WILL THE MORON IN CHARGE PLEASE STEP FORWARD

There were two recent stories reported by KRQE CH13 that caught our Eye. The first story is concerning a thug by the name of Anthony Chavez who is intelligent enough to commit violent crimes but is mentally incompetent to be held accountable for his action. This is a complete conflict. Either your incompetent or your competent and you’re committing crimes. The second story is about Chelwood Elementary School and Its playground that has been taken over by prairie dogs. APS is complaining about the cost; claiming it will cost up to twenty thousand dollars to move the prairie dogs. This is a serious health issue and a danger to our kids. At the same time APS has blown hundreds of thousands of dollars on the last two incompetent superintendents.

The first story was about Anthony Chavez and his get-out-of-jail-free-card. In an interview with District Attorney Brandenburg; Mr. Chavez cannot be prosecuted because he has been judged mentally incompetent. This is despite Mr. Chavez being arrested time after time for breaking into homes, vehicles, pointing guns at victims and being caught on video stealing time after time. Mr. Chavez has to commit a violent crime before he can be confined to a mental health institution. Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon is not violent enough. Mr. Chavez will have to shoot someone, kill someone, kidnap someone, or rape someone to be sentenced to a mental institution. Oh wait a minute rape won't work because the Rape Kit will never be processed. Does anyone want to volunteer to be Mr. Chavez next victim?

 SIDE BAR

 Does anyone see the next lawsuit against APD; “Man Shot by APD was Mentally Incompetent.” Everyone knows he’s a danger and when the officers have to stop this thug, the tables will be turned and poor little Tony was going to get back on his meds and get his GED. He was even thinking about getting a job someday.

END SIDE BAR

Come on folks we’re all nobody’s and the politicians could care less if we get hurt. We can hear it now; the politicians will get in front of the media and say our hearts and prayers go out to the family of nobody. We will take steps to make sure this will never happen again. We at the Eye think the morons that made this law should change it now, create the right legislation. Oh that's right politicians are too busy doing nothing.

The second story is about Chelwood Elementary School. It seems the school playground has been taken over by prairie dogs. This is a huge health hazard to the children, teachers and anyone who visits or works at the school. The children are walking in what the prairie dogs leave behind and are tracking it into the school, lunchrooms, buses and taking it home to their family. It is just a matter of time until one of the children gets bitten and suffers a severe health problem. Now we at the Eye know there is no rabies or plague in New Mexico; now is there? A.P.S. states it would cost up to twenty thousand dollars to move the prairie dogs because they are protected by City Ordinance (City Council and Mayor REALLY!!!) Oh, we get it; no politician’s children go to that school, just a bunch of nobody's. At least A.P.S. put a price tag on a child’s life; twenty thousand dollars. We at the Eye wonder how much the lawsuits will cost us taxpayers’. Really you bunch of morons, how much did you paid for the last two superintendents that failed our children and our community? IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THINGS; you need to VOTE!

We at the Eye agree for the most part you are just replacing one politician with another. We must keep replacing them, no second term, unless they are taking care of us, our children and our community and conducting business in the best interest of the public. If they want to stay in office they will do what the citizens want. There is no amount of money that will compensate for a child's life. The problems have been exposed by Channel 13. When something bad happens the politicians must be held accountable and if necessary prosecuted.

Educators Sound Off

Our educators are being mistreated by APS and the APS’s superintendent, Winston Brooks.  We all entrust our educators to mentor, care and educate our children and grandchildren.  Hiring Brooks was a bad move in the first place and retaining him is an even bigger mistake on the behalf of APS.  Brooks and APS have established a pattern of abuse against our educators.  Let’s see; when you treat someone bad they; A) try to please the burro Brooks? And B) become discontent and start to push back?  What kind of ignoramuses runs APS?  It appears Brooks and APS believe in the imperialistic mentality.  

It is common knowledge Books came from Wichita, Kansas.  Although, Albuquerque has plenty of local talent; APS gave the job to a guy from Wichita, how does this truly benefit Albuquerque?  When Dorothy’s (Brooks) contract ends, he will pack up and take his money and pension and head back to Kansas.  And Albuquerque, well, let’s just say we get left holding the dirty end of the stick. Dorothy’s salary including his benefits package totals $273,000.   Hiring Brooks is a form of out-sourcing and the Elitist Berry is guilty of the same offense against Albuquerque.  The question is why?  Why does APS give a job worth $273,000 to a guy from Wichita and not a citizen of Albuquerque?  Why not invest in our own people? By proxy this is an investment in Albuquerque’s future.  Hire local and they will stay here, live here, SPEND here and invest here.

