So that’s the way it’s going to be? Española School Board president Joe Romero steps down and Joe Archuleta is going to take Romero’s seat unchallenged? That’s simply sad.
The community has reached a point where not only do voters not care that the schools are improperly managed, no one of any integrity, skills or abilities will step up and run for the Board. We’re left with Floyd Archuleta running unchallenged in a seat he was appointed to and Joe Archuleta just going in and taking Joe Romero’s place.
We have several critical situations occurring, all of which demand strong leadership, vision and focus on children’s needs. The current board is not up to that challenge. They’ve been carried by exiting superintendent David Cockerham.
Not popular with teachers or too many staff, Cockerham has handled the school’s finances, special education woes, transportation and infrastructure debacles with aplomb, when considering the obstacles he had to overcome. Is he the big answer to our problems? No, he’s had many problems along the way and bent a few rules almost to the breaking point.
But bottom line, he kept the current board out of trouble many times, probably many times the board didn’t even know about.
So with his departure comes a transition period that will be critical to even maintain our poor position, much less try to improve the schools in many ways. The next hiring will be fraught with political maneuvers and posturing, none for the benefit of your children, all for the benefit of the giant egos of some of our board members.
The Military Academy will either close or pray for a hail Mary pass from state education secretary Veronica Garcia. Should that facility close, the Española School District will have to take in most of those students. Most are not ideal students with model behavior. It will take some leadership to make that transition.
Los Cariños Charter Schools is also on the ropes. And while the school board appears to have bailed them out of their facility problems, the school is still in trouble.
The special education department has been marginal and since the departure of Pat Lopez, will see more trouble in the immediate future. Again, some strong leadership with knowledge of the problems and vision to solve the problems will not be forthcoming from the current board, plus Coco.
The legislature may or may not solve the funding formula dilemma. Regardless, money is tight and getting tighter. Our school district, like others around the state are going to have to learn to do more with less. That is accomplished again, with leadership and vision. More of the same will not cut it in this economic environment. Some uncomfortable cuts will need to be made quickly and a politically motivated board will not be supportive of this.
Since we’re past the deadline to apply to run for the school board, we’re stuck with what we have for a few more years. That’s our fault and we shouldn’t be proud of it. Children were counting on us and we let them down.