LOCAL COLUMN
OPINION: Talk of the Town
Column reminded me of my move to NM
Reading Herbert Adolfo Soriano Garc铆a鈥檚 Local Column in the Sunday Journal (June 21) reminded me of my own transplantation to New Mexico nine years ago. I flew in for a job interview; upon arriving at the airport I glanced through a window, saw the reddish mountains in the afternoon sun, and felt my body release a huge sigh. I was home.
The job offer materialized. My wife and I relocated from Baltimore later that spring. Both retired now, we remain in Socorro because we love the friendly people and the desert landscape. I still wonder how I made it to middle age without having tasted green chile or sopapillas.
Janet Goldstein
Socorro
Guest column was delightful
The article in the Sunday Journal (June 21), 鈥淚 still don鈥檛 understand New Mexico, But I love it鈥� by Herbert Adolfo Soriano Garc铆a was absolutely delightful. Every sentence was exquisitely sculptured and humorous at the same time. Any possibility you can make Mr. Garc铆a a frequent contributor?
Barbara and Hap Stoller
Albuquerque
Fixing PED is fundamental to improving NM education
For those concerned with improving the quality of education in New Mexico, Robert Hunter鈥檚 column 鈥淣M鈥檚 educational system is built to fail鈥� (June 21 Sunday Journal) raises a crucial issue: How does the Public Education Department influence educational outcomes, and what needs to change at the PED?
Hunter recalls a 2016 report documenting that each school district averages about 15,000 hours of combined staff time annually, at a cost of $212 per student, just to meet PED reporting requirements. Given inflation and additional reporting requirements, what was true in 2016 most assuredly is now more burdensome and costly.
The problems are far greater than whether the state education authority should be led by a secretary appointed by the governor or by a body of 鈥渆xperts,鈥� either appointed or elected. All three models employed variously in other states have been more successful than in New Mexico. The state鈥檚 problems in education are too urgent to endure a two- or three-year study/debate/reform adjustment in governing structure. With the change of administration next year, the incoming secretary of education needs not only professional qualifications but also the capability to address fundamental organizational issues now. For starters:
Change the mission of the PED from compliance with calcified regulations to supporting instructional outcomes for students. Revise the laws, rules, regulations and allocation of department staff and dollars to support specific student outcome goals for districts, incentives to meet targets, and work with the Legislature to fully fund high-quality instructional materials and aligned systems for evidence-based best practices for professional development.
Fix the PED鈥檚 broken statistical apparatus. Trustworthy data and appropriate analysis are fundamental to data-driven decision-making.
David Foster
Albuquerque
