PED to investigate SFPS’ rally promo

Schools superintendent also asked to conduct a probe

SANTA FE — The state Public Education Department has launched an investigation into Santa Fe Public Schools’ promotion of a “Save Our Schools” rally at the Roundhouse school day last week — including closing schools early — as an improper use of public resources for political purposes.

The department is also asking SFPS Superintendent Veronica Garcia to conduct her own investigation and respond to a series of allegations within 30 days to determine if further action is necessary. PED said it has notified the Attorney General and the state Auditor’s office.

In a news release, Education Secretary Hanna Skandera said her department takes accountability seriously.

“When the superintendent of Santa Fe Public

Schools directed releasing students early and then encouraged teachers to load school buses during the school day to protest at the Capitol, it raised a serious red flag for the department,” Skandera said. “We are concerned that funds meant for students were used instead for political purposes.”

Garcia said in a phone interview Thursday that the school district did nothing wrong and she will comply with PED’s request. “But I am confident that our actions were lawful and we did not violate any statutes or regulations,” she said.

Garcia, who served in Skandera’s position in former Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration, said she did not take lightly her decision to call for an early student release so people could attend the March 16 rally, and that she sought inhouse and outside legal counsel beforehand.

Prior to the rally — attended by more than 1,000 mostly SFPS staff, teachers, students and their parents — the school district announced that its purpose was “to draw public attention to the dire financial crisis of public education in New Mexico and encourage compromise between branches of government.”

In a letter to Garcia dated March 23, Skandera outlined “complaints and concerns” she had received from parents and community members regarding the rally. They include allegations about:

Use of the school district’s ■ website, email lists and communication devices to organize the rally;

Paying employees to participate ■ in activities unrelated to their contracts;

Supplying students with ■ templates for writing letters to lawmakers; and

Using school buses to transport ■ people to and from the rally. Garcia has said that the local teachers union covered the cost of the bus service at a standard field-trip rate and bus drivers volunteered.

“I am concerned that this effort on your part to influence the Legislature and the Governor amounts to political activity, which is prohibited under New Mexico statutes and further violated provisions regarding the use of government resources for political and nongovernmental activities,” Skandera wrote.

Skandera also said she received a report that one principal announced that it was mandatory for teachers to attend the rally. “As you know, classroom teachers are the most powerful influence on our students and to provide a one-sided view of any issue or to influence student behavior to align with a teacher’s political beliefs is not acceptable and warrants disciplinary action,” Skandera said.

When asked, Garcia said she did not know the identity of the principal referred to in the letter. “I pride myself on following the code of ethics for licensed professionals in education, and that all laws and statutes I am responsible for are enforced,” she said. “All that was taken into consideration.”