Town Hall Targets Superintendent

From the Rio Grande Sun - Española School District parents convened a town hall meeting Dec. 14 to discuss a wide array of problems — and possible solutions — facing the District since Superintendent Evelyn Maruska took over in May. Maruska was invited but did not attend the meeting, saying later she was meeting with principals. About 50 people, including one of Maruska’s bosses on the Española School Board, did attend the meeting. Parents first wanted to know why the District does not make more of an effort to let them know when the Board meets. Many also questioned the Board's 5 p.m. meeting time because this makes it extremely hard for working parents to attend. Parents, teachers and former students also criticized the integrated math program students are mandated to take to graduate. Some parents said they believe this course does not prepare students for college. Parents also lashed out at comments made by Curriculum and Instruction Director Christiana Blea-Valdez about how the District’s low test scores could not be compared to La Cueva High School or the Los Alamos School District because the ethnic makeup of those two populations is mostly Caucasian, while 90 percent of Española’s students are Hispanic. Many parents shouted for Blea-Valdez to resign or be fired for making these comments. Read more

Town Hall Targets Superintendent