. If you live in the south valley, on the west side, or in the UNM (Carlisle/I40) area, please take time to research your choices for school board. And then, exercise your right to vote!
It is time charter schools stop looking over their shoulders for where the next threat is coming from. It is time for charter schools to be a place where teaching and learning occur - not a place where parents, teachers, and administrators are always wrapped up in politics. The easiest way to make this happen is to become informed and vote in the most local of all elections - the school board.
This is so true. Why do we hold elections apart from regular elections and who decided to put the polls at APS headquarters?
ReplyDeleteNo politician should be re-elected!
There can be no doubts as to who is responsible for holding the elections as they are, just follow the money and you will find APS. It is amazing to me that manipulation of our system on a scale this large goes unnoticed by the general population. Overcoming the apathy of the New Mexico citizens is going to be the biggest challenge in changing the process.
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