Imagine a new standard for Alamogordo Education. Visualize a charter high school that provides students with instruction in an internationally recognized program. Envision a carefully planned and constructed facility with proven features supporting enhanced learning. Imagine educators accredited for a world-class program. Envision students fully engaged in a program that doubles as a highly respected college preparatory curriculum, providing a new education pathway for local students.
Imagine a new program in our community representing a new approach to high school education. Can it fill a need?
Visualize the project: new leadership, new or repurposed facility, identifiable program, skilled educators. Who? Where? When? Please take a deep breath and approach it step by step.
Reality or Fantasy, Fact or Fiction? You Decide.
Alamogordo Public Schools provide a highly rated educational experience, with APS being among the top 10%, top 50%, (or the top 90% of schools?). Fantasy
Alamogordo needs a “Crown Jewel” educational facility. Fantasy
There is no need for a newly designed CMS as a human fish tank in our desert. Leveraging proven architectural designs to support enhanced learning is a more cost-effective approach for an educational facility. Reality
Competitively paid, respected educators supported by an ombudsman sustain excellence. Reality
Turn-key high school programs that serve as internationally recognized, highly respected college prep curricula exist. Reality
The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is a highly respected college prep curriculum for high school students. Reality
The IB program aims to broaden students’ perspectives and encourage them to think beyond the confines of their communities, fostering a sense of global citizenship. Designed for high school juniors and seniors, the program provides an intensive curriculum that develops students’ intellectual, personal, emotional, and social skills, preparing them for success in our increasingly interconnected world. Reality
The International Baccalaureate (IB) program provides a standardized curriculum for students from families who relocate frequently across states or countries, such as military families. There are over a million IB students in more than 100 countries. Active-duty families, DoD civilians, and International Guard Reservists associated with our base are well aware of the importance of having a curriculum that offers international mobility for students, preparing them for universities worldwide. An IB program is overdue for Holloman, and the opportunity is ripe. The Holloman Leadership Team expects APS to work with them to initiate a new high school education approach for students connected to Holloman. Reality
A significant cost obstacle is constructing a facility for a satellite program at Holloman. Fiction
Our community struggles to find and fund a qualified Director for our two-year training program. Fiction
Outside experts required to provide on and off-site mentoring, coaching, and real-time training are unavailable. Fiction
It’s time to take another deep breath.
Our community now has the opportunity to take action with optimism and determination, matching that of the Holloman Leadership Team. It is time for a new educational baseline, established with the Holloman community’s assistance.
Multiple sources confirm that a community group collaborates with national educators and angel investors to build a charter high school. Launch details are being finalized and the group remains excited about project details. The group aims to avoid issues like those of the Chaparral Middle School project involving Colleen Tagle.
Sources report that facility funding is identified, educational materials are targeted, and funding for the Director’s salary and training is available. Sources further assure me that $100 Million is available, and another $50 Million is available for the explicit objective of helping expand charter schools, particularly in new communities like ours.
Public announcements are likely to occur very soon. Still, rumor has it that a host lunch with Alamogordo legislative delegation and lobbyists is planned to set the stage to “inform them of the path forward for a school, and how they can be supportive.”
“Money is not the issue” was stated more than once.
Two significant milestones have been reported that require appropriate solutions. Firstly, the group needs to onboard a director. Reports suggest the group is working on applications to identify, down-select, and contract a highly qualified director. It has been noted that the group is reviewing approximately twenty (20) local and out-of-state responses, and more are expected. Once this process is complete, top candidates will be processed through an extensive interview regime conducted by Angel Investor Human Resource Offices.
There is one remaining requirement left to fulfill, which is to determine the facility’s location. According to reports, the decision has been wavering between Alamogordo City and Holloman Air Force Base. The reason for the indecisiveness is that the group is still determining if the Holloman Leadership Team will support the necessary educational changes for our community.
According to informants, the group has gained new motivation and determination after hearing the report presented by Col. Alfred Rosales, who serves as School Board Holloman Ex Officio, during the October 18 School Board meeting. Rosales announced that Holloman plans to introduce a new education approach for high school students belonging to “active-duty families, DoD civilians, and international guard reservists associated with our base.”
Alamogordo shouldn’t measure itself based on a near-zero standard. The city has the potential to undergo a significant education transformation. The changes proposed by community leaders surpass the capabilities of the incompetent Alamogordo Public School District Administration. It’s crucial to take action to establish a benchmark for success and excellence standards. Today, let’s take one small step towards setting a standard the community can use to measure progress.
Become a catalyst for change. Cast your vote in the school board election and participate in school and community meetings.
