LAHS teacher Lynn Ovaska during an interview June 9 at the Post. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bjgordon@ladaily Post.com
January
With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing, 2022 began with Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) students still receiving remote learning due to an upswing in local cases. This changed Jan. 24 when in a letter to parents, Interim Superintendent Jennifer Guy wrote, “After careful consideration of the costs and benefits associated with returning to school, we have made the decision for all of the Los Alamos Public Schools to return to providing in person instruction on Monday, January 24. We want to emphasize that the health and safety of staff and students continues to be the number one priority.” https://ladailypost.comlaps-interim-superintendent-jennifer-guy-issues-update-on-return-to-in-person-instruction-monday-jan-24/
Newly elected University of New Mexico-Los Alamos (UNM-LA) Advisory Board Members Alissa Grissom, Charles McCullough and David Hanson were sworn in by Judge Elizabeth Allen at the Jan. 10 board meeting. Stephen Boerigter was re-elected Board Chair and Alissa Grissom elected Board Secretary. https://ladailypost.comlaps-school-board-members-sworn-in-at-january-meeting/
LAPS swore in new and re-elected members Jan. 11. Newly elected board member Antonio Jaurigue, along with re-elected members Melanie Colgan, Erin Green and Ellen Specter, were sworn in by the Honorable Judge Elizabeth Allen. Colgan was elected president; Christine Bernstein vice president and Antonio Jaurigue secretary. https://ladailypost.comlaps-school-board-members-sworn-in-at-january-meeting/
UNM-LA announced Jan. 13 the “Scholarship for Education and Economic Development” (SEED), in partnership with the Regional Development Corporation (RDC) and Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce. The scholarship awards free tuition for up to six credits per semester for an employee of a Los Alamos business who works half-time or more. https://ladailypost.comunm-la-rdc-chamber-partner-to-help-community-develop-and-maintain-robust-workforce/
In a LAPS board meeting Jan. 15, the board unanimously voted to hire Dr. José Delfin as superintendent for the district. Dr. Delfin was an experienced educational leader who for the past 20 years served at the school site level as well as district level for the Carson City School District. https://ladailypost.comdr-jose-delfin-selected-as-new-superintendent-of-los-alamos-public-schools/
Los Alamos High School (LAHS) Assistant Wrestling Coach Paul Gonzales died in a tragic car accident on N.M. 502 near the Otowi Bridge in San Ildefonso Pueblo in the final week of January 2022. He was a father figure to his students and is sorely missed. https://ladailypost.comlos-alamos-community-mourns-death-of-coach-paul-gonzales/
February
After serving as a leader of UNM-LA through a period of progress and challenges since 2015, Chancellor Cindy Rooney announced that she would step aside as Chancellor, effective June 30, 2022. https://ladailypost.comunm-los-alamos-hits-record-spring-2022-enrollment/
In an effort to spread awareness about the necessity of political action for climate change, members of the LAHS Eco Club held a ‘Fridays For Future’ strike at Ashley Pond Park. Fridays For Future is an international movement started by activist Greta Thunberg. https://ladailypost.comlahs-eco-club-students-hold-climate-strike-at-pond/
The school board voting unanimously Feb. 21 to make masks optional in most District settings beginning at once. More than 375 people attended the Zoom meeting. School Board members indicated they had read hundreds of comments on the District website and via email from community members, staff, students and parents weighing in on the issue. https://ladailypost.comschool-board-votes-to-make-masks-optional-in-most-circumstances/
UNM-LA hit record enrollment in the spring semester with its unofficial numbers released after the first 15 days of the semester. This was despite a nationwide trend of declining enrollments, especially at two-year institutions. The total number of students taking classes was 1,290, up from 1,110 in spring 2021. The previous record was 1,151 in spring 2018. The largest growth was in the number of part-time students. https://ladailypost.comunm-los-alamos-hits-record-spring-2022-enrollment/
The Los Alamos County Council and Los Alamos School Board met in joint session Feb. 28 to discuss three joint projects: a gymnasium to be used by Los Alamos Middle School (LAMS) and the community, a gym or recreational facility in White Rock and building more tennis courts for both public and school district use. The chosen site and design for the LAMS gym was selected in September. https://ladailypost.comschool-board-county-council-move-on-joint-projects/
March and April
At a March school board meeting, LAPS Transportation Director Keith Rosenbaum provided the Board with a request for new bus cameras. The cameras were needed to discourage the practice of motorists running the stop signs displayed on school buses. These cameras were subsequently purchased. https://ladailypost.comhighlights-of-march-24-school-board-meeting/
In March, the school board began tackling redistricting based on the most recent census. The new districts were announced in November. https://ladailypost.comlaps-school-board-adopts-new-redistricting-boundaries/
