News from the Superintendent: August 24, 2009

August 23, 2009

I hope everyone had a good first day of school, students found their classrooms and everyone is now settled in for another year of learning. I visited a handful of schools last week and it looks like everyone is excited about getting started.

Speaking of getting started, the district is celebrating the completion of construction projects, including brand new schools, throughout the fall. These new projects reduce over-crowding problems, offer energy savings and give students a more productive and inspiring environment to work in. We hope to take care of more of our buildings in need following the bond election in February.

In the meantime, you’re invited to the celebrations so you can see for yourself the changes that are taking place. This week, we celebrate the opening of the new soccer complex in the northwest part of the city at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and the opening of Desert Willow Family School at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

There’s an average of about one celebration a week into October. Openings are coming up at Rudolfo Anaya Elementary, Tony Hillerman Middle, Coronado Elementary and Helen Cordero Primary. The schedule will be posted on the APS web site (http://ww2.aps.edu/).

We are extending the hours of operation at high schools until 7 p.m. This gives students some flexibility if they have to work or tend to other family matters, and gather the credits they need to graduate.

We can expand use of our school buildings outside regular class hours. Availability to the community is being considered in the design of our new facilities. Our facilities design and construction team is doing a great job of creating larger spaces that can accommodate activities, parent meetings and other types of community uses. This can create better relationships between the schools and their neighborhoods, and perhaps cut down on some of the vandalism we’ve seen.

You may have heard that you can now view streaming video of Board of Education meetings on the APS web site. Just go to the site and click on Board of Education on the left-hand menu. Last Wednesday’s meeting, where the board discussed the district’s 2010 health benefits, is archived there. It’s a way to stay informed if you’re unable to travel to City Centre after the school day.

Have a great week.

Winston Brooks
Superintendent