SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Lawmakers are considering taking away some of the governor’s power in the state’s Public Education Department. A new joint resolution, SJR 15, would re-establish a state Board of Education that would pick the secretary of PED. The democratic senator pushing the legislation says it’s about taking politics out of education.
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“The idea behind this is people who have a real interest in the education of children, would be in charge of education in the state of New Mexico,” said Senator William Soules, (D-Doña Ana).
The sponsor said it’s an effort to get more educators deciding broad policy for New Mexico schools. Sen. William Soules is proposing a joint resolution that would restructure how the state’s public education department is run, by re-establishing the state Board of Education.
New Mexico used to have a board until 2003 when the Public Education Department was established along with a Secretary of Education, who gets appointed by the governor. Senator Soules’ legislation would instead create a nine-member board that would appoint a superintendent as the head of the Public Education Department.
“The idea is that this provides stability so that the education changes that we’re making have an opportunity to move through and to mature without a new administration that might come in and totally change with a different direction,” said Sen. Soules.
The board would also be able to determine public school policy, including financial powers.
Supporters of the bill said it’s a popular idea among New Mexico school leaders. “NMSBA membership from across the state and at our annual conference in December voted to pass a resolution asking the voters to approve a constitutional amendment to re-establish a state board of education,” said Lilliemae Ortiz with the New Mexico School Boards Association.
While those in opposition said they’re skeptical it will improve the Education Department. “There is no body of research to support that the effort to put into making another change to state governance would benefit student outcomes,” said Gregory Frostad with the Public Education Department.
The sponsor said the board members would be selected by legislative leadership on both sides of the aisle and educational organizations. The governor would get one appointee. Although some committee members expressed concerns about that process, the resolution passed 6-2. The joint resolution is now headed to the Senate floor. As the bill would amend the constitution, it would still need to be approved by voters in the next general election.