APS board ready to fill empty seat
Applications invited to replace Analee Maestas, who resigned
The Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education is accepting applications to fill the District 1 seat vacated by Analee Maestas earlier this month.
On Wednesday, the APS board unanimously approved a resolution outlining the process. Under state statute, the remaining six board members have the power to appoint Maestas’ replacement through majority vote within 45 days of the vacancy, placing the deadline at Nov. 24.
Maestas resigned on Oct. 10 in the wake of embezzlement and fraud investigations at the charter school she founded, La Promesa Early Learning Center.
According to the board’s timeline, applications — including a letter of intent, résumé with references and a questionnaire — are due Nov. 2.
A community forum to meet the candidates is scheduled for Nov. 9 and the board will select the winning candidate on Nov. 13.
That person will hold the seat until the next election in February, according to state statute.
The elected person will serve the remainder of Maestas’ term, which expires in 2019.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, a registered New Mexico voter and a resident of District 1, the southwest section of the city. The district
includes Atrisco Heritage Academy and Rio Grande High School. Convicted felons and APS employees are disqualified.
The application materials will be available on the APS website by Friday.
Earlier this month, board members told the Journal they had not talked to Maestas about stepping down before her abrupt resignation, which came just as the board was about to meet in committee.
“The board is incredibly dedicated to working together and moving forward,” said board member Elizabeth Armijo. “So we will move forward, and we will be stronger and better as a team.”
In late September, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas demanded Maestas’ immediate resignation, claiming she was no longer fit for office.
The long-time school administrator had repeatedly said she knew nothing about the roughly $700,000 in questionable transactions at La Promesa, a kindergarten through eighth grade charter school at 7500 La Morada Pl NW.
Maestas blamed her daughter, Julieanne Maestas, the school’s former assistant business manager, for the alleged financial improprieties, which were uncovered by State Auditor Tim Keller in September.
“Dr. Maestas now understands that Julieanne’s unresolved substance abuse problem is directly related to the issues highlighted within the State Auditor’s report,” Analee Maestas’ attorney said in a statement.