It is eye-watering that local media have published 30+ articles about the proposed Sacramento School of Engineering and Science charter high school, but when critics repeat the articles’ contents, which contain agenda-driven misinformation and disinformation, it is inexcusable and harmful.
Information in charter articles must not be “fabricated” or misapplied to New Mexico as the charter critics did in local media. However, that has happened over many months of coverage by some local media. PEC Chairman Patty Gipson took the time to spell out the disappointing and irresponsible coverage of charter schools about the proposed school. It was an embarrassment to Alamogordo and should be taken as a warning shot to those pandering with their “sensational and sloppy reporting.”
Public Comments
During open comment time, representatives from LULAC 5105, Joann Vullo, President, and Stan Hernandez, Communications Director gave comments. Joann Vullo stated, “My only concern with the charter school is that since the last hearing, we have not been able to I guess the committee has not reached out to anyone. I am the President of the Otero County LULAC and we’re concerned that diversity equity and inclusiveness is still not being met. We also are concerned that the LGBTQ community will be more discriminated. We’re not in opposition of a charter school. We would like to see, maybe, at-risk students have a chance at a STEM school because there is a STEM program in the high school, and taking $2 million plus from the high school budget is not in the interest of all the students. Alamogordo is just too small for a charter school at this time.”
Stan Hernandez’s comment stated, “I am Communications Director with Otero County LULAC and basically have some questions and points to make. Basically, the public had not been involved in any of the application process and was not given any information in regards to it and would not even have known about a proposal in progress without coverage by Alamogordo Town News.” He continued, “In terms of finance, Charter school will take an estimated 2 million from existing Alamogordo High School programs. Charter is publicly funded without the transparency of regular Public Schools. Sixty-two percent (62%) of Charters fail within 5 years in small rural communities with additional damage done both in the terms of failed Charters and public schools due to depleted funding issues. A charter school could pull 156 students out of Alamogordo High School. They could pull up to 25% of the students from the high school. The 2024 graduating class is only 302 students. The impact to Alamogordo High School will be detrimental. The result will lose approximate two millions to the Charter. Nationwide Charters lose 24% of their teachers each year double the rate of traditional Public Schools. Twenty-five years and some 6,000 schools nationwide later, Charters still on average produce results that are less or just equal to those of the public schools that they set out to outperform. There are other issues in terms of special needs students. I attended one of the meetings with the Founders group, I believe out of the Chamber, and I don’t recall that that issue came up very much.”
Hernandez continued, “Basically we are not, LULAC nationally and locally, is not opposed to Charter Schools. However, we would prefer to see a more traditional kind of approach that looks at improving either literacy, math, whatever the metrics are overall, rather than duplicating existing technological curriculum which I believe is in use at the Alamogordo High School currently… We think that advancing public education K through 12 is a good thing but we’re not sure that this is a good fit for Alamogordo and we have issues with how the implementation for this first part of proposing to public education has been carried out. We would like to see more outreach to the various communities and we stand ready to help with that process.”
Misinformation/Disinformation
Chairman Patty Gipson paused the Public Education Commissioners’ August 15, Sacramento School of Science and Engineering Application Decision Hearing to state the ongoing problems with our local media coverage. “I want to address some of the comments about charter schools that have been out there . . . but deeply disappointed in what has been said about charter schools in New Mexico, especially because I’ve read a lot of the media posts that were there.”
“And I’m disappointed that those individuals cared enough to write the articles, but didn’t care enough to make a phone call to someone . . . about what charter schools are in New Mexico. And the notion that’s been perpetuated out there within the community of Alamogordo at this moment in time that 13 percent of all new applicants fail, that is not true in New Mexico. [In truth] 100 percent of our new applications that are approved succeed. And that’s a fact. The notion that 36 percent of our charters fail within the first five years is NOT a fact. Nationally, there are for-profits that operate charter schools, and those come and go like a revolving door.”
