Albuquerque Public Schools
2019 APS Board of Education Resolution for Exemption of all but final candidates for Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Albuquerque Public Schools – Albuquerque, New Mexico
Resolution
Relating to the exemption of all but final candidates for superintendent positions
WHEREAS, Albuquerque Public Schools and school districts in New Mexico are required by the Inspection of Public Records Act to disclose names of all candidates for superintendent positions; and
WHEREAS, thirty-five states currently have some exemption in open records for top-level executives at public schools or universities; and
WHEREAS the lawmakers of New Mexico granted an exemption to the University of New Mexico to exempt the names of candidates for chief executive of public institutions of higher education, provided the names of at least three finalists were made public no less than 21 days before the final selection is made by the governing body; and
WHEREAS, open records of all applicants for positions for superintendent positions discourages qualified candidates from applying for positions in New Mexico schools; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that an exception be created in the Inspection of Public Records Act for candidates for superintendent positions in New Mexico schools until the district narrows the list to three candidates; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education formally requests that the legislature and Public Education Department support this exemption in the spirit of attracting the most qualified candidates for positions in New Mexico schools; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the New Mexico State Legislature enact legislation necessary to extend the legal exemption for the Inspection of Public Records Act for New Mexico public schools, as currently available to the University of New Mexico; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor of New Mexico, the Secretary of Public Education, the Legislative Education Study Committee, the Legislative Finance Committee and the New Mexico School Boards Association.