Plans to improve schools headed to PED

Approval sought for three worstperforming schools

Official plans to restructure and improve Albuquerque Public Schools’ — and the state’s — three worstperforming schools are heading to the state Public Education Department for approval.

The APS Board of Education members on Wednesday approved the plans which they hope will keep APS in control of the schools.

If the plans are not approved by PED, the state agency has the option to take over the schools and restructure as PED officials see fit.

At risk is how about $3 million in extra funding flowing to APS from the PED will be spent on the schools.

APS’ plans mostly focus on supercharging staffing with hiring and improvement through teacher and administrative professional development. That includes stipends for board certification and attendance at renowned leadership training at Harvard University targeting struggling student populations.

The plan also adds 10 calendar days to each school year and 1 hour to the school day at the three schools.

The extra hour, coined the “genius hour,” will be likely tacked on at the end of the day and will consist of enriching activities, not “kill and drill” subject lessons, said Albuquerque Teachers Federation President Ellen Bernstein, who said the union supports APS’ plans.

Los Padillas, Whittier and Hawthorne elementary schools each received five or six consecutive F grades, making them the worst performing schools in the state and landing them on the PED’s list for “more rigorous interventions,” or MRI status. A fourth school in northern New Mexico, Dulce Elementary, also received MRI status.

APS could have chosen to close the schools or turn them into charter or magnet schools. Instead, the district chose to bring in new principals and “redesign and restructure” the schools.

The district is required to submit its plan in a hundred-plus page application per school due to the PED on Monday.

But board members and APS staff remain on edge about the process.

“There is no assurance the work that’s been done will be accepted by the PED,” said board member Barbara Petersen, who represents Hawthorne and Whittier.

And it’s not clear if APS will have a chance to correct any issues PED might find with the applications or if this is the district’s only shot, said APS associate superintendent Gabriella Blakey.

Blakey said she expects notice from PED on the applications by mid-March.