US teachers union leader likes RRPS
National AFT President Randi Weingarten listens to a student’s question in Karie Hess’s first-grade classroom at Stapleton Elementary. Gary Herron photo.
It isn’t every day that a national president visits Rio Rancho, but such was the case April 9 when American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten came to town.
Former Rio Rancho Elementary teacher Stephanie Ly, now the American Federation of Teachers New Mexico president, and Rio Rancho School Employees Union President Billie Helean, who took the day off from her first-grade teaching duties at Stapleton Elementary, accompanied her. RRSEU Vice President Gino Satriana was also part of the entourage, which first visited the district’s transportation depot before making the short drive west on Northern Boulevard to Stapleton.
Since Carlsbad Municipal Schools returned to in-person learning on March 29, hundreds of students were quarantined after potential exposure to COVID-19, about year after the pandemic first struck New Mexico and led to districts throughout the state shifting to virtual classes.
Superintendent Gerry Washburn said a total of 733 students were placed on quarantine, about 8.4 percent of the 8,660 students in the district, per the National Center for Education Statistics.
There were 19 confirmed student cases of COVID-19 since the return to full, in-person learning – eight in elementary school, four in middle school and seven in high school.
Meanwhile, 25 staff members were quarantined since March 29, with four confirmed cases.
Both Belen and Los Lunas school district administrators announced they are considering longer school years following the announcement of additional state funding available to districts that take part in the extended learning and K-5 Plus programs for the next two years.
âThis is coming from the state to offer something that is really positive,â said Belen Consolidated Schools director of curriculum and instruction Renee Sanchez. âThe extended learning doesnât fund as much as K-5, so in order to fund all the teachers and all the support they will need, stacking the programs is the best recommendation.â
The extended learning funds would push the calendar to 190 days, but âstackingâ the K-5 Plus program with it could result in 205 instructional days.
Aztec High School voluntarily moves to online learning for a week
Durango, Colorado Currently Tue 8% chance of precipitation 16% chance of precipitation 0% chance of precipitation 1% chance of precipitation
Decision made after two positive rapid tests and one ‘odd’ incident
Tuesday, April 20, 2021 2:15 PM Students at Aztec High School will be learning outside the classroom and online for the next week. Courtesy of Aztec Municipal School District
Aztec High School voluntarily moves to online learning for a week Students at Aztec High School will be learning outside the classroom and online for the next week. Courtesy of Aztec Municipal School District
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BELENÂ â Administrators and a team of community members are putting together several variations of a 2021-22 school calendar for Belen Consolidated Schools to present during a virtual board workshop next week.
Parents and other stakeholders are being asked to weigh in on the possibility of students being in class 190 or 205 days in the 2021-22 school year.
The workshop is at 4 p.m., Wednesday, April 21, on
the districtâs YouTube channel. The comments will be open for questions about the proposed calendars.
BCS director of curriculum and instruction Renee Sanchez said the district is considering a longer school year due to additional state funding available for the next two school years.