News New Mexico: 04/11/12

Torrance Co. works to limit media in government meetings

Torrance County Building

From KOB-TV.com - Torrance County leaders are grappling with how much access the media and the people with cameras have to public government meetings. A few people with cameras have shown up to County Commission meetings and later broadcast the meetings on YouTube.com. Some of the commissioners took issue with that and drafted policy that limits media access. “We were getting interrupted and different things and there was editing being done on the YouTube and we wanted to get a true and accurate recording of what was going on," said Commissioner Lonnie Freyburger. The proposed policy: · Requires 24 hour written notice for any filming in meetings · Allows cameras to only be pointed to commissioners · Requires all media and cameras be in a designated area An earlier draft of the policy actually prohibited all visual media from entering the chamber. The County planned on installing a web camera and all media would have to take the images off of public website. Advocates for open government oppose the policy proposals. "To put them in a pen in the back of a room or put citizens in a pen in the back of the room is not an acceptable use of your power," said Ched MacQuigg who spoke out at a commission meeting on Wednesday. Read more

New Educational Evaluation System on the Way

SANTA FE – Today, Governor Susana Martinez directed the Public Education Department to move forward with the formulation and implementation of a new teacher and principal evaluation system in New Mexico. The new evaluation system will ensure that student learning and academic growth are key factors in how teachers and principals are evaluated.
“It’s incredibly important that we’re able to identify those teachers and principals who are contributing most to the academic success of their students, so that we can reward them for the impact they are having on our kids. And it’s equally important for us to be able to provide support and professional development to those teachers who are struggling,” said Governor Martinez. “If we believe that our students go to school in order to learn, then a good evaluation system should incorporate student achievement in its analysis of our teachers and principals. And if we believe that some of our best teachers are those who take students from two grades behind to one grade ahead, then we must honor and recognize student growth as part of the process. None of this is happening now, and that’s why this education reform is so necessary.”

As part of granting New Mexico a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the U.S. Department of Education required the state to develop the framework for a new evaluation system before the start of the 2012-2013 school year.
Maintaining the waiver is critical because it allows New Mexico to use an A-F grading system to give parents and community leaders a more accurate and helpful picture of whether schools are achieving or lagging, allowing for the targeting of interventions in schools that are struggling the most. As a result of the waiver, the often confusing constraints of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measurements no longer apply in New Mexico. Under the old system, nearly 87% of New Mexico schools were simply labeled as failing – with little to no indication of growth or progress among schools, or the ability to point to where the highest level of intervention was needed.

“As one of only 11 states to receive this waiver, New Mexico is finally a leader in education reform,” continued Governor Martinez. “And the implementation of a true teacher-principal evaluation system is a bipartisan effort that has received wide support not only in New Mexico, but also from the Obama Administration, which has signaled that this is one of the most important education reforms we can enact for our children.”
Currently, New Mexico teachers are evaluated under a system that simply labels them as either ‘meets competency’ or ‘does not meet competency,’ and does little to account for student growth and achievement in the classroom. Recent studies reveal over 90% of the state’s teachers are deemed to be meeting competency while New Mexico’s student achievement continues to lag near the bottom of national rankings. In September 2011, President Obama’s Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, described New Mexico’s evaluation system as “broken.”
“Recognizing teachers and principals based on how well students learn is the right thing to do for New Mexico,” said PED Secretary-designate Hanna Skandera. “Today in our state, our teachers are judged on a pass-fail system that doesn’t focus on students. We know student achievement is important and we need to reward those who excel at it.”

During the past legislative session, a bill to establish a new teacher and principal evaluation system (HB 249) garnered wide bipartisan support, passing the House of Representatives by a vote of 57-9, with representatives from labor and business organizations in favor of it. The state’s new evaluation system will incorporate many of the measures that were a part of this legislative proposal, and will build upon the work of the Governor’s Effective Teacher Task Force, which was comprised of a wide group of stakeholders with over 100 years of teaching experience and held over 10 public meetings during a three-month period in 2011.

Why is Apple Getting Cored in Washington?

From forbes.com -What should be the price of the paperless word, now that books are going digital in one of the most important transformations in history? Only the Justice Department knows, it would seem. The Antitrust Division has filed an antitrust suit against Apple and several publishers (Simon & Schuster, NewsCorp’s HarperCollins, Hachette, Pearson, PLC’s Penguin Group (USA) and Macmillan).
The complaint seems to be that collusion and smoke-filled rooms paved the way to a deal by which Apple gets a 30 percent cut of the publishers’ eBooks sold for Apple devices, while other vendors are forbidden from selling below a pre-specified price. More here

George Zimmerman to be Charged in Martin Shooting

From washingtonpost.com - Florida special prosecutor Angela Corey plans to announce as early as Wednesday afternoon that she is charging neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, according to a law enforcement official close to the investigation. It was not immediately clear what charge Zimmerman will face. Corey told reporters Tuesday night that she would hold a news conference about the case within 72 hours. A news release from her office said the event will be held in Sanford or Jacksonville, Fla. More here

