Albuquerque Public Schools
2018 APS Board of Education Resolution for Sufficient Funding
Board of Education
Albuquerque Public School, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Resolution
Providing that the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education enter its appearance and indicate its support of a motion to support sufficient funding for the state equalization guarantee to support public education from the New Mexico State Legislature and the Public Education Department.
Whereas, Albuquerque Public Schools is thankful for the investment in public education made by the legislature and executive in fiscal year 2018 funding K-12 education at 44% of the state’s operating budget; and
Whereas, Article XII Sec. 1 of the New Mexico State Constitution mandates that a uniform system of free public schools sufficient for the education of, and open to, all the children of school age in the state shall be established and maintained; and
Whereas, the success of public education in New Mexico is dependent on community, parents, students, teachers, administrators, school boards, school districts and adequate funding provided by the legislature and executive; and
Whereas, local school boards and superintendents take their mission seriously – to provide the very best education possible to each child who walks through the public school doors; and
Whereas, New Mexico children deserve to be invested in because they define the future success of the state; and
Whereas, local districts and educators recognize the State of New Mexico’s difficult budget situation and loss of revenue in Fiscal Year 2018; and
Whereas, the financial needs of districts to appropriately educate students are explored throughout this resolution but to successfully address them the Legislature and the Executive are encouraged to develop a vision and strategic plan for economic development that supports New Mexico’s core values that would result in enhanced revenue so sufficient appropriations, that are not at the expense of other critical governmental programs, may be allocated to public education; and
Whereas, despite projected flat revenue for Fiscal Year 2018, school districts are still expected to appropriately educate students; and
Whereas, “above-the-line” investment for new revenue available in Fiscal Year 2018 preserves local school board control to best respond to the strengths and struggles in individual communities to best serve students; and
Whereas, the legislature, executive and community have made increasing the unit value of the state equalization guarantee (a.k.a. funding formula) their number one priority when establishing the public school budget and should continue to do so; and
Whereas, the State of New Mexico failed to comply with federal special education maintenance of effort requirements and, therefore, inadequately fund special education programs in FY2010 – FY2012; and
Whereas, local school districts have supported special education despite a lack in appropriate funding; and
Whereas, in the future, increasing the unit value is the best way to meet New Mexico’s federal special education maintenance of effort requirements to adequately fund special education programs; and
Whereas, the legislature should be fully cognizant of any changes to the funding formula that could negatively impact funding for school districts across New Mexico; and
Whereas, successful “below-the-line” pilot programs should be moved into the state equalization guarantee; and
Whereas, sufficient funds are necessary to eliminate class size waivers; and
Whereas, teachers and other public school employees deserve to make a livable wage for the work they do for the success and wellbeing of New Mexico’s children; and
Whereas, teachers and school staff should be provided choices in professional development that are geared to meeting the needs of their students; and
Whereas, there must be a recognition of the struggles districts have in providing statutorily mandated transportation for students to and from school and a recognition that the solution is a significant investment in transportation services so districts can meet this requirement and provide equal access to public schools for all students; and
Whereas, the legislature should acknowledge the importance of instructional materials in the classroom and increase funds available for schools to purchase those materials; and
Whereas, public schools are in need of additional funds because they are increasingly responsible for and morally obligated to respond to the wellbeing of the whole child by providing access to professional counseling services when a student suffers from mental health issues, including but not limited to substance abuse, providing access to quality health and dental care by continuing support to school-based health clinics, and by assisting families when needed through the services of trained social workers; and
Whereas, the cost of testing continues to increase, and school districts need financial support necessary to purchase, administer, score and report the data to education stakeholders; and
Therefore, be it resolved that the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education formally requests that the legislature and Public Education Department recognize the financial hardships many school districts face; and
Be it further resolved, that the New Mexico State Legislature sufficiently fund and prioritize the funding to the state equalization guarantee budget according to the needs of each school district, its local community and, most importantly, its students; and
Be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the New Mexico School Boards Association.