“We are very lucky that we are public charter schools . . . and I am very proud of all the work that everyone does every day to uplift and support and grow the charter community. And when facts – if you look at a newspaper, people are – and I’m not denying that those aren’t facts nationally. I don’t even know, but they are not facts in New Mexico. The notion that public charter schools in New Mexico are not financially accountable to the public is falsely representing charter schools in New Mexico, because our charter schools have that double obligation. They have a financial framework with us, and they are obligated to the audit that every public school in New Mexico faces. So, it is – I am just concerned that people who present themselves as the media and that facts are going to get out there. And there was no attempt to – at least to my knowledge, to anyone on this Commission to ask for any information so that they could present the facts fairly. We have – we provide strict guidance for lotteries. And the idea that our schools either cherry pick – our schools are far more representative of those schools – of those individuals that are protected and looked at under the Yazzie-Martinez. And our schools outperform most traditional public school districts.”
Chairman Gipson closed by emphasizing her concern about the misinformation being spread.
Commissioner Rebekka Burt expressed further concern about the misinformation being reported about charter schools in Alamogordo. Burt noted that “it makes it difficult when the misinformation is what’s being yelled. It makes it hard because I’m sure there are probably legitimate pieces tucked away in there, but it’s hard to hear and try to figure out what might be because there was a lot of misinformation. People who propose a charter school are inherently brave, courageous people. And it’s always disappointing to hear members of your community, instead of coming . . . to collaborate . . . [they] come and try to trash it.”
“Alamogordo faces a disappointing dynamic,” continued Burt. “We talk a lot about charter deserts . . . and schools of choice, like choice deserts in New Mexico . . . [and Alamogordo] will be the only charter [in the] district . . . so in that whole – it’s a massive district . . . anytime there’s the first charter in a new community, it’s going to be more difficult on [the] proposing team than any to follow.”
Commissioner Ingam added his comment with, “I agree with just the way this started with Chair Gipson talking about – it was Stan Hernandez. Like equally, man, do some research. Read a book. You know when people just say these things but just do some homework, man, before you support these ridiculous tropes. I think Alamogordo needs the school. We use the term, I don’t know when we started using it, Charter desert and if not now when? If not, as who it’s like could this ever come up again? Who’s going to do it if it does or in a community such as Alamogordo will anybody ever try to jump through these hoops again?
Regarding the two million dollars that would be taken from Alamogordo High School budget – that is not correct. Money follows the student so the amount would be dependent on charter students. It would be a general budget adjustment. Considering APS has a 46% absenteeism rate that may have a greater impact on the overall picture.
Actually…
Disinformation spread about transparency and special interest participation has been equally appalling. During the open community meetings, which were conducted last spring to provide opportunities for public input and involvement for the charter school, LULAC 5105 had three representatives in attendance. All representatives were invited to attend the coordination meetings. Jerry Martinez was placed on the roster for charter meetings; however, he did not attend any of them. When inquired, he said he had been ill and unable to attend. Joann Vullo and the other LULAC attendees declined, citing being too busy. Determined to show her supposed “inside track” with PED/PEC, Mrs Vullo opted to misinform readers online about the demise of the charter school well before PEC in Santa Fe recorded the approving vote.
Two NEA teacher’s union representatives were also present at the “Charter School Community Input Meeting.” They offered no input; instead, they remained unhelpfully silent until the very end when NEA representative Bethany Jerrell stated that support for the charter school was “unconscionable.”
A Solution?
It is time for this childish and non-productive nonsense to stop. It would be far more productive for the “leaders of influence” to encourage the constituents of their groups represented by the race and special interest groups to quit promoting division by continually preaching to their followers that they have been robbed of opportunities and to distrust anyone not of their color and beliefs.
A far better method to make change is to encourage followers to participate in life and work to determine their desired life path and how to achieve it. Students need to be exposed to many things to decide how they want to live and support themselves and their families. Our youth are not stupid. They can accomplish much and will succeed when community members stop discouraging them from trying. Why limit students by telling them they can only learn from a teacher of the same color? Creating a fiction where a POC being taught by a white teacher is racism has to cease. Opportunities are available to EVERYONE but no one can force a student to take advantage of them. This is where the “leaders of influence” could make an impact. The additional influence could also be used to address the absentee problem.
We are people with different backgrounds and races. That’s what enriches all of our lives. Let everyone grow. All anyone wants is opportunity and respect. That first earned paycheck heals many ills.
