Albuquerque Public Schools: Our Schools Are On The Ballot

Press release from Albuquerque Public Schools:

October 15, 2021

I worked in some pretty old school buildings during my many years as an APS teacher and principal. Not surprising, considering 85 percent of our schools were built before 1980.

And though these aging buildings are steeped in nostalgia, they have their share of problems, too, ranging from outdated classrooms, cafeterias, and gyms to safety concerns and temperatures that are too hot in the warm months or too cold in the winter.

There's a good chance you work in one of these buildings now or that you, like me, have worked in one in the past. Maybe your own children have attended classes in less than ideal conditions. 

To help address many of these issues, we are turning to voters. Our schools are on the ballot this fall in the form of two questions that would result in more than $600 million for much-needed repairs, renovations, and in a few cases, rebuilds of some of our mature schools. The funding would also go toward educational technology, improved cooling, heating and air quality, enhanced school security, and more. A list of major projects is posted on our website: Major Projects at a Glance. 

Passage of the bond/mill levy funding package won't increase taxes. It would just continue the current tax rate. 

Support of past school bonds and mill levies has proven to be a wise investment in our community. For example, thanks to taxpayers, we were able to lay more than 200 miles of fiber-optic internet cable across the city, improving service for students, staff, and families. And our taxpayer-supported centralized kitchen has allowed us to serve more than 3.5 million free meals to students over the past year and a half.

One question that keeps coming up when talking about our capital funding request is why APS needs more money when it's already getting so much federal COVID relief. The short answer is that each funding bucket goes to meet different needs. Operational funds that come from the state go primarily to salaries and benefits. Money from the bond/mill levy must be used for capital projects. It can't pay for raises. And the bulk of federal stimulus money is targeting unfinished learning including summer and supplemental programs, services that will address students' social and emotional needs, and equity and access for all students.

Another question is why we would need to rebuild schools when our enrollment is declining. As you know if you work in a school, it's not just a few schools losing students. The enrollment loss is felt across the district for a variety of reasons. As we refurbish and rebuilt older schools, we will decrease our footprint, designing for smaller populations and making buildings more efficient. As the Albuquerque Journal noted in its endorsement of the school bond/mill levy External link : "Bottom line: The more than 80,000 students in the district still deserve decent classrooms and up-to-date materials."

Early voting sites External link  open across the city this Saturday, Oct. 16. Remember, four of the seven seats on the APS Board of Education will also be on some ballots, depending on what part of town you live in. I hope you take the time to vote and encourage your friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues to vote, too. For our kids. For our future. 

This press release was produced by Albuquerque Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.