News from the Superintendent: November 24, 2008

November 23, 2008

Dear APS Community Member,

We made our presentation to the Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) in Santa Fe on Wednesday. Now it’s up to the New Mexico Legislature to decide in January whether it will revise the funding formula for schools and how it would generate the additional funds needed. There are no guarantees, and we have a lot of work to do meeting with legislators throughout the session, but the 60 school districts represented at the hearing on Wednesday made an impression.

You may have seen the story on the news, but a big crowd was on hand for a rally at the Round House before our presentation. If all the districts can work together with the legislature, good things can happen. A copy of the proposal made to the LESC is available on the APS website (www.aps.edu) under the news headline “APS Supports New State Funding Formula.”

I firmly believe we need smaller class sizes, full-time art, music and PE teachers for all elementary schools, and additional people to help maintain the many new school buildings we have opened and will open soon. I’m carrying the very same message to all groups I meet with—legislators, the media and the community.

Congratulations to the McKinley Middle School community on the opening of their new parent center. I’ve heard it’s a beautiful space and a very dedicated parent organization worked hard to put it together. I’m thrilled that we have these kinds of resources around the district to connect parents with the schools.

This is a short week, of course, because of the Thanksgiving holiday. I want to take a moment to say how grateful I am to be here in Albuquerque this year, working with a staff as dedicated to the education of students as this one is. I think we make a great team at APS.

There are many schools and individual classrooms taking the time to share their time, talent and treasures so that people in less fortunate situations can have a happy holiday. Whether it’s food drives and gift baskets, or inviting parents for dinner and a chance to get to know a school better, I’m so impressed with the way students are serving others as part of their own learning process. This is a thoughtful and generous community.

Whether you are traveling or sticking around town to spend time with family and friends, I wish you a great week and a safe and restful Thanksgiving weekend.

Sincerely,

Winston Brooks, Superintendent
Albuquerque Public Schools