Board Meeting Dates

Additional Details

District and Community Relations Committee Meeting

AGENDA

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

5:00 PM

DeLayo-Martin Community Room, Alice and Bruce King Educational Complex, 6400 Uptown NE

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Minutes of the District and Community Relations Committee Meeting

Board of Education

Albuquerque Public Schools

A District and Community Relations Committee meeting of the Board of Education of Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) was held Tuesday, March 26, 2013, beginning at 5:00 p.m., in the DeLayo Martin Community Room, Alice and Bruce King Educational Complex, 6400 Uptown Blvd. NE.

I.          Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 5:06 p.m.

1. A. Roll Call

Present:  Martin Esquivel, Kathy Korte, Dr. Analee Maestas, Lorenzo Garcia; by phone were Martin Esquivel and Kathy Korte.

Absent:  Steven Michael Quezada, Dr. Don Duran and Dr. David Peercy.

1. B. Adoption of the March 26, 2013, District and Community Relations Agenda and the Approval of the December 12, 2012, and February 26, 2013, District and Community Relations Minutes (Discussion/Action)

Chairperson Analee Maestas asked for a motion to adopt the agenda and approve the minutes.  Lorenzo Garcia moved for approval; Kathy Korte seconded the motion; motion carried.

II.         Public Forum

There were no participants in public forum.

III.        FY14 Budget Update

Chief Financial Officer Don Moya presented an update on the outlook for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 budget.

He discussed APS’ operating budget and estimated changes from FY13 to FY14.  New funding still will leave APS with a budget shortfall, because much of it will go to mandated APS expenditures including, but not limited to, a one percent increase for all APS employees, the Education Retirement Board (ERB) retirement swap, the three-tier salary migration for teachers, raising classroom staff to statutory minimums, and discretionary expenditures.

Employees can expect an increase in health insurance costs.  Retiree life insurance premiums will be phased out 50 percent this year and 50 percent next year.

There is concern that new education funding may be directed by the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) categorically instead of flowing through the funding formula.  Other concerns include funding for special education and sustainability of programs.  The decrease APS has seen in enrollment will mean an additional loss of funding.  There could be a savings in operational funds if the governor signs the classroom size waiver.

School districts statewide are facing the same issues.  APS will continue in its endeavor to keep the majority of education dollars going to direct instruction.

IV.       Update from the Council of Great City Schools Annual Legislative/Policy Conference and Federal Legislative Briefing

Superintendent Brooks introduced David Peercy’s notes from the March 9-12, 2013, Council of Great City Schools (CGCS) Annual Legislative/Policy Conference in Washington DC.  Key topics included the fall conference from October 30 – November 3, 2013; public service announcements; liaison meeting and education issues at the state level; legislation and funding; Key Performance Indicator (KPI) updates and improvements; legislative, policy and school safety panels; keynote speaker points; and CGCS task force research reports.   The conference afforded many pro-active and informative discussions.

Brenda Yager added that Dr. Peercy’s very detailed notes and links provided in the packet also are available electronically.  Also, CGCS is considering a process for a series of public service announcements, and Dr. Peercy would like APS, students, and parents to participate.

Chief of Staff Joseph Escobedo provided a briefing on the federal legislative council.  The council addressed the following subjects:

• Budget and sequestration
• Title I funding and census of students
• Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
• Proposals on reducing gun violence and improving school safety
• Deferred action for childhood arrivals
• Achievement and professional development task force
• Governance, Leadership, Management and School Finance Task Force
• · English Language Learners and Bilingual Task Force

The following documents were brought back for committee members:  “English Language Learners in America’s Great City Schools:  Demographics, Achievement, and Staffing,” “Implementing the Common Core State Standards in Urban Public Schools – 2012,” Principal Evaluations and the Principal Supervisor:  Survey Results from the Great City Schools,” and “Instructional Materials for English Language Learners in Urban Public Schools, 2012-13, which will also be shared with the APS Principals’ Association.”

During the annual conference, APS representatives met with Senator Tom Udall and Senator Martin Heinrich and heard from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.  Senator Udall will introduce the Graduation Promise Act and the Pregnant and Parenting Success Act.  He is expected to make an announcement at New Futures Alternative High School in the next few months to which the Board of Education will be invited.

Sequestration will result in the loss of about $1.8 million in Title I funding, where APS would have had an increase due to the growth in the poverty level in 2013.  Discussion also addressed gun violence and improving school safety.  Approximately $350 million will be provided to add more school resource officers, emergency plans, and improving school climate.  APS lobbied for the funding to be managed by qualified personnel in school districts.

APS was recognized for their discreet and fool-proof process of managing document requests related to the U.S. Citizenship Immigration Services Deferred Action for Early Childhood Arrivals.  Carrie Robin Menapace expressed appreciation for the APS team that has done the work on this.

The Achievement and Professional Development Task Force did a projection on the implementation of common core state standards in urban schools and student performance; results show that APS is second in the nation in reading and third in math—an indication that the district’s implementation of common core seems to be working.  Committee members would like to see the methodology for the projection.

V.        Update on the Council of Great City Schools 2013 Fall Conference in Albuquerque

Brenda Yager shared that APS will be hosting the CGCS 57^th Annual Fall Conference, October 29 - November 3, 2013, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and the Albuquerque Convention Center downtown.  APS has taken opportunities to share a taste of Albuquerque with biscochitos and salsa tasting

The theme will be “Urban Education on the Rise,” taking advantage of Albuquerque’s national fame of hot air ballooning.  The logo was designed by APS’ graphics department and chosen by CGCS.   The opening reception will be held at the Albuquerque Balloon Museum; the formal banquet will be held at the Convention Center; Friday night will be at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center; and the final dinner will be at El Pinto Restaurant.  Thursday and Friday, the heavily-attended conference days, will be at the Convention Center, with the balance of the meetings at the Hyatt Regency.

CGCS makes every attempt to include African American, Hispanic, and Anglo people in the selection of keynote speakers.  Tony Dangee, a former coach and sports announcer, will be one of the three.  The topic for the town hall meeting is still to be determined; the committee is asked to provide input—gun violence and school safety is a possibility.  The moderator is to be determined.

Representatives from state universities and colleges, the New Mexico School Boards Association, charter schools, other New Mexico superintendents and their school boards, as well as the APS Board of Education are strongly encouraged to attend.  Post cards and other promotional materials have been provided in the packets to pass out, and more materials are available upon request.  A call for presentations also has been provided, both in the packets and electronically; the committee is asked to forward any ideas to Ms. Yager and Mr. Escobedo.

Dr. Brad Winter shared the huge, positive economic impact this represents to the City of Albuquerque.  The Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates that $3.5 million will be spent just on food and hotel.

Chairperson Maestas recognized Senator Lopez before the District and Community Relations committee.  Senator Lopez was impressed with the APS Board of Education involvement in Santa Fe and in keeping the Albuquerque delegation on their toes.  She shares APS’ concern about the maintenance of effort issues and taking away money from the state equalization guarantee (SEG) and encouraged the board to stay on top of it.  She suggested the Board of Education take some time to consider the residency requirement.

Chairperson Maestas encourages community and different organizations to participate in public forum and in CGCS.

VI.       Next District and Community Relations Committee Meeting

Chairperson Maestas announced that the next District and Community Relations Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 24, 2013, at 5:00 p.m., at the Alice and Bruce King Educational Complex in the DeLayo Martin Community Room and invited the community to come and hear from two nationally known researchers on the achievement gap and English Language Learners planned for that evening.

VII.      Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 6:02 p.m.