NEW MEXICOSCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION
RESOLUTION ENLISTING SUFFICIENT FUNDING SUPPORT
FOR NEW MEXICO SCHOOLS
#07-002
WHEREAS, on the aggregate basis, the New Mexico taxpayer and the New Mexico Legislature have been generous with New Mexico school children in the past twenty-five years; and
WHEREAS, on an aggregate basis, funding has increased from $603 million in 1982 for the operation of New Mexico public schools to almost $2.3 billion in 2006, and;
WHEREAS, on a relative basis, the percentage of funding has decreased from 51.5% of the state budget in 1982 to 45.3% of the state budget in 2006; and
WHEREAS, over that period more is being asked from our public schools; and
WHEREAS, graduation requirements have increased, teacher accountability standards and requirements have increased, more rigorous curriculum standards have been mandated, class sizes have been lowered, school districts’ contributions to Educational Retirement has increased, insurance and other fixed sots have increased dramatically, a state-wide full day kindergarten has been instituted , pre-kindergarten programs have been added, alternative educational opportunities have been increased, significant salary increases have been mandated, policies and laws have been adopted that have dramatically increased special education programs by at least 150%, from $136.4 million to $354 million in the last fifteen years; and
WHEREAS, many measures mentioned above are sound educational policy and we were wholeheartedly supported by parents, teachers, principals, superintendents, school board members and others affiliated with education in New Mexico; and
WHEREAS, the cost of increased testing and reform measures brought about by NCLB are extensive and largely unfunded mandates; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico voters recognized the increased financial strain on public education, and in 2003, adopted a Constitutional Amendment to dedicate an increased portion of the Land Grant Permanent Fund to public education, and even with this infusion of approximately $60 million per year, the percentage of the state budget has continued to decline.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED if school districts are to implement and meet those challenges outlined above and those to be required in the future, this trend must be reversed, and the first step would be to assure that 50% of the new money available for appropriation in the 2007 Legislature be dedicated to public education.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the NEW MEXICO SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION and the GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT Board of education will support legislation by the New Mexico Legislature to reverse the current trend of spending for education, or a bill to require that at least fifty-percent of the state’s new general fund dollars to be allocated to the state public education system, FURTHERMORE, we would strongly oppose any future legislative amendments or action that would further erode the percentage of money in any state budget bring allocated to public education and that the copies of this resolution be transmitted to the legislators and appropriate legislative committees to influence the accomplishment of this resolution.
I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly considered by THE GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION, ANTHONY, New Mexico, at which a quorum was present, an that same was duly adopted 2nd of November, 2006.
Maria E. Saénz, Board President Jennifer Viramontes, Board Secretary