Alamogordo NM
5-22-2024 5:44am

Alamogordo Charter Schools Update Public Information Meetings Held

The Alamogordo group attempting to open the Sacramento School of Engineering and Science conducted two community forums recently, one on the 15th at 6 pm and one on the 21st at noon each lasted exactly one hour and had very low public attendance but checked the box as a part of the application process. 

The meeting on the 15th took place at the same time as the Alamogordo Public Schools Board meeting with less than a handful of the public in attendance. One individual in attendance suggested that the school should “not have a religious emphasis,”  the founders group led by Cindy Stong with strong input on curriculum by Michelle Perry claimed that the curriculum will be within the standards of the New Mexico PED. Questions were asked by a local LULAC Council leader of why there was no representation of minorities on the board and the founders said that will come as the steps toward opening and approval proceed. 

The meeting on 5-21-24 at noon had very light attendance with two advocates from the public on hand one parent and one seated Alamogordo Public Schools Board Member, Shannon T Wright. Mr. Wright made it clear as an elected official of the school board he supported the Charter School initiative to provide “choice.” He did not address the gap in funding that would occur to the students that would remain in his care and supervision and he went on to suggest that “state PED mandates force an agenda upon local school systems around race and trans, unm gender agenda issues” that he does not support. He implied the charter would not be bound to that NMPED “agenda” meanwhile prior to him joining the meeting emphasis by Michelle Perry and Ms. Stong was that the curriculum would follow NM PED guidance. 
The conflict of answers raised several questions according to those interviewed as they left the 5-21-24 meeting.  One attendee stated, she came in support of the concept of charter schools but after attending the meeting she felt, “concerned there was no clear path of innovation that was significantly different from what the public schools offered.” 

Michelle Perry in charge of curriculum development suggested a typical school day would be 4 2 hour segments verses the traditional 7 periods of the APS system. The first 3 sessions would be core curriculum and the 4th session would be open to electives. Perry and Stong suggested that attendees would be able to participate in Alamogordo High School Band, sports or other extracurricular activities. When asked is an agreement was in place with Alamogordo High School to provide those opportunities and how the funding would flow, Perry said, “NMPED will figure that out.”  

School Board Member Wright in attendance did not appear concerned that Alamogordo High School’s budget could potentially lose $1.5 Million in funding but still would be responsible to fund band, sports and extracurricular activities. A member of the NEA leadership and a teacher at AHS was present and she said she felt it, “incomprehensible that a school board member would be there advocating for a charter that offers curriculum from the very same programs as Alamogordo High School,” she continued, “the NEA could support a charter that offers innovative and programs that are unique and not offered by AHS however the curriculum cited was already offered including the very same program source already in practice at AHS, there was NO innovation and no programming offered any different than what AHS is already offering.”

An exchange between an advocate for the charter and an NEA representative occurred concerning math skills. The Charter advocate claimed math classes around calculus are not offered at AHS and that it does not prepare students for engineering occupations not good college prep. An NEA representative rebutted that false statement and that “calculus is indeed taught at AHS and student outcomes are improving as is enhanced curriculum being introduced.”

A point that was not discussed but should be noted is an Alamogordo High School graduate actually developed the membrane technology and hold patents on membrane technology used by DOD, homeland security and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for bomb sniffing and even heart valves. The individual behind those patents is a graduate of Alamogordo High School and considers that he got a solid foundation of knowledge from his public education at AHS to peak his interest to go onto college and into the research field. 

A somewhat passionate exchange between Board Member Wright and a leader from LULAC, President, Joanne concerning equity issues occurred and Mr. Wright suggested that there are no racial issues in Alamogordo that he grew up here and that racial issues are fostered due to an “agenda of certain groups and the NMPED. 

The lack of any founding board members representing the Hispanic Population, African American population, Mescalero Apache and Native American population, LBGTQ population, disabled representation and representation by those of lower income was pointed out by Mr. Hernandez. Ms Perry and Ms Stong suggested an “Equity Board” as required by NMPED would be appointed. Hernandez asked by who would make the appointments? The response was “the founders.”  The response raised more than a few eyebrows given the whiteness and economic prosperity of those conducting the meeting.

Much discussion occurred around how students would be selected. Ms. Stong suggested it would be via a lottery. A parent in the audience suggested that if a charter was in place his kids would be back in the public schools at the charter. However a lottery does not guarantee his children would attend if it’s truly a blind lottery. 

The meeting ended abruptly at 1 pm. The meeting outlined that the next step is the founders would submit applications, there would then be public comments allowed to be filed with the PED then a decision by PED on granting the charter would occur by Mid August. 

Selection of a site for the school had not yet been finalized per Ms. Stong and much more of the details would be ironed out once the charter is issued if approved by the PED. 

The NEA representatives, and the local LULAC council suggested they need more information and will be more involved going forward. 

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