Journal endorses School Board Candidates

This morning in the Journal, link, editors endorsed school board candidates and the passage of both the mill levy and bond issues.

After a great deal of consideration, I have decided to support the mill levies and bond issues.

They and I agree that more good than harm, will be done by passing the mill levy and bond issues.

The problem, that the people have lost control over their power and resources in the APS, is separate and distinct from the need for voters to provide capital support for public education.

That said, the the locus of control over power and resources that belong fundamentally with the people, needs to be restored to the people.  That restoration begins with, and then is built upon, a foundation of transparency limited only by the law.

To that end, the election of new school board members.

I could not have been happier to find that the Journal chose to support David Robbins over Paula Maes.  Her influence over the board has been the most damaging.  How do you work around someone who says, I will never agree to any audit that individually identifies any of the bad guys, or the incompetent ones?  What kind of person votes to remove the role modeling clause from her own Code of Conduct?

In no case shall the standards of conduct for an adult
be lower than the standards for students.

The Journal recommends that voters in the far Heights keep (David Robbins') pragmatism and vision in District 6.

The editors would have two other incumbents replaced; Lorenzo Garcia and David Peercy.





In place of Garcia, the editors recommend Leah Persons.

"...  she favors putting more of the district’s money directly into schools to support interventions for struggling students, especially in the early years, and to provide mentors for struggling teachers ...".

They urge voters in District 6 to "choose Leah E. Persons to represent them on the APS board."

In District 7, the editors prefer Larry A Langley over David Peercy.

Peercy has the distinction of being the singly most responsible person in the entire APS, for keeping open and honest public discussion of the school board's role modeling clause, off the agenda in his Policy and Instruction Committee.

The board would be well rid of him.




The editors recommend instead, New Mexico Business Roundtable CEO Larry A. Langley.

"Langley is a strong proponent of education reform, having served on numerous boards, councils and panels entrusted with that mission in recent years.".

The editors aver,

"The APS Board of Education needs Langley’s emphasis on student improvement to move the district and its students forward."

Still no indication that, in anticipation of the mill levy and bond issue elections, the Journal has any intention to tell voters that APS Supt Winston Brooks promised them an accounting of spending at 6400 Uptown Blvd, and apparently, has no intention of delivering it.  Certainly not before the mill levy and bond issues are settled.

KRQE, KOAT, AND KOB at bond issue and mill levy presser

In fairness, neither will KRQE, KOAT, or KOB; all of whom have actual videotape of his commitment and have yet to mention it to voters either.




photos Mark Bralley