LAHS Student Council President Soumyo Lahiri-Gupta, left, and Vice-President Justin Dunn presented the final version of the high school dress code to the Los Alamos School Board Tuesday. The Los Alamos High School Student Council has spent months revising the dress code. They began the process by polling students in October and have spent the past few months refining the new code with input from school administrators and faculty, as well as students. The members of the School Board present at the meeting (Kevin Honnell was absent) praised the efforts of Student Council and voiced support for the new dress code, which will be voted on at the March meeting. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
Auditor J.J. Griego presented his firm’s audit report of Los Alamos Public Schools. Calling the LAPS Financial Department ‘one of the strongest in the state,’ Griego said the report uncovered no significant problems. The Board approved the report in a unanimous motion. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com 
Assistant Director of Student Services Karla Crane, who oversees special education for LAPS and Assistant Superintendent Gerry Washburn gave a presentation advocating the creation of a Living Skills classroom at Aspen Elementary, which is being remodeled. Currently, all Living Skills students are bussed to Chamisa Elementary. Under the proposal put forward by Crane and Washburn, Los Alamos townsite students could remain on the Hill at Aspen Elementary. They also proposed remodeling a classroom at Barranca Elementary to house pre-school students. Currently these students are bused to Pinon Elementary. School Board members expressed concern for Townsite special education students who must spend an hour on the buses. Board President Jim Hall said the proposal would allow for flexibility in the future, since pre-school and Living Skills classrooms would be available in both White Rock and Los Alamos. The entire Board expressed support for the proposal, however a vote was delayed to Thursday’s Special School Board Meeting to allow consultation with special education staff. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com 
Superintendent Gene Schmidt, left, and Assistant Superintendent Gerry Washburn asked the Board to approve the budget for a $100,000 grant from the New Mexico Public Education Department for an Early College in the High School program that will enable Los Alamos High School students to work on college degrees while earning their high school diploma. These initial funds must be spent or encumbered by June. Programs are being investigated including digital arts, fire science, pre-medical specialties and others. The Board unanimously approved the budget proposal. LAPS CFO John Wolfe is seen in the background. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com