 

Here is how one of our Eyes describes Brooks and his actions: 

You can add Winston Brooks to your list of imperialist's running Albuquerque. He is ruling like an abusive spouse. We have only received a 2% raise in 8 years. He has his administrators tearing down the egos of the employees. At personnel reviews they are telling 90% of employees that they are substandard. An abuser always keeps 10% as the "model" employee so that they may feel much more superior and do whatever they are asked to keep the abuser happy. They are not focusing on anything that the employee has done right- just what they do wrong. They are telling everyone if you don't like it get another job. They are running higher paid employees out with flimsy reasoning.

Now to top the cake they have moved our pay from 26 pay checks in one year next year to 27 paychecks in one year and 2 weeks- this will mean about $60-$100 a paycheck for people who are already living very close to the edge. Prior to making this declaration they asked the teachers for feedback on different new pay options- the teachers chose 24 paychecks as it would be the least painful. Brooks turned around and choose the most painful of all the choices. Their reasoning was that to do 24 was too confusing for payroll- apparently APS payroll is done by a guy with an abacus- in a dark corner of the ivory towers. On top of all this- they really haven't shared this with a majority of educators. Did they just think it would be ok for them to find out when their first check came in next August? There is just a general disregard for the educators. 

It's time for the workers to make some noise.

We agree completely with this Eye. It is time for the educators to make their voices known and heard.  Brooks and APS must STOP abusing the hard working employees.  The educator is the backbone of the school.  Our future Mayor, Paul Heh, has made it clear: education is one of his top priorities.  Heh knows our educational system in Albuquerque is dismal, at best, and is in need of repair.  And the problem is not our educators.  We need to stop the abuse of our educators and allow them to do the job they were hired to do.  Stopping the abuse will be an enormous step towards repairing our educational system.  The mayor can make several corrections peripherally and place stringent pressure on APS to rectify the abuse and start repairing APS. 

There are thousands of educators in APS. This is equivalent to a HUGE VOTING BLOCK!  If the educators unite and they all vote; they could easily determine who our next mayor will be.

IF YOU WANT THINGS TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER; VOTE PAUL HEH MAYOR AND WATCH THINGS IMPROVE IMMEDIATELY.

Educators are Sick of the Corruption in APS

Our friends in the educational field have voiced their concerns with the corruption inside the Albuquerque Public Schools.  Below is an open letter to the Eye out-lining the truth.  APS has a mediocre (at best) union but the top folks are self serving and greedy as is the APS Superintendent.  Winston Brooks IS NOT worth a six digit salary and he does not deserve an additional $30,000.00 increase to his retirement.  APS is a failing school system and our tax dollars are giving Brooks an extra $30,000.00 on top of his $250,000.00 plus a year salary? For what? To be the head of a failing school system?  So he can take his pension, that we provide him, to some where back East?   That $30,000.00 could have funded two additional educational aides at a troubled school but instead the APS School Board chooses to blow it on another failed superintendent.

 

Albuquerque Metro Authorities have a history of hiring and paying big dollars to out-of-towners who want our jobs and money; only to take a job away from a New Mexican and allow them to spend their fat pension in a different state that does not benefit our community in the least.  We have plenty of educated people locally that possess all the knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics to do any job here.

 

Dear "Eye,"

I have been an avid reader of the Eye on Albuquerque blog page for a number of years. I admire and respect everything that you have done to expose then Mayor Chavez and now Mayor Barry, Chief Schultz, and the rest of the "Burque" despots. It is about time someone in this city take notice of the actions of our public officials and hold them accountable. I would like to add to your growing list despots the high administrators living in the "Twin Towers" of the Albuquerque Public Schools and those that run the Albuquerque Teachers' Federation, Ellen Bernstein and John Boyajen.

