By BILL WADT
Los Alamos

I reside in District 4 and plan to vote to keep Melanie Colgan on the School Board. I have been impressed by her focus on student well-being and learning. Melanie understands that creating environments which support social-emotional learning help students succeed, especially in these times of stress flowing from the pandemic and social media.

Melanie has a vision to create more opportunities for students with a curriculum that supports their exploration of college and career. Los Alamos used have excellent programs in building trades, welding, automotive technology, which attracted students and helped them pursue productive lives and careers.  Most of these programs have disappeared.

Melanie wants to revive them. Global research has shown that high-performing education systems have rigorous programs in career and technical education, which help make learning relevant and engage students. Returning Melanie to the School Board is a vote for making our schools even better for all students, helping them identify their passions whether it’s being a neurobiologist or an electrician.

Melanie is a practicing nurse and teaches nursing at Northern NM College, which gives her special insights into the issues challenging the health, safety, and well-being of students, teachers, and staff. She understands the research that shows vaccines and masks greatly reduce the risk of infection and severe disease from COVID, which continues to evolve. Those who would put our students at risk by resisting best public health practice are putting adult issues ahead of providing students and teachers a safe and healthy in-person learning environment.

Voter turnout is generally much lower for local elections. Low turnout could lead to unexpected and unwelcome outcomes that could weaken our strong education system in Los Alamos. Don’t take the risk of waking up to “I never thought he or she would be elected or that money for the schools wouldn’t pass”.  Please vote and if you’re in LAPS District 4 please vote for Melanie Colgan.