April 20 to 23 the 4153 Project Y Robotics Team participated in the 2022 FIRST (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics World Championships. At this highest level of competition, the local team won its division, and the four-team alliance went on to finish 4th, out of more than 350 teams who qualified from almost 4,000 active teams in 51 countries, in the world level competition. https://ladailypost.comlos-alamos-robotics-team-places-in-world-competition/
May and June
May 13, University of New Mexico Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs James Holloway named Dr. Mike Holtzclaw as chancellor for the UNM-LA branch campus, effective July 18. Holtzclaw has more than 27 years of experience in higher education serving community colleges in California and Oregon. https://ladailypost.commike-holtzclaw-named-chancellor-of-unm-los-alamos/
LAPS announced May 25 that Jill Gonzales had accepted the position of principal at LAMS. In Los Alamos, Gonzales has served as principal of Pinon Elementary School in White Rock for seven years and the Topper Freshman Academy principal for four years. Most recently, she served on the LAPS Healthy Schools Team and has supported students in the areas of prevention and attendance. https://ladailypost.comjill-gonzales-named-new-principal-at-lams/
Los Alamos High School teacher Lynn Ovaska was deeply touched by Holocaust Survivor Gerda Weissmann Klein and the inspirational story told in her autobiographical account of the Holocaust, “All But My Life”. She used Gerda’s story to teach her classes about the Holocaust and the importance of acts of kindness. In June, Ovaska shared her experience of reaching out to Gerda’s family with the Los Alamos Daily Post. https://ladailypost.comlahs-teachers-simple-act-of-kindness-inspires-students/
August through November
Aug. 2, LAPS Superintendent Delfin welcomed 60 new teachers during the annual new hire orientation. https://ladailypost.comlos-alamos-public-schools-welcomes-60-new-teachers/
During the first week of school, a cyber incident occurred in the LAPS computer system. LAPS quickly secured the systems and commenced an investigation into the nature and scope of this incident. Although the investigation remains ongoing, the District learned that an unauthorized intruder gained access to personal data stored in the system. Superintendent Delfin informed the community of the incident Sept. 2. https://ladailypost.comlaps-superintendent-issues-update-on-data-security/
Superintendent Delfin addressed the Oct. 27 school board meeting about an incident that took place Oct. 5 following a football game between LAMS and the Santa Fe Indian School (SFIS). LAMS players were heard chanting “Go back to the rez” in the locker room and were made to forfeit that game as well as the upcoming final game of the season because of the incident. The district announced it would work with tribal leaders along with the local Native American Parent Advisory Council to determine the actions needed to repair the damages done after the incident, Colgan told the Daily Post. Governor Moquino of Pueblo de San Ildefonso and Governor Roybal of the Pueblo of Pojoaque both reached out to LAPS to offer guidance and education on matters related to history, cultural sensitivity and inter-cultural communication, she said. https://ladailypost.comlaps-superintendent-addresses-racist-behavior-heard-from-lams-players-at-football-game-against-santa-fe-indian-school/
NBC featured a special segment spotlighting LAHS and its “Letters of Gratitude” project during its Nightly News program broadcast across the nation. This perfect project so close to Thanksgiving caught the eye of NBC News Researcher Kailee Chimento. Chimento sent an email Nov. 2 to LAHS Psychology Teacher and Student Leadership Co-Teacher Lynn Ovaska. She is the inspirational advocate who encourages her students to perform simple acts of kindness and write letters of gratitude to those who make a positive difference in their life. Fast forward to Tuesday, Nov. 15 … a film crew arrived at 7 a.m. to Ovaska’s classroom and set up to interview her, speak with other teachers and students and create the segment for their Sunday, Nov. 20 broadcast. https://ladailypost.com789221-2/https://ladailypost.com789221-2/
December
The Community Internship Collaboration (CIC) celebrated another successful semester of matching UNM-LA student interns with local business mentors Dec. 8 at a graduation event. UNM-LA has been partnering with local businesses to provide meaningful work experiences for students and meet local workforce needs through the CIC program since 2014. https://ladailypost.comunm-la-community-internship-collaboration-marks-eighth-year-with-graduation-event/
LAPS Superintendent Delfin went on administrative leave. Colgan issued the following statement Dec. 15 regarding his leave of absence. “The duration of that leave is unknown at this time. The Board has appointed Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Guy to serve as Acting Superintendent in Dr. Delfin’s absence.” https://ladailypost.comlaps-board-issues-statement-on-superintendents-leave/
LAPS Acting Superintendent Guy announced leadership changes at the high school and district level in a newsletter emailed to parents Dec. 20. Guy announced that beginning in January Los Alamos High School (LAHS) Principal Carter Payne will become Acting Assistant Superintendent, LAHS Assistant Principal Renee Dunwoody Acting Principal and Dean of Students Suzanne Montoya Acting Assistant Principal. Mike Johnson will remain Topper Freshman Academy Principal. https://ladailypost.comleadership-changes-at-laps-to-begin-in-january/
