BernCo votes to add APS to commission
Proposal would put two school board members on joint city-county board
Bernalillo County commissioners last week voted unanimously to support a measure allowing two Albuquerque Public Schools board members to join the Albuquerque/ Bernalillo County Government Commission.
The proposed intergovernmental amendment would formalize the inclusion of APS by adding two school board members to the commission.
Created in 1999, the joint citycounty commission — currently comprised of four county commissioners, four city councilors and the mayor — works to promote coordination and cooperation between the city and county.
The commission also oversees the Behavioral Health Initiative. Members serve one-year terms.
Commission Chairman Steven Michael Quezada said the ABCGC recognizes the importance of the school district’s involvement in matters affecting the community.
“We at the ABCGC make a lot of decisions based on different things, from infrastructure to behavioral health, which directly affects are schools,” Quezada said. “I believe that it would be good if they were a part of the conversation as we discuss things as a whole group.”
The Albuquerque City Council is expected to hear the amendment when it meets today, while the APS Board of Education will consider the amendment Dec. 5.
All three entities have to approve the amendment before it becomes effective.