New Mexico

New Mexico archbishop praises passage of early education fund

Published

2 years ago

November 11, 2022

New Mexico archbishop praises passage of early education fund

NEW YORK – For Archbishop John Wester of Santa Fe the passage of a state constitutional modification to create a everlasting fund for early childhood schooling was a very long time coming. It’s one thing New Mexico’s bishops have endorsed for greater than a decade.

“At present, New Mexico sees a brighter future due to the dedication that New Mexicans have made to the well being and well-being of our kids and households,” Wester mentioned in a Nov. 8 assertion.

Modification 1, now formally part of the New Mexico structure, instructions a small proportion of the state’s Land Grant Everlasting Fund, often known as the Everlasting Faculty Fund, and directs it in direction of early childhood schooling. The Land Grant Everlasting Fund holds the cash New Mexico will get from oil and fuel leases.

New Mexico is the primary state to ensure the best of early childhood schooling.

Earlier than Modification 1 handed, 5 % of the fund was withdrawn yearly for the state’s public colleges, universities, hospitals, and different beneficiaries. That sum was $836.5 million in Fiscal Yr 2021, based on the state, and is often over three-quarter of a billion {dollars}.

Modification 1 tacks on one other 1.25 % to that 5 % for early childhood schooling, which might quantity to about $140 million yearly.

A part of the cash is prone to go in direction of house visiting applications, the place nurses, social staff or little one improvement specialists go to house to assist mother and father elevating infants and younger youngsters. Wester mentioned these applications are particularly necessary.

“I’m particularly optimistic concerning the optimistic influence house visiting will proceed to have on girls from prenatal by means of supply on infants and toddlers; a journey that’s accompanied by referral to assets and deliverance of evidence-based curriculum which is able to make the entire distinction of their lives,” Wester mentioned.

The archbishop added that he’s “happy that there’s a part within the modification that ensures the household is related to housing, meals safety, and alternatives for employment.”

70 % of New Mexicans voted in favor of Modification 1.

Opponents of the measure argue that the extra funds aren’t wanted as a result of the state already has a belief fund devoted to early childhood schooling, and that rising the annual distribution would imply much less cash for New Mexico youngsters than if the pre-existing 5 % price was left intact, based on the Albuquerque Journal.

Wester, although, in his argument why the modification’s passage was necessary highlighted that New Mexico is on the backside of the entire well-being indicators for youngsters; a incontrovertible fact that he mentioned New Mexicans confirmed they are going to not settle for with their vote.

The Annie E. Casey Basis ranked New Mexico final within the total little one well-being portion of its 2022 KIDS COUNT Information E-book. In accordance with the report, 56 % of kids ages three and 4 in New Mexico are usually not in class, 20 % of kids stay in high-poverty areas, and 34 % of kids’s’ mother and father lack safe employment.

The Annie E. Casey Basis is a company that’s “dedicated to growing a brighter future for tens of millions of kids and younger folks with respect to their instructional, financial, social and well being outcomes,” based on its web site. It publishes the info e book yearly.

The group New Mexico Voices for Youngsters first proposed the thought to faucet into the Land Grant Everlasting Fund to fund early childhood schooling in 2011. In an announcement, the group mentioned Modification 1 passing “places youngsters and households on the trail to a brilliant future.”

Re-elected New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham touted the constitutional modification on the marketing campaign path as constructing “the strongest basis for New Mexico households and youngsters.”

Wester congratulated legislators for each passing Modification 1 and getting it on the poll.

“With prayers of gratitude, I’m grateful for the advocacy efforts of all who participated on this decade-long marketing campaign,” Wester mentioned.

Comply with John Lavenburg on Twitter: @johnlavenburg

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New Mexico

Winter weather advisory in effect for parts of New Mexico

Published

3 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

Winter weather advisory in effect for parts of New Mexico

It’s going to be a chilly day across New Mexico. See the latest conditions at KOB.com/Weather.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A winter weather advisory is in effect in parts of New Mexico where snow and slick roads are possible through Friday.

The advisory warns of 1-3 inches of snow and slick roads for places in southern New Mexico through Friday at 5 a.m. Snow accumulations could total as much as five inches in Ruidoso, two inches in Roswell and 1.7 inches in Silver City.

Elsewhere, Tuesday will see the canyon winds pick up and temperatures cool down as a backdoor cold front comes barging in.

Meteorologist Kira Miner shares all the details in her full forecast in the video above.

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New Mexico

Slowed growth: New Mexico drops 21 spots in U