News from the Superintendent: November 10, 2008

November 9, 2008

Dear APS Community Member,

By now, you have probably heard about the hiring freeze for non-school positions that goes into effect today. Let me reiterate the most important points:  1. This is for non-school site positions only. Schools may continue to fill vacant jobs as needed; 2. Grant-funded positions and those involving Title I or special education funds are not affected; and, last but not least, 3. There are no job cuts or layoffs. As I told the media on Friday, it would take a pretty drastic situation to have to lay anyone off.

It is the responsible thing to take action now to avoid hurting employees later on. It is also fiscally responsible to find ways to tighten the budget that impact schools as little as possible. That’s why we’re not freezing school positions or resources.

We did receive a letter from the president pro tem of the New Mexico Senate giving us a heads-up that funding from the legislature may not be plentiful this year. While the merits of sending that letter to school districts are still being debated in Santa Fe, it’s a good cue for us to take a look at the district’s financial situation now rather than to have to react suddenly in March. I very much appreciate the governor’s commitment to do all he can to keep funding in the schools, but we have to realize that circumstances we can’t control may change the plan. We’ll know more as we get closer to the legislative session.

On a happier note, I would like to congratulate East San Jose Elementary on the opening of their newly renovated classrooms, offices, cafeteria and kitchen. I’m sorry I missed the celebration last week, but I’ve heard it was a nice event, and the upgrades to the school were much needed.

This week is your last chance to join us for our Celebrate the 8! conversation series. Our final meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Roosevelt Middle School.

Finally, schools are closed tomorrow for the Veterans’ Day holiday. I’m sure a number of schools will observe it today by inviting our country’s heroes to speak in classrooms. I hope students listen very carefully to what our veterans have to say. Please remember to take a moment to thank the men and women in uniform who have served our country and done so much to protect our freedom.

Have a great week.

Sincerely,

Winston Brooks, Superintendent
Albuquerque Public Schools