The school board approved a builder for the Pajarito Complex construction project, which consists of removal and replacement of roughly 6,800 sf of window wall with steel frame, stucco and storefront. Rooms will be painted, flooring replaced and conduit for fire alarms provided. The project will be constructed in four phases with anticipated completion in June 2021. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos School Board met Thursday, Aug. 27 for a work session and all board members were in attendance.
In addition, more than 300 parents, students, staff and community members viewed the meeting via Zoom.
The meeting began with a recognition of outgoing board member Julia Baker who is relocating to Spokane, Wash.
Board members also recognized Los Alamos High School juniors Elizabeth Frost and Nina Nzekwe, winners of the New York Times Summer Reading Contest.
The School Board then reviewed options for a possible transition from 100 percent remote learning to the hybrid model, taking into consideration the recent health order from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, which had just been published during her press conference earlier in the day.
Board members also heard from students, staff and parents that both supported and opposed the transition.
“Any decision we make will not please everyone,” board member Dawn Jalbert said. Board members considered the importance of transparency and criteria they had set at a previous meeting, data from recent parent and staff surveys, as well as guidance from the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) and the Department of Health.
In the end, the board unanimously approved all five elementary schools moving to the hybrid model starting Sept. 21, followed Oct. 5 by Los Alamos Middle School (LAMS) and Oct. 19 Los Alamos High School (LAHS).
The board next approved a phased reentry for athletic practices for golf, volleyball and cross country teams and other activities at LAHS and LAMS. The reentry guidelines are in alignment with the New Mexico Athletic Association and NMPED.
The board then approved funding from Los Alamos County in the amount of $476,211 to cover the costs for online learning software and outside learning structures. The funding request had been unanimously approved Tuesday, Aug. 25 by the Los Alamos County Council. With the establishment of the Los Alamos Online Academy and Topper Virtual Academy, there was a need for a learning management system; however, funds for this purchase were not part of the school budget for this year.
Purchase of shade structures for all school sites will significantly increase student and staff safety and expand classroom space by up to 30 percent. In addition, the spaces can be used after school and on weekends by community members.
“The schools are community assets,” Board President Ellen Ben-Naim said. “The purchase of these structures is advantageous for many sectors of the community who use our facilities.”
Melanie Colgan was unanimously appointed to the school board to represent District 4. She will begin her duties effective Sept. 1. She replaces Baker, who served on the board for eight months.
The board then approved Consolidated Builders of New Mexico, LLC for the Pajarito Complex construction project. This $1 million project consists of the removal and replacement of roughly 6,800 square feet of window wall with steel frame, stucco and storefront. Rooms will be painted, flooring replaced and conduit for fire alarms provided. The project will be constructed in four phases with anticipated completion in June 2021. The space is leased by Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Board members Christine Bernstein and Dawn Jalbert will serve on a committee to review the LAHS student liaison applications for the 2020-2021 school year. Three juniors are selected to join the three seniors, Logan Black, Shena Han and Audrey Nolen, serving a second term to represent students at school board meetings. The final selections will be presented at the next meeting. It was noted that there are a record number of student liaison applications this year.
The board concluded the evening with a first reading of three policies presented by Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Guy. These include a new policy regarding emergency administration and temporary suspension of policies and regulations, as well as a policy on employee participation in political activities and employee speech. Guy noted that in light of the upcoming campaign season, now was a good time to review these policies and ensure that there are clear guidelines in place. Recommended changes will be made and brought back to the Board for a second reading.
The next regular meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 8. The next work session is Thursday, Sept. 24.