City, APS should discuss who funds special programs

In a city that has the highest per-capita auto theft rate in the nation, is ranked as the fifth-most violent city in the nation per capita and is struggling to fill 150 openings on its police force, re-examining the $3.4 million Albuquerque provides for programs at local schools seems not only timely, but prudent.

(And it bears noting that the $3.4 million dollar amount is just under the $4 million approved by the City Council to retain veteran police officers.)

City Councilor Dan Lewis, a Republican who is running for mayor, last week floated a proposal to stop funding programs that “directly or indirectly” support Albuquerque Public Schools. He originally suggested the change for the 2018 budget, which starts Saturday. He later agreed to discuss the funding during the next fiscal year — a far better plan because of the value of the programs.

One of Lewis’ targets, proposed and implemented by outgoing Mayor Richard Berry, is Running Start for Careers, which places APS students into industrytaught classes and apprenticeships. There’s also the Homework Diner, which brings students, parents and teachers together to tackle class assignments over a free hot meal. And there’s the International Baccalaureate program at Sandia High School — a two-year degree program for qualified juniors and seniors.

The city also pays for school crossing guards through the Albuquerque Police Department and funds the Elementary and Middle School Initiative — a before- and after-school program in high-poverty APS schools.

No one, especially not Lewis, is suggesting cutting the programs, several of which have garnered national attention, impressive results and are being replicated elsewhere. But he is questioning whether the city should be footing so much of the bill for them, especially in light of the budget challenges the city faces.

Because both the community/city and the schools presumably benefit from the programs, it stands to reason APS should shoulder more of the costs beyond the facilities and staff it provides for some. The district does host the Elementary and Middle School Initiative on its campuses, hosts and staffs the Homework Diner, runs the IB program at Sandia and is a partner along with Central New Mexico Community College, local businesses and charter schools in Running Start.

(Bernalillo County also provides after-school programs, but it’s worth including in the discussions.)

Lewis makes a pragmatic point that APS’ $1.3 billion annual budget — compared to the city’s $530 million budget — may be more capable of absorbing its share of the programs’ costs. But with APS looking for ways to cover a projected $13 million budget gap, it would require the school board to further rein in its spending in order to help pay for the targeted programs. That could be a tough sell. Hopefully, officials with the state’s largest school district will keep open minds and recognize the value of these programs, even ones suggested and started by someone else.

The city of Albuquerque is in a public safety crisis that is not only affecting residents — which include APS students, parents, teachers and administrators — but also the city’s ability to attract new businesses and retain current ones, which by design support our schools and government through taxes.

This crime crisis needs immediate attention, and any funding the city can redirect to address it will be money well spent. So is money spent on data-driven programs for our students — but it’s worth discussing if the city is the correct funding source for those.