I have been a teacher in APS for many years. I taught students with APS through the dark, drug fueled days of Brad Allison and taught through the 3 headed mess that followed. I was around when Beth Everette violated employees’ rights and refused to pay charter schools their federal funding. Now, I continue to teach through the lies of Winston Brooks and his cronies. I have done everything that has been asked of me "with fidelity" as I have been told to do by my administrative leadership. I cannot sit by any longer and allow them, APS Administration and the Albuquerque Teachers Federation (ATF), to outright lie to the citizens of Albuquerque.

Since Winston Brooks has taken the helm of APS, teacher moral within the district has deteriorated and continues to do so. The last straw, at least for me, was when the Albuquerque Journal reported a 6% salary increase for top level administrators and the APS Board approved a $30,000 increase to Mr. Brooks’ retirement package. One thing I should make clear, all "step raises" (time in service) and cost of living allowance adjustments have been frozen for the past 4 years but the APS School Board has given Winston Brooks a raise almost every year he has been in charge of APS. Winston Brooks rationalized that the 6% salary increase for his top administrators citing that (I'll paraphrase) because there are less top administrators, those in currently position have had to take on extra duties. If one is to take that as a reason to award a raise to employees then the teachers should also be receiving a raise. I am a high school teacher, legally capped at 150 students under the current educational law. However, because of "budget cuts" there are fewer teachers within the system teaching an ever increasing number of students. APS applied for, and received, a waiver from PED and my current student caseload is 170 students. While 20 extra students may seem like a minor increase, consider all of the planning, reading, writing and grading that must take place for each student. KOAT News quoted Mr. Brooks stating that the additional monies placed in his retirement package “helped to make him want to stay in Albuquerque.” Really? He needed more money to entice him to stay in Albuquerque? I have to ask then, what is there to entice me or other teachers to stay in APS or in New Mexico for that matter? It certainly isn’t the pay; according to a recent study of teacher salaries, New Mexico, and APS specifically because they follow the state minimum salary requirement, ranks 47^thin teacher pay among the 50 states, however, we, New Mexico and APS, rank 12^thin administrative pay. The pay issue isn’t just a teacher issue. APS Educational Assistants receive an average of $14,000 a year on an hourly basis. Educational Assistants are not salaried employees, but hourly, thus they do not receive any pay during school breaks or summer vacation.

Rigo Chavez and Monica Armenta are just mouthpieces for Winston Brooks and lied to the citizens of Albuquerque. Rigo Chavez stated that APS has kept medical insurance rates steady for some 3 years while the rest of the population faced an increase in their premium payments. This is a lie. APS did no such thing. Actually what APS did was contract with an outside company to create a “health profile” for all APS employees and their beneficiaries and set up a “Wellness Center.” While this is an “optional” program in that APS employees can decide NOT to participate in, those that opt out are punished financially. Every year that an employee opts out, their premiums increase by $20-$40 a month depending on which health insurance plan and how many family members use the policy (I carry both my spouse and child on my insurance, my premiums have increased by $80 A MONTH in the over the last 3 years. Furthermore APS told its' employees and the citizens of Albuquerque that the “wellness screening” is anonymous; this too is a lie. There are 2 parts to "wellness" program; a “voluntary” online survey and a physical screening. In both cases the APS employee MUST provide their employee ID number in order to access the website survey and for “data collection” during the physical screenings. If, as promised, all of the information collected on APS employees is anonymous, then why must APS employees submit their employee ID numbers? Similarly, employees were told that bringing in documentation of such health screenings performed by their primary care physician is not acceptable; all employees must have their screenings done by the technicians provided by the contracted company. Since when does a medical technician know more about an individual’s health than that individual’s primary care physician? Further proof that the information collected through both the website survey or physical screening is not anonymous; after I completed the online survey last school year and again this year, I received a call from the “Wellness Center” at APS’s Twin Towers to inform me that, based on my answers, I qualify for my own, personal, “wellness coach.” It should be noted that the person that offered this to me called my direct extension at my school site AND called me by my first and last name. Obviously, the data collected by APS is not anonymous.

Ellen Bernstein is, contrary to her claims, simply another "Yes Man" for Brooks. While she claims to be on the side of the teacher, she hasn't quite lived up to this claim. Consider the latest contract "vote" before the 2011-2012 school year. Ms. Bernstein claimed that she fought to insure that every teacher had access to a computer. We already had that. As a matter of fact, the district requires that all of our student attendance and academic records (at least grades 6-12) be maintained on their server using their software (known as iCue to teachers and iParent to parents, same system, different names). Ms. Bernstein also reported that her team negotiated more preparation time for elementary and middle school teachers. My colleagues that teach at those levels tell me that they have not yet seen an increase to their prep times.