Alb. Board to Vote on Employee Pay While Serving in Roundhouse

Sheryl Williams Stapleton

From capitolreportnewmexico.com -The question of public school employees who serve in the state legislature receiving paid leave is back — and this time, the state’s largest school district is considering ending the practice. In Wednesday’s edition of the Albuquerque Journal, education reporter Hailey Heinz writes that a majority of the school board of Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) have scheduled a vote for May 1 and that a majority of the board “made clear” they want to change the district’s policy: Board member Martin Esquivel said the public wants APS to change its practice. “I just want to make it clear that I am not in favor of compensating for political leave with APS money,” Esquivel said. “I think people have spoken pretty loud and clear about this, and they are aghast at the idea that we pay people to serve in the Legislature. Currently three APS employees serve in the Roundhouse and are eligible to take paid leave when they go to Santa Fe during legislative sessions, committee meeting hearings between sessions and attend to other legislative duties. They also receive $153 per diem for each day they work at the Roundhouse. The three are: Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Albuquerque) who is an APS administrator, Sen. Bernadette Sanchez (D-Albuquerque) who is an APS counselor and Rep. Tim Lewis (R-Rio Rancho) who is a teacher. More here

Indy 500 Winner Pleads Guilty for DWI in NM

Al Unser Jr.

From foxnews.com - Retired American race car driver and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. has pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated and racing on a New Mexico freeway. Unser entered his plea Wednesday in Albuquerque Metro Court, a day before he was set to go to trial for aggravated DWI, drag racing and reckless driving. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail but a judge deferred jail time in favor of 364 days of supervised probation. Unser was arrested in September after he was accused of racing another car in his Suburban and driving over 100 miles per hour near Albuquerque. He was charged with reckless driving and aggravated driving while intoxicated. His attorney, Sam Bregman, says Unser completed 30 days of inpatient treatment for alcohol abuse.

3 NM Companies Win Spaceport Contracts

From elpasotimes.com -The New Mexico Spaceport Authority has awarded contracts to three New Mexico companies. Spaceport America, the first purpose-built commercial spaceport in the world, is situated on 18,000 acres adjacent to the U.S. Army's White Sands Missile Range about an hour's drive north of Las Cruces. Fiore Industries of Albuquerque was selected as the information technology services contractor. The contract has an estimated value of $310,000 over two years. White Sands Research and Developers of Las Cruces was awarded a $698,000 space operations services contract over the next two years. Parametrix of Albuquerque received a one year $192,000 contract for analysis work and to help prepare an environmental assessment for the spaceport's southern road, which is County Road 39 from the Interstate 25 Upham exit. Spaceport America officials said more than 1,000 jobs for New Mexicans have been generated to date.

NM Cattle Association Pulls Out of Wolf Program

From wildlifenews.com -Withdrawal of a cattle association from a wolf restoration program hardly a sign of failure- If we look at the history of land use in the Western United States, we find many different political interests. Some are ideological, some economic, some are both. Historically the various statewide cattle associations and stockgrower associations have been the leaders of the conservative, or better termed “reactionary,” land use interests. In particular they have always opposed restoration of carnivorous animals such as lynx, cougar, wolves. More often than not they have opposed restoration of ungulates prized for their beauty and by big game hunters. The fact that cattle associations have often been cooperators in wolf restoration programs run by state governments is a testiment to their political clout, not their desire to make the program work. More here

Courtesy of Conservative Daily News

janice2012.us

State in midst of curriculum transition

New Mexico Education Department

Santa Fe New Mexican - In an effort to ensure that Johnny can not only read by the third grade, but be ready later on for college, New Mexico is implementing the Common Core Standards in kindergarten through grade three in school year 2012-13. The standards, which focus on English-language arts and math, will be implemented in grades four to 12 in 2013-14. Developed by the public-policy driven National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers, the 36 standards are designed to encourage critical thinking among students via a set of vertically aligned lessons -- that is, lessons that build on one another year after year. Some 46 states, as well as the District of Columbia, have adopted Common Core to ensure consistency in education across the nation. Want an example? One English-language arts requisite for understanding and explaining themes in text, for instance, looks like this: In the sixth grade, students analyze in detail how a key individual, event or idea is introduced and illustrated throughout the text. In the seventh grade, they look at the interactions between individuals, events and ideas within a text. In the eighth grade, they analyze how the text makes a connection or distinction between individuals, ideas or events. "Right now, our state standards are a mile wide and an inch deep, and the Common Core Standards are an inch wide and a mile deep," said Denise Johnston, associate superintendent for Santa Fe Public Schools, who is working on a transition to the new curriculum to support the new standards. Read More News New Mexico

