Letter to the Community from Margaret Tapia, PVSD School Board President

Dear PVSD Community Members,

Your Board has had a very busy year, tackling all the challenges the District is facing and helping build the systems and opportunities we need to keep our District sound. As we all know, the recession is cutting deeply into education and we all are being asked to ʻtighten our beltsʼ. In response, the Board has looked carefully at all aspects of our budget to make sure we have both the equitable resources and leadership we need to fully educate our students. The Board has unanimously passed a responsible budget that includes a new electronic marquee, among other things, that will help keep our community informed of events and activities.

Recently the Board created the Finance Committee and the Audit Committee which include a community member in each committee. The job of these committees is to review financial and audit information and provide recommendations to the full Board. With the financial insight that our Board Vice President, David Ortiz, brings we are fortunate to have the ability to examine our financial records and make sure they are accurate. Under the Boardʼs direction, the Business Office is developing in-depth financial procedures and accountabilities that will help us through these tough economic times.

We have embarked on a number of new initiatives to improve the quality of education in our district—from expanding the AVID program to one-on-one advisement and a new ACT prep program that prepares students for college—to an alternative program that allows high school students to recover credits and graduate. In August, the Board hosted the first Native American Education Summit that brought Tribal Leaders, parents, teachers, and administrators together to make recommendations for a plan of action to improve educational opportunities and success for Native American students.

From our student achievement information, it is clear Pojoaque needs to improve educational outcomes. In October, we held a Data Summit and Retreat with all administrators to examine student achievement information and address the most pressing academic priorities of our schools. With the educational background that Board Member Sharon Dogruel brings, we were able to look closely at what constitutes high quality instruction and focus on those aspects of teaching and learning that will move Pojoaque ahead. From this day-long working session, the Board heard administrators ask for increased support for the professional development of their teachers aligned with greatest academic need. This is the kind of information the Board will use as it builds the budget for the next fiscal year.

Safety is our top priority and with the leadership of Secretary Reuben Roybal your Board has reestablished the Safety Committee that includes a number of parents and community members. The Committee has several sub-committees that are looking into how the district can respond to an array of issues that include security alarms, cameras, fire and hazard protection, and student bullying and harassment, for example.

At all levels, the Board is supporting the upgrade and pervasive use of technology to improve learning and support teachers working with students across the spectrum. The Board has made good communication a top priority both within the district and with our community at large. An important element of this upgrade is having a good communication system in place for parents who need to know what their students are learning and when there may be difficulties. Weʼre also moving into Apple platforms that have a lower total cost of operation since they have fewer security and maintenance issues. With a full-time district Technology Coordinator in place, we are receiving federal E-rate funding for the first time and making improvements that are both strategic and cost effective.

There has been substantial work in repairing and upgrading our facilities including a new water/waste water system on the Pojoaque campus. This major project was part of our district Facilities Management Plan and, with the construction expertise of Board Member Jon Paul Romero, not only were we able to complete the project on time but slightly under budget as well.

Our new conditioning and weight room is another example of the Boardʼs emphasis on building and maintaining quality facilities for our students and staff. These projects are part of the capital improvements that can only be accomplished through our bond monies and appropriations and we are sincerely grateful to the community and Speaker Lujan for supporting these projects.

Weʼre proud to report that we have made significant progress on a number of the top priorities that the community identified during our Community Forum Needs Assessment. These include a strong 6th Grade Academy to prepare students for a successful transition to middle school, improved alignment between grades and performance on the ACT exam, better advisement for college preparation, funding for technology, and facility maintenance and equipment upkeep, as well as others. The Board is taking an aggressive position to reduce bullying through policy action and programs that communicate our district has zero tolerance for bullying and harassment at all levels. Throughout the year we continue to address these issues and look forward to opportunities that will keep you informed of progress.

As we enter this holiday season, we have many things to be grateful for. We have a school system that is moving forward and a Board and administration that are dedicated to the education and well being of all our students. This coming year we will face serious challenges as the state revenue projections decline and we lose the federal Education Employment funds that held back a 3.2% budget reduction in operational funding. That reduction, along with others, could result in the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars for our district.

 Best holiday wishes,

 Margaret “Margie” Tapia, Board President