In regards to teacher/EA pay issues, Ms. Bernstein continues to follow the APS line that, “there just isn’t the money.” She also claims that she lobbied the state legislature to decrease our mandatory, involuntary salary deductions to the Educational Retirement Benefits program. She has stated at every school she visits and in the press that she lobbied to have the state legislature decrease our deductions by 1.75% (about $100.00 a month in my specific case). She did no such thing. The 1.75% increase that all teachers in New Mexico were forced to pay was, legislatively, a 1 year only deal. It was passed simply to shore up retirement funds AFTER the state realized that they had over paid hundreds of retired teachers. Ms. Bernstein’s reputation in Santa Fe is shot. Most legislators I know, on both sides of the isle, regard her as simply a minor annoyance who only makes threats rather than trying to work with legislators (“If you [legislator] don’t _________, then I will tell all of my teachers not to vote for you and we [ATF] won’t support you.” Under Ms. Bernstein’s leadership, the ATF has grown so weak and ineffective that even APS Administration laughs at the union and does what it wants.

In regards to teacher evaluation, we all agree that there should be a system put in place to evaluate teachers. The method that APS has chosen, with help from the New Mexico Public Education Department, is completely unfair to teachers. Over half of teacher evaluation would be based on student achievement on the New Mexico Standards Based Assessment. This is ONE test give only to students in grades 3-8, 10, and 11. I do not teach any of those grades and yet my evaluation (and pay if APS and PED can get the system approved) will be based on the effectiveness of middle school teachers and middle high school grade teachers. This merit based pay system that is being "piloted" by several schools in APS already. For years the American Federation of Teachers (parent of the Albuquerque Teachers’Federation) and National Educators Association have fought against merit based pay, citing that it is unfair to teachers in areas where education isn't exactly of the highest priority and does not account for issues such as behavior issues and poverty. Given this, why is Ellen Bernstein listed as a co-author on the plan currently being piloted?

Ellen Bernstein has no problem throwing teachers under the bus. In 2002 when the state legislature passed the “3 Tiered Licensure System”she was one of the chief supporters of this law. If one really looks at the system it violates both the Federal and State Constitutions by denying the right of appeal to all teachers who do not pass the dossier system. While this is not specifically related to APS or Albuquerque, it does affect the quality of educators that the district hires. The 14^th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America states that no state shall deprive a person of property, life, or freedom without some type of appeals process. A teaching license, like a law or medical license, is a property interest. An individual works hard to educate themselves to earn this license. There is no appeal process for the “dossier”system currently in place. If a teacher does not pass the dossier review, the State will revoke the teacher’s license. Ms. Bernstein seemed to just rubber stamp this under the guise of “better teacher pay.” The Federal Department of Labor and Statistics has reported that the poverty level for individual families of 4 sits at roughly $40,000 a year. I earn less than $42,000 with over 10 years of experience and both my BA and Masters’degrees (both in education which is more than can be said for our illustrious PED head Hanna Skandera). Beginning teachers within APS earn a paltry $30,000 a year; many carrying over $50,000 in student loan debt. When several teachers went to Ellen and the Albuquerque Teachers' Federation, they were all told that the Union could do nothing to help them and didn't even know how to help if they could.

The teachers, EAs, secretaries, and other ancillary staff are scared. No one is willing to speak up out of fear of retaliation from either APS or the Union. It is with this letter that I beg you to please turn your “eye” to APS and the issues there. Someone needs to hold them accountable for their actions against the teachers, staff, and students of this city. I will sign this with my Twitter handle “AngryNMTeacher” because, like my co-workers, I too am afraid of my employer and their friends, the Albuquerque Teachers’ Federation.

Signed,

Angry NM Teacher

Was Darren White linked to Felony Cover Up?

One of our Eyes sent us this information. According to the information posted, Prom King Darren I was a bad boy!

The two stories centered on the use of NCIC (National Crime Information Computer ‘data base’). It is alleged that White allowed “APS senior administrators play with it in their effort to harass and intimidate whistle blowers and do background checks on their girlfriends.” One article claims, “The Attorney General's Office found that Darren White, personally, had broken the law, the NMIPRA, in his effort to suppress the truth.”