Sitel Expands Business for Third Time in NM

From marketwatch.com -Sitel, a leading customer care outsourcing provider, today announced that it is expanding its customer care call center in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The call center will be adding 200 positions for its retail banking and satellite television provider clients. This marks the third expansion at the Las Cruces facility in the past 18 months. In recognition of Sitel’s continued commitment to provide high quality employment opportunities for New Mexico residents, Governor Susana Martinez and Secretary of Economic Development Jon Barela will visit the Las Cruces facility on Friday, April 13 at 1:45 p.m. Governor Martinez and Secretary Barela will tour the facility with Site Director John Munoz and discuss the importance of fostering economic growth throughout the state. “Job creation and economic growth are among our highest priorities here in New Mexico,” said Governor Martinez. “We are working tirelessly to create an environment that encourages companies to hire new workers. We applaud today’s announcement from Sitel. With its third Las Cruces expansion in the past 18 months, Sitel has demonstrated its strong commitment to the Rio Grande Valley and the state of New Mexico.” More here

City to consider possible purchase of LC Country Club

Las Cruces Sun-News - It's still possible the next owner of the vacant Las Cruces Country Club could be the city of Las Cruces. On the heels of a private meeting late last week with some members of the country club's board of directors, Mayor Ken Miyagishima said Tuesday he is prepared to call a closed meeting of the Las Cruces City Council on April 23 to discuss the potential of tendering an offer for the approximately 110-acre property off of North Main Street. "It just seems natural that we be a part of it," Miyagishima said. "But the $64,000 question is how much are they willing to sell it for." Robert Caldwell, a member of the country club's board of directors, said he didn't participate in the meeting between other board members and the mayor. But if the city is willing to deal, he and other board members will listen. "As we've said all along, we're open to any offers, and willing to keep the city in the loop," Caldwell said. Miyagishima and Caldwell made it clear, no formal offers have been made. Miyagishima reiterated that any offer from the city would have to be at no cost to city taxpayers, meaning that if the city were to purchase the former country club it would not involve a tax increase. The city has had a prominent role in discussions about what will become of the country club property for almost six years. In 2006, a majority of the country club membership voted to exchange the property for a golf course and country club on the city's East Mesa. However, the exchange fell through in 2010. The country club ceased operations in November and its golf-playing members have been transferred to Sonoma Ranch Golf Course, a public golf course. Since then, country club leadership has been exploring possibilities of purchasing Sonoma Ranch so members can again have a permanent facility to use. Read More News New Mexico

Vandals Destroy Pro-Israel Billboard in NM

From Gateway Pundit -The area is home to “Stop 30 Billion”, a far left anti-Israel group that ran “Israel war crimes” ads last year on buses in Seattle. The Free Beacan reported: Vandals destroyed a pro-Israel billboard erected outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico early Monday, raising concerns that Israel’s detractors are exacting revenge for an earlier run-in with the area’s pro-Israel community. Located in an empty field alongside a road in the town of Deming, the sign declared, “Stand with Israel” and urged passersby to sign a pro-Israel pledge sponsored by Christians United for Israel, one of the nation’s largest pro-Israel groups. More here

New Mexico Supreme Court dismisses candidate filing lawsuits

New Mexico Supreme Court

Farmington Daily Times - The state Supreme Court today rejected lawsuits to disqualify candidates for what one justice called “hyper-technical” mistakes on campaign documents. The 4-0 decision means that most candidates who were challenged by their opponents will be on the June primary election ballot. State Rep. James Roger Madalena, D-Jemez Pueblo, was bounced from the ballot Monday by a district judge in Farmington, then reinstated today by the Supreme Court. “Only in New Mexico,” Madalena said afterward. Most of the technical challenges were based on candidates omitting the number of their district or judicial division from campaign filings. Supreme Court Justice Charles Daniels said the 2011 law requiring the information was confusing and ambiguous. The best evidence of this, he said, was the jammed courtroom, which included Madalena and a half-dozen other sitting legislators who were challenged for not listing the number of their district. Along with Madalena, those surviving the challenges to their candidacies were Reps. Rick Little and Rudy Martinez and Sens. Pete Campos and Tim Jennings. Rep. Dianne Hamilton, R-Silver City, won her case in district court and part of it in the Supreme Court. But one of Hamilton’s opponents has raised more challenges to her petitions, going beyond the listing of her district number. Read More News New Mexico

NM ranks 49th in teen birth rate

KOAT - According to a new Center for Disease Control national report, New Mexico has its lowest teen birth rate since record-keeping started in 1940. While officials said it may be good news, New Mexico still ranks second in the nation in teen pregnancies. "I feel the results the CDC put out is great news for New Mexico. We're headed in the right direction," said Dr. Catherine Torres, New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). Teen birth rates have decreased across the nation, and NMDOH said prevention programs, such as the New Mexico Teen Pregnancy Coalition (NMTPC), are paying off. But more needs to be done. "We actually train the parents. 'This is how to talk to your child about sex.' (We teach) them how to get an open line of communication," said Vanessa Deanda, of NMTPC. Deanda, who was a teen mom herself, said she now has a 15-year-old daughter. "We have a very open relationship, and she talks to me about how she is feeling about a particular boy," Deanda said. NMDOH said one group it is also targeting heavily is Hispanics, because they have the highest birth rates and a slower rate of decline than any other ethnicity in New Mexico. Read More News New Mexico

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