A month ago, I invited all School Board candidates to address two issues. I said that I would use their responses in a blog. Three of nine candidates responded. I let their responses speak for themselves; I give them verbatim.
One issue is the controversy about the inclusion of Jack of Hearts and Other Parts in the Mayfield High School library. Because of its relevance to School Board policy, I asked that candidates tell me their position on the inclusion of this book in a high-school library and their more general position on censorship of or restrictions on library access or course requirements related to materials with sexual content.
The other issue is poor reading proficiency by those who have finished fourth grade (only 21%). I asked that candidates tell me what priority they assign to this issue relative to other identified issues, and what specific policies or practices they would propose or support to address this issue to improve results.
District 1: Patrick D. Nolan (incumbent) and Joseph W. Sousa did not respond.
District 4: Julia E. Ruiz and Edward Posey Howell did not respond. Teresa Maxine Tenorio (incumbent, President) did not respond to the first issue because legal counsel advised School Board members not to discuss an issue to be resolved in a formal proceeding. She did respond to the second issue:
[Tenorio] I brought to our August board retreat agenda the presentations of two potential contractors, and discussion that if selected, a contractor would work with the school board and district leadership to collect stakeholder input and guide the development of our district’s strategic plan. The contractor we chose is Cooperative Educational Services of New Mexico. Our agreement is “Building a Better Future Through Education: A Six-Year Study of Transformative Change in New Mexico Schools”. It’s beyond just the strategic plan. Our agreement includes an audit of aspects of instructional and departmental functions. My intent is to align board goals (TBD) with the strategic plan.
As President, I will lead the board to ensure our goals are S.M.A.R.T, specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable, and timely. Board goals that I will recommend and support will be 1) to increase the rates of proficiency and above in English language arts (ELA) and math from xx% to xx% by x amount of time; and 2) to decrease student chronic absenteeism from xx% to xx% by x amount of time. With board approval and legal guidance, I hope we will be able to discuss and approve incorporation of these board goals into aspects of the superintendent’s evaluation matrix.
Superintendent Ruiz is beginning to share with me some of his plans, which I fully support, in identifying where improvement and support is needed within Tier 1 instruction and interdepartmental collaboration. He is looking deeply into student assessment data, data that is currently embargoed by the PED. District leadership can see it but not share it publicly until PED officially allows it.
I serve on the New Mexico School Board Association’s Legislative Resolutions Committee. We recently met in Albuquerque to discuss and vote on resolutions submitted by districts across the state. We approve a resolution asking legislation to improve funding for districts to hire more math and ELA literacy interventionists and coaches. I know our board approved our own districts budget request for 4 such literacy coaches, but it’s not enough and I will be lobbying our senators and representatives for more.
Lastly, I believe we need to offer in-person tutoring. The current PAPER tutoring company we use has been helpful for those who have used it, but it’s not a fit for all students or families. Our BETICO outreach department is offering parent classes to support their children. I wish more families would take advantage of this. I want educational leaders at LCPS — including myself — to use the strategic plan and goals in such a way (not punitive!) that cultivates a culture shift among all involved and motivates, supports, and celebrates improvement in student achievement outcomes.
I also hold to account and appreciate our district and schools for continuing to meet other basic needs of a large percentage of our students that must be met in order for them to come to school able to focus and learn.
District 5: Ernest B. Carlson and Carol Lynn Cooper did not respond. Jose L. Aranda and Edward Frank (former School Board member) did respond. They address both issues.
[Aranda] I am against book banning and I promote literacy and more reading-not less, or restrictive.
I think 3rd grade, not 4th, is where most students should be proficient in reading. I am aware and concerned about the poor literacy and math rates by those in LCPS district, and state. So, I propose a back-to-the-basics approach to involve more print books, the use and access to more libraries, and mandatory tutoring for those not proficient!
I apologize for this brief response but look forward continuing this discussion.
[Frank] You have identified two key issues for LCPS. On the issue of the book, Jack of Hearts and Other Parts, I am in total agreement with your position. Your blog's [my link] treatment of the book was extensive and thoughtful. The book should remain in Mayfield's library. Student safety is my number one priority and information contributes to their safety. Many more people are harmed by ignorance than knowledge. I have not read the book in question, but I did read an article written by the book's author, L.C. Rosen, and I feel confident that the book's objective is to inform students that thoughts of sexuality are normal and that all sexual activity must be consensual and safe.
My number two priority, after safety, is reading. Reading is the gateway to all knowledge, even mathematics, which was my specialty. I am not a reading expert, however, I have some ideas on how to address the students who are reading below grade level. First of all, we need to have regular assessments beginning in first grade. These assessments should be conducted informally by educators; they can do this by simply asking students to read grade appropriate materials. Students who are falling behind should be assessed by a reading specialist who will generate a plan involving the participation of the child's teacher and parents. Once we have identified a child with a reading deficiency we should prioritize getting that child up to grade level, even at the expense of other subject areas.
Our community is lucky to have the Children's Reading Alliance which encourages parents to read to their children from birth. Ultimately, their programs will start to make a difference.
Although the powers of school board members are limited in curricula matters, if elected, I will work with the superintendent to make the improvement of reading a high priority.
As a citizen, I appreciate candidates and officials who communicate with citizens because they make representative democracy work. The LCPC elections may be by district, but the winners serve the entire LCPS district. I wish that I had had responses from the four political novices—Sousa, Ruiz, Howell, Carlson—who did not respond, but I do not criticize them because this campaign is their first rodeo. I cannot say the same about Nolan, District 1 incumbent candidate; he is not novice and has the benefit of advice from his Councilor-wife Johanna Bencomo. Not having heard from him, I have decided that he will not hear from me (= get my vote. But I shall not vote for his rival, Mr. Sousa, unknown to me.). Likewise, Cooper, District 5 incumbent candidate.
District 4 has, in Teresa Tenorio, a conscientious representative who has offered an impressive response detailing her position on improving reading.
Likewise, District 5 has, in Jose Aranda, a candidate who seems earnest and sensible in his general positions, and Edward Frank, a candidate providing a detailed and reasonable response to both issues.
I just cannot resist ending with this aphorism from Mark Twain:
If voting made any difference they wouldn’t let us do it.
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