Then Sheriff, Darren White, supervised the NCIC data base, which is governed by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations). This supervision is huge and a responsibility that should never be taken lightly. According to the information in the two stories, White did not do his job supervising and protecting this law enforcement data base.

One story claims, “The local District Attorney, Kari Brandenburg has been charged with determining whether or not the evidence supports the filing of criminal charges.”

The Eye does not know if all this is true but this is public information. What we do know is this cause’s great concern for all, based on the appearance of impropriety. If this is true, why hasn’t the FBI investigated these claims? Kari Brandenburg has had this case for over four years. Why hasn’t Ms. Brandenburg done anything with this case? If this was a Fourth Degree Felony, the Statute of Limitation runs out in five years. Is this a waiting game? Could this all have been smoke and mirrors? Was this a result of political bashing of White?

The Eye invites and encourages any politician to write in to the Eye and provide their view.

You will have to decide what you believe. Well Mayor Berry? The public assumes that you did a thorough background check on White before you hired him. Is there any truth to these stories?



Sources cited for use in the above story:
http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/nm-1-congressional-candidate-darren-white-linked-felony-cover
http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/if-fbi-cannot-trust-nm-1-candidate-darren-white-why-should-we

Local Media Foolishly Enjoys Creating Frenzy

There has been some scuttlebutt concerning the construction delays and recent class rescheduling at Albuquerque Public Schools’ new Artrisco Heritage Academy High School. The local media has been in frenzy; acting like Piranha’s with blood in the water. It was reported on the local news that there were approximately “two dozen parents” who attended a meeting regarding the schedule changes. Let’s put this in perspective and analyze this; there is projected to be approximately 2,600 students attending the high school in 2012. This means if every student attending the new high school is from a single parent home, there should have been 2,600 parents attending the meeting, and if the students were all from a duel parent homes, there should have been 5,200 parents in attendance.

There is no blood in the water. Twenty-four parents is such a miniscule amount, it is simply ridicules to create such frenzy. Ironically, according to the news media, many students were excited about the changes. This is where the real story was at. Students being mature and cooperating with APS to ensure they receive the education they deserve.

Kudos to the schools’ principal, Dr. Karen Sanchez-Griego, who did not allow the meeting to run disfunctionally. Dr. Sanchez-Greigo managed the meeting in an orderly and professional manner.

Your Tax Dollars at Work

An "events center" or a performing arts magnate school... what is the real future of the First Baptist Church building on the corner of Central and Broadway? The Albuquerque Public Schools - awash in bond money approved by voters back in February - has put in a bid to buy the church for $11.3 MILLION. APS wants to turn the facility originally built in 1927 into a performing arts magnate school (ABQ Journal - Subscription).

Meanwhile, the city is watching its dream of an arena, uh... "events center" exit stage left. So the city council in a 7-1 vote with Councilor Lewis objecting and Councilor Winter recusing himself, resolved to urge the mayor to try and negotiate a deal with APS to allow the two governmental entities to share the site (ABQ Journal - Subscription).

The real question is what are either of these two taxpayer paid for entities doing spending our tax dollars on a school for the performing arts or an "events center?" Both the city and APS are in the middle of what can only be called a serious budget crisis. Layoffs and cuts are rampant at both but don't worry, you'll have an "events center" or a magnate school to go to even if you can't afford the tickets or pencils.

[Sidebar]
Notice how the unpopular arena has become an "events center?" Like global warming - now climate change - the arena has become increasingly unpopular with the public. So we'll build an "events center" not an "arena" - a distinction without a difference. Or more like a boondoggle by any other name still stinks the same.
[End Sidebar]

The problem is that money for capital projects like this purchase come from the sale of bonds. They're essentially loans supported by taxes. Sometimes money will come from various federal programs like the spending package euphemistically known as ARRA - The "American Reinvestment and Recovery Act." But in the final analysis all of the money comes from us.

More importantly, the completion of these monuments to entertainment will require operational money that comes from already depleted general funds. Remember, both APS and the city are cutting salaries and laying off personnel.

In short, there are a number of very compelling reasons not to build either project. The school board looks like it's got $617 MILLION burning a hole in its pocket courtesy of a tiny tilted turnout. The city doesn't have the $400 MILLION it wants for an arena, but if or when it does you'll be the one paying for it.

