The Los Alamos Public Schools rank among the best in our State, if not our Nation, when it comes to student reading and math proficiency. This, of course, is the natural result of our highly skilled and educated workforce.   Los Alamos has one of the country's highest concentrations of PhDs. Our community puts a high priority on education, and it shows. So why then, did our middle school, receive a D grade last year?   At the League of Women Voters' event earlier this month, Dr. Kurt Steinhaus explained. Even though our students demonstrated a high 83 percent academic proficiency, it was down from a 85 percent proficiency the previous year. Another school in New Mexico demonstrated a 14 percent proficiency, but received an “A” grade because it was up from a 7 percent proficiency the previous year. A school in Artesia was a National Blue Ribbon School one year, a prestigious designation for high achievement, but received a D grade.   Our middle school's D grade is the result of former NM Secretary of Public Education Hanna Skandera's flawed and arbitrary system. Milan Simonich's article, “Departing Education Secretary Gets an F” and Bill Wadt’s “A Guide to School Grades: Real or Noise” detail the problems. It was a grading system that did little to improve education for our kids and ended up being a big waste of time and money.   I fully support initiatives to ensure reading proficiency by 3rd grade. However, such legislation must include effective resources to help kids who fall behind: Summer school, teacher aides and programs that engage parents. Skandera’s bill apparently did not.   My conversations with locals echo Simonich's assessment: “Skandera often clashed with teachers and their unions, having installed an evaluation system that they considered punitive. Many teachers, like people in every other profession, aren’t performing at top capacity, so there’s ample room for improvement … She received a six-figure salary based on a political appointment, not for any accomplishments in classrooms.”   Regrettably, Governor Martinez’ administration missed an opportunity to bring lasting and necessary reforms to our state’s education.   Former NM State Rep. Vernon Kerr suggests that we return to an elected statewide board model of governance. Vernon explained to me that such a board would be accountable to their constituents, and thus, govern more closely to the people. An “Education Czar” answers only to the Governor. In fact, our State Legislature considered such a resolution last year. On February 6, 2017, the Senate Rules Committee voted 9-2 to table Senate Joint Resolution 2, a proposed constitutional amendment to create a 10-member school board. It would have been responsible to directly hire the Secretary of Public Education. Sen. Ivey-Soto countered that “few people would likely run for these board seats... The level of engagement [would be] fairly low and the level of dark money [would be] very high.”   But it doesn’t have to be that way. It is precisely the level of community and parental engagement that determines the success or failure of our schools. If parents, teachers, and students feel excluded or ignored in the educational process, they could elect board members that better reflect their ideas and goals. Citizens have a right to determine how their tax dollars are used and should have a voice in decisions that impact education.   In 2003, recall that Governor Bill Richardson strongly supported charter schools, and our 15-member State Board of Education stood in his way. Predictably, Richardson urged voters to pass a constitutional amendment, which concentrated power over education policy to the Governor and effectively stripped the State Board of their “constitutional power to determine public school policy."   Those across the political spectrum, should support such a “check and balance” on our administration. We must guard against too much power in the executive branch. As Thomas Jefferson said, “The government closest to the people serves the people best.”

Surrounded by supporters, friends and family crowded in the living room of her house Saturday, Republican District 43 Candidate Lisa Shin laid out her campaign strategy.   “To me, my campaign is not just about Lisa Shin. It’s not about my personality. It’s not a popularity contest,” Shin told her supporters. “To me it’s about the principles.”   Shin also said this chance was a rare opportunity to win the contested seat back from the Democrats.   Democrat Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard has held the office since 2013. Garcia Richard announced earlier this year she was stepping down to run for New Mexico Land Commissioner.   Shin is an active member and vice chair of the Los Alamos Republican Party. In 2016, she spoke as a New Mexico delegate at the national Republican Convention, where she gave a rousing speech about immigration and conservative values.   Saturday, she brought that same energy to her supporters, but also said it wasn’t going to be easy.   “I thought that I might be running against Stephanie. The fact that she dropped out, and that it’s now an open seat, I think this is the closest we’ll ever be. If we can get me in now, we can keep it. If we lose it, I think it’s probably lost for good,” Shin told her supporters.   Shin’s opponents include local Democrats Pete Sheehey and Chris Chandler, who are currently councilors on the Los Alamos County Council. The Democrats will have a primary June 5.   Shin said she plans to do that by campaigning for individualism, lower taxes, smaller government, better private healthcare options and other ideas she says resonate with all New Mexicans in the 43rd District.   The district includes all of Los Alamos County, and parts of Rio Arriba County, Sandoval County and Santa Fe County.   Shin also appealed for donations and volunteer support.   “The volunteer hours are actually more important than the donations,” Shin said. “As you can see, we have the infrastructure, we have everything we need for the outreach. What I need is your time.”   Shin wants to find ways to directly help the private sector provide better, affordable healthcare, rather than relying on the government as middleman to provide it.   “What’s really scary is that the State Legislature is actually contemplating single payer healthcare,” Shin said. “They’re talking about a Medicaid buy in. I never thought I’d see that. My two opponents, Sheehey and Chandler support the initiative. I think that’s very scary because it’s the most control that government can have over healthcare.” Shin said having such a system would be disruptive and could lead to massive tax increases.   Many of Shin’s supporters also appreciated her stand on broader topics, such as how state law relates to the constitution.   “I support her commitment to her conservative constitutional perspectives, on the restrictions placed on federal and state governments by the constitution, and that they should not be superseded,” resident Jeff Sharp said.   Sharp also felt that as a state representative, Shin could bring an awareness to what he says is New Mexico’s “turnstile judicial system.”  He also said Shin could put more control in the hands of parents over their child’s education.    “I believe she can offer another option as far as funding for education. She can get it away from the monopoly of what’s basically the federal department of education, but also the state department of education to allow parents to make the choice for the children, and not be subservient to state and federal institutions,” Sharp said.   Supporter and friend Donna MacDonald said Shin delivered.   When asked about what part of Shin’s campaign resonated with her, MacDonald simply said “America.”   “Her basic premise is Americanism,” MacDonald said. “Where is America? Where did it go? Is it on the back of a milk bottle? Have you seen my country?”