LAPS School Board members from left, Secretary Sondra Wyman, President Antonio Jaurigue, Vice President Ellen Specter and members Melanie Colgan and Lauren Coupland. Photo Courtesy LAPS
LAPS NEWS RELEASE
January, school districts across the country honor the community volunteers who serve on their local school boards as part of School Board Recognition Month.
Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) recognizes the hard work and dedication of the LAPS School Board including President Antonio Jaurigue, Vice President Ellen Specter, Secretary Sondra Wyman and members Melanie Colgan and Lauren Coupland.
“It is a pleasure to work with this school board,” Superintendent Jennifer Guy said. “They are highly professional and dedicated to our schools. The board has worked hard to establish core values that put student education and well-being first.”
President Jaurigue has served on the board since January 2022 representing District 2, Chamisa Elementary and was recently elected to his second term as president.
Vice President Specter is the veteran member, having served on the School Board since 2017. She represents District 1, which includes Pinon Elementary.
Member Colgan was appointed to the School Board in August 2020 and was recently elected to a second term representing District 4 (Barranca Elementary and Los Alamos Middle School). Secretary Wyman was appointed to the School Board last January and was elected this past November to continue representing District 5, which includes Mountain Elementary and Los Alamos High School.
Member Coupland just started her first term on the board representing District 3 (Aspen Elementary).
School board members are elected to a four-year term. While they are elected from one of five districts in the county, they are serving all school sites, students, staff and families.
The obligations of a school board member go beyond just attending school board meetings. They also participate on several committees, and are required to complete several hours of state training courses that explain state board rules, department policies and procedures, statutory powers and duties of local school boards, legal concepts pertaining to public schools, finance and budget and other matters deemed relevant by the New Mexico School Board Association.
The 2024 School Board Recognition theme is: Locally Elected, Community Connected.