This isn't about economic development and it's not about education. It's about spending every dime provided by taxpayers regardless of the long-term consequences. By the way, today - June 30th - is the last day you'll be paying 6.625% on purchases. Tomorrow you'll be paying 7% in Albuquerque - sending even more of your tax dollars to "work" so that bureaucrats and politicians can play. 

APS Bondage

"Your taxes won't go up... not one single penny." So says the ads running on radio and appearing on school billboards throughout the school district. Of course, your taxes won't go down either.

APS is just one of the many governmental entities with taxation authority and they get to have their own elections with convenient voting locations for everyone who is most likely to vote for continued bondage. The Albuquerque Public Schools are asking us to authorize $616 MILLION in property taxes to pay for things like a $38 MILLION West Side sports complex.

Before you go an vote for this thing or don't vote at all - which is the same thing - consider for a moment the fact that rewarding APS by giving them more money is the wrong message to send to an organization who continues to fail when it comes to educating our kids. It's like giving APS a social promotion even though they're earning a failing grade.

One of the groups promoting APS Bondage is a group of contractors. The argument goes that approving the bonds would stimulate the economy by creating construction jobs. Of course the jobs are far more temporary than the taxes that support them. Government does not create wealth, it redistributes it or destroys it.

By taking our money and giving it to a group of contractors to build sports stadiums in an economic downturn, you may be stimulating a few select businesses but you're not stimulating the overall economy.

...Paul Gessing, President of the Rio Grande Foundation says the average homeowner would then see a ten to fifteen percent reduction in property taxes. "That is a lot of money when you're talking about over the span of 12 months and moving into the future," Gessing said.

-KOB.com

The last time an APS Bond package failed was in 2002 and it took a drunk superintendent and an inept school board to make voters mad enough to reject the proposal. Since that time the only constants have been continued approval of bond packages like this and failing students. Perhaps it's time to send another message to APS... we'll keep our money until you do your jobs.

Secret Election

Do you have your calendars circled, marked, highlighted, or penciled in for February 2, 2010? No, I am not talking about American Idol (plus, who cares now Simon is leaving and Paula is gone) or your favorite television program. On Feb. 2, APS is asking you to vote yes on $617 million dollars for construction, improvement and maintenance projects at APS facilities. Wonder why they picked a date in the middle of winter, when no one is watching and while the legislature is still in session. Could it be they don’t want you to know?

APS really wants this money. They want it so bad that they have made sure the deck comes up with a winning hand. Early voting started Jan. 8 and runs through Jan. 30. Election day is Feb. 2, 2010. If you're going to vote early you'll be voting at one of only four locations in the entire county.

1. Bernalillo County Clerk’s Annex, 620 Lomas
2. Alamosa Community Center, 6900 Gonzales Rd SW
3. Don Newton Community Center, 4900 Kachina St NW
4. APS City Centre, 6400 Uptown Blvd NE

Did you ever play the game “one of these things is not like the other?” Why did the County Clerk put one of four early sites in the very building whose occupants directly benefit from the passage of the bonds? The might as well have setup early voting locations in every classroom, Union Hall, and PTA meeting? Heck, with the date of the election, consolidated voting locations, and with a convenient location that makes sure that every beneficiary has an opportunity to vote, APS might want to go ahead and start spending our money.

Meet the Candidates

As you all know by now, APS is in the midst of a search to find a new superintendent. APS has certainly got a multitude of problems and they won't be solved without finding a superintendent that has the courage to make the changes necessary to finally make education APS's top priority.

We received an email recently suggesting that we help to publicize an upcoming meeting that will give the public an opportunity to meet these candidates. We think it's a good idea. After all, we seem to spend a great deal of time complaining about the quality of the education offered at Albuquerque schools and not nearly enough time doing anything about it.

We'd encourage anyone interested in participating - in being part of the solution - to take the time to meet these candidates Friday March 7th, in the John Milne Board Room. If nothing else, you'll have the opportunity to visit APS's bastion of education and educators - the former City Center 6400 Uptown Blvd. NE.

APS W-2 Snafu

If you went to school here in Albuquerque, chances are you spent some time at one of the many APS elementary, mid, or high schools. One of the things we remember distinctly was being told to fill in each box (or bubble) completely when taking one of the many standardized tests. It was as much an exercise in art as it was an exercise in following the directions.

