This quiet school board election will close Tuesday with only one race contested in Española, Chama and Gallina school districts. The apathy from voters we’ve come to expect, seems to have spread to candidates as well.
When viewing the state of the Española School District, it’s difficult to find fault with anyone not wanting the job of school board member. We’ve had 10 superintendents in the past 13 years and are on our 11th, who is currently serving as interim. No school district can tread water with that kind of turnover, much less swim for the gold.
Principals are moved almost at random, often due to politics, always to the detriment of the students.
School board members’ primary task is to make sure the money is spent correctly. To that end safety and security should be a major concern but more than anything spending should benefit the education of the students and that’s not happening now.
It’s painful to watch school boards approve $50,000, $100,000 expenses for software they know nothing about, nor care to.
Board member Matthew Casados filled the vacancy created by Yolanda Salazar’s resignation in June. He’s done an admirable job during challenging times.
Clearly Casados and Board member Jeremy Maestas are the most engaged on the Board. They read the voluminous meeting packet and ask proper questions.
Casados’ background in tech allows him to fully engage in presentations about email, telephone, server, storage and transmission issues at almost every school.
Before a meeting, he listens to people on the ground at the root of a problem. He doesn’t parrot senseless thank yous other Board members espouse, and has served as a peacemaker more than once between Board members.
We believe his opponent Katarina Martinez is passionate about improving the District. Listening to her, she’s about spending money correctly, taking the politics out of the administration and honoring the children.
If she wins she will make a good school Board member but will be on a steep learning curve, one Casados has made significant progress climbing.
Casados has some solid background, experience and education. He is a proven quantity at this point.
The SUN endorses Matthew Casados for position 1.
We’ve not sat in a Chama or Mesa Vista school board meeting in many years but in Española, it’s about tech and sports. Leaky roofs and poor air conditioning are reviewed or discussed occasionally. When someone needs a new truck or piece of equipment, a board member will chirp, but the big fights, the long fights, the meaningless fights center around sports and technology.
In the Dulce School District, position 4 Phillip Salazar faces Wesley Vigil. Neither candidate returned multiple telephone calls after they originally filed nor last week when the SUN sought to explain their positions on issues important to voters.
In the Dulce School District, position 5 Annette Tecube faces Elizabeth Otole. The story is the same here. Neither candidate returned multiple telephone calls after they originally filed nor last week when the SUN sought to explain their positions on issues important to voters.
Unfortunately, two of these people will be a school board member after next week’s election. We hope the winner will learn what it means to be public servant, emphasis on public.