LAPS School Board Member Melanie Colgan learns more about the newspaper, The Mountain Times, from Editor Genevieve Gregory. Photo Courtesy LAPS
LAPS NEWS RELEASE
The LAPS School Board met last Thursday at Mountain Elementary School.
The meeting kicked off with School Board President Antonio Jaurigue recognizing members of the Los Alamos Hilltoppers Hockey team who are the 2023 State Champions. They beat the Cibola Cougars 4 – 2 in the championship game. Their overall record for the season was 18 -1.
Mountain Elementary Principal Suzanne Lynne and Assistant Principal Katherine Ward invited School Board members and the audience to visit student projects on display in the gym as part of the Mountain Elementary school report. Students representing all grade levels as well as staff shared displays which reflected “What did you learn in school today?” Board members were very impressed with the projects which reflected the theme of civic responsibility. “Kudos for creating such an incredible environment where students can thrive,” said Board Member Melanie Colgan. Board Secretary Christine Bernstein commented on the unique way of showing what students are doing, adding “You can see the proof of learning.”
Board members approved the leased facilities budget presented by Acting Superintendent Jennifer Guy in the amount of $1,919,500. This includes an increase of $12,000 for JJAB and $4,000 for Family Strengths Network over what was in the original proposal. Besides funding for educational partners JJAB and Family Strengths Network, other items included in the fund requests are online educational software, Summer Institute and Professional Development, the Grow Your Own Professional Degree Program, Pilot Assistant Principals/Ed Leadership and Intervention, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion training and support, LETRS stipends for teachers, Safe and Civil Schools, and LAPS Security and Safety. New this year is funding for Math Innovation in Schools.
The School Board, in a 4-1 vote, approved Calendar Option C for the 2023-2024 school year. This option includes 190 instructional days for students, a one week fall break at the end of the first quarter, one week break for Thanksgiving, two weeks for Winter Break, and a one week Spring Break. The first day for staff is July 31; the first day for students is August 9. The last day of school will be June 7.
Following an Executive Session, the School Board unanimously approved appointing Interim Superintendent Jennifer Guy as the new superintendent effective July 1. The appointment is contingent on the New Mexico Public Education Department’s (PED) approval of the settlement agreement with outgoing Superintendent Dr. Jose Delfin.
The next School Board meeting will be on Tuesday, April 18 at 5:30 pm in the School Boardroom and via Zoom.