Well Friday the folks over in APS's accounting department failed to heed the advice of almost every teacher that has ever given one of those bubble sheet tests. Seems that our education administrators failed to fill in a couple of boxes on their employee's W-2 tax forms - the employers state tax ID number and the information for the ERA box 12.

APS is promising to fix the mistake by January 31st, but the biggest problem is that the fix will require the re-issuance of thousands of W-2 forms. That's a lot of money that won't be making it into our kids classrooms because the accountants at APS didn't fill in their employee's forms completely.

Swing Vote Maes

According to today's Albuquerque Journal, the safety of students and teachers at APS comes down to one vote - the vote of board president, Paula Maes. Unlike voters in last week's Eye Poll, the school board seems to be in a deadlock with 3 members from the East Side (Mary Lee Martin, Marty Esquivel, and Gordon Rowe) in favor of arming APS police officers, and 3 West Side members (Berna Facio, Dolores Griego, and Robert Lucero) against. That leaves District 5 representative and board president Paula Maes as the swing vote.

Wednesday night the board meets to take final action on the safety commission recommendation to arm the defenseless officers and protect students and teachers. We think it's a no brainer - give officers the training and equipment necessary to do their jobs. Otherwise we shouldn't expect officers to be able to protect anyone, including themselves.

The good news is that even though the board has largely shown that it doesn't get it and won't do what's necessary to protect anyone, Maes appears to be on the fence. Perhaps a few emails or phone calls would persuade her that even though she's "not a gun person," she should vote to equip and pay police professionals to their jobs. You can reach Ms. Maes by email at paulamaes@nmba.org or by phone (505) 880-3739. If she fails to see common sense, you can use those numbers to let her know how unhappy you are.

----- Update -----

We were just listening to a 770 KKOB news break and were alarmed to hear that Maes told them that she didn't believe that one more gun would have prevented the tragedies at Virginia Tech or Columbine. This type of attitude shows an amazing disconnect with reality. There are bad people out there who want to kill other people, some are crazy, some are just simply evil. Not liking guns and not arming trained police officers doesn't make these types of people go away.

Eye Poll: Carrying for Students

We said that APS Police carrying their sidearm was an 80% issue with the general public. We were wrong... according to this past week's Eye Poll it's an 85% issue. Eye readers rejected the APS School Board's decision to disarm APS Police during school hours with 85% of participants voting to allow APS police to carry their weapon, 15% did not want them to carry a sidearm, and 1 lone vote didn't care (see the results of our unscientific poll here).

We don't really know what they've been smoking down there at the school board, but really what are APS Police officers supposed to use to stop murderous thugs from gunning down children... harsh language? It's pretty clear that the board does not represent the general public when it comes to public safety and the security of the students and teachers in their charge.

It's September now and in the 2007 election season is in full swing so... this week we'll be taking a look at the District 9 recall election. The question of Don Harris continuing as district 9's councilor will be on the ballot in October, so it's our Eye Poll this week. Don't forget to vote!

Eye Told You - La Cueva Locked Down

When were we ranting about this? Was it uhhh.... YESTERDAY! Yes it was, and today APS faced a situation where a former student showed up drunk and supposedly armed at La Cueva High School (ABQ Tribune). APS police were called in and authorized by Superintendent Beth Everitt to take their weapons into the school while students and teachers were locked down.

Right now thanks to the geniuses on the school board, the APS policy states that even the Chief of APS police doesn't have the authority to authorize officers to remove their weapons from their trunks. It's STOOOPID to have unarmed officers in the first place but to make things even STUPIDER, the person who makes the decision to arm officers is an administrator. Leaves us wondering who the heck is running this circus?

APS dodged a bullet today and so did the students, parents, and administrators that were present at La Cueva, the perpetrator was unarmed... this time. Just for your information, the school board members who voted against protecting our kids are Paula Maes, Dolores Griego, Berna Facio, and Robert Lucero. You might want to remember their names if it's one of your kids that ends up dead.

They Just Don't Learn

"We like what we have," Dolores Griego told the Tribune after Thursday's 4-2 vote against arming APS Police officers. Griego is a school board member from the South Valley, who like 3 of her colleagues fails to understand the importance of giving APS officers all of the tools necessary to protect students attending APS schools.

