In reviewing and considering what is on the agenda for tonight’s APS School Board meeting and what else potentially lurks beneath the surface at APS – do we want the gangrenous infections to be exposed and cleaned? The response is YES! But…it will be a daunting task.
Actually, the options are: (1) Leave everything operating as before with all of the resulting problems from bad financial decisions and mistreatment of employees from out-of-control leaders, or (2) Reveal, expose, and fix it. Personally, with the information available publicly, there is no choice but for APS to dig down to the root of the cause of these problems and correct them. As it is stated, “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.” It’s time to break the cycle and operate in an open, transparent way with the only agenda being the education of ALL students to encourage mental and emotional growth and maturity. Guide them to a healthy future for themselves, and their future families, and the skills for job security. This in turn helps our community. This cannot be accomplished with the current roadblocks and bumps left by the previous School Board and their current leaders or the existing work environment created and allowed by the same ones in charge.
Since, apparently, the lack of accountability, misuse of authority, and an internal cabal with reported “hit lists” and intimidation tactics have created a toxic and expensive cost to APS, its educators, and support personnel. This is what has been dropped in the lap of the new School Board members to correct. The extent of many of these issues and problems were kept “under wraps” or not dealt with at all. Now it has to be brought to light and dealt with.
Because the mishandling of Human Resources policies and procedures to allow the mistreatment of the selected victims, it will cost LOTS of money. According to the agenda for tonight, Jan 11, 2024, there are 8 lawsuits filed plus 4 more on deck ready to be filed. This could have been prevented had the previous School Board members, superintendent, or their law firm colored within the lines. Who would allow these grievous actions by APS leaders to continue knowing what the result would be? There is a word for this – malpractice for one. Or malfeasance, misfeasance, misprision. Take your pick. Why didn’t their law firm counsel them to stop their actions and correct them immediately? Either they did and the School Board ignored that advice or the law firm thought it could be more beneficial for the law firm to spend hours defending them. This is why APS is flooded with lawsuits with more to come – bad decisions, lack of accountability, and keeping things “hidden” from the community. Perhaps these lawsuits need to dig out the root of the problems by gathering more facts. If the situation is not corrected, it will lead to further undiscovered problems. Cut the root. The Alamogordo Sentinel has been publishing articles to get this information to the community. Most others prefer to only sing the praises of the schools for unity’s sake. There is a balance needed in this approach. Problems cannot be addressed and corrected unless they are revealed and dealt with. Kind of like the old commercial, “You can pay me now or you can pay me later.” That’s where we are. The bill has arrived. It did not have to be like this but their agenda did not favor truth or transparency – only denial, bullying of citizens, and in some cases spin and untruths to keep the community in the dark so the agenda could be pushed. NO MORE.
The sad thing is that one of the previous board members who is still in office and recently elected President, Angela Cadwallader, spoke up during their “rule” but was sadly disrespected openly in the meetings when she did speak up. It is frustrating to see on the videos of the past School Board meetings. In 2021, Cadwallader was President of the School Board. Some questionable incidents occurred that summer. There was an actual “coup” against her perpetrated by Judy Rabon to remove Cadwallader from the position so she could take the helm. There was a huge public outcry over this action. Rabon could not wait until the normal elections of officers 6 months later. It seems after that show of force, anything Cadwallader said, requested, or did was blatantly ignored by Rabon’s quorum. Cadwallader fought for transparency and not pre-determined actions by that quorum. It was rushed and without much consideration. Once again, decisions had been made behind the scenes leaving out timely, meaningful input from Angela Cadwallader. It has been reported that she was not invited to the infamous cookouts attended by a quorum and other APS leaders in attendance. Shut out. That is not how elected officials are supposed to behave and conduct business. This is not how the Open Meetings Act works either. It is hoped these are just rumors but people in attendance have shared about these events. Nothing was really ever transparent. Confidence is high that full transparency will be the method of operation with the new School Board.
Yes, this will hurt for a bit. Will it be disruptive until all known situations are dealt with and transparency and fear subside for all employees? Probably. Will all of the hidden problems be found immediately? Let’s hope. At this point, it is important to remain patient and watchful. Will the lawsuits have a cost because of the previous behavior of all involved? Yes. The community must have realistic hope as this sorting and sifting takes place. The last thing the parents, students, and community need is staying bogged down in the mud because it may cause difficult situations and momentary hurt. We are tough and need to stay focused on the result. Hold the new School Board and APS leadership accountable. Yes! Hopefully, the fixes will go quickly so signs of a New Day will become obvious and felt by all.
WE ARE ALAMOGORDO STRONG! IT’S A NEW DAY!