Griego's statement has been bothering us since last Friday and could easily be used to describe most of the policy decisions made by the school board and the administration. It indicates a dedication to mediocrity and an innate ability to ignore reality that is frankly astonishing.

The reality is that children attending our schools are in danger; these are the lessons of tragedies like Columbine and Virginia Tech. All it takes is one crazed individual and people die. Having a weapon secreted away in a trunk does nothing to afford anyone any protection even though it makes some fools embedded in a meeting room feel better about themselves.

To make matters worse, our Eyes tell us that there are literally hundreds of people in the Albuquerque area that are suspected of having ties to terrorist organizations like Hamas. How long will it take these dirt bags to figure out that we leave our most precious treasures unprotected because "we like what we have?" How long will it take for them to make us all pay for the school board's foolishness?

It's no wonder that APD and BCSO want nothing to do with taking on the responsibility of policing APS. We don't believe that Sheriff White or even Chief Schultz would send their officers out without their side arms. In fact, the Sheriff was on Bob Clark's 770 KKOB radio show just this morning and his analysis of the board's action was spot on, saying in essence that the decision not to arm APS police officers was about the board's collective dislike of guns. We'd agree.

Here's a little slice of reality for the school board... when you don't train and equip your police officers with the proper equipment (that means guns - spelled g-u-n-s) you don't create security, you create victims and on a potentially large scale. It's time to make some serious changes to the make-up of the school board and to the system that makes it possible for its members to ignore reality and the people who live in it.

(Sidebar)
Before anyone in the Mayor's office gets all excited that we'd endorse an APS takeover by the Almighty Marty, we wouldn't and we don't. We've seen the shenanigans of the mayor and his minions. We really don't need more power concentrated on the 11th floor.
(End Sidebar)

We'd start by moving school board elections in order to coincide with other elections to improve overall turn-out. We all pay for these yahoos and for their decisions; more of us should be involved in the selection of those who make them. In addition, the move would lengthen the school board election season affording the average voter more time to look into the various candidates and their positions on things like say... ARMING THOSE CHARGED WITH PROTECTING OUR KIDS!

Being on the school board is a thankless position, probably even more so than being on the city council. However, it's time that we require those who are in office to learn the lessons that are so obvious to the rest of us. It's time for us to fail any of them that just don't learn.

Justifying the Means

We've all heard the old saying that the ends don't justify the means. It's a concept that implies hard work, fair play, and justice. These seem to be concepts that County Commissioner Teresa Cordova doesn't understand.

By now you've more than likely heard about the controversy caused by Ms. Cordova when she used her political influence to get APS upper management to change her son's grade from an F to a D in order for him to graduate (ABQ Journal - Subscription). An investigation into the incident by the State Board of Education exonerated the boy's principal and teacher who both refused to change young Jose Acosta's grade despite the pressure applied by Commissioner Cordova (ABQ Journal - Subscription).

Today, the commissioner decided to try and save her political career by dragging her son onto 770 KKOB to give her side of the story. In so doing, Ms. Cordova proved that the apple didn't fall very far from the tree. Her defense of her actions amounted to "I acted as a mother" and it's APS's fault for not intervening. Never in the hour long interview with host Bob Clark, did the commissioner even consider the idea that her son was to blame for his poor performance.

Young Acosta admitted, forging a grade report for his basketball coach, admitted turning in make-up work late, admitted being absent 17 days of some 45 in the third 9 week period, admitted that he only earned a 7% during the same report card period, and yet somehow believes that he EARNED his diploma. What's worse is his mother Commissioner Cordova - a PhD. and UNM associate professor - believes it too!

(Sidebar)
Makes us want to review Commissioner Cordova's doctoral work. Is it even possible that her students learn anything?!
(End Sidebar)

Diplomas are a cumulative effort. If you don't complete the requirements ON-TIME, you should NOT GRADUATE ON-TIME. Further, if you don't complete the requirements AT ALL, you should not graduate... EVER. There should have been a consequence associated with Acosta's actions (or lack of thereof). Instead, mommy commissioner stepped in to fix the problem and her little darling boy learned that for him, there are no consequences.

The ends justify the means... and it doesn't matter who gets hurt or how unfair it is. Elected officials who think this way are inherently dangerous and invariably gather power, money, and influence to themselves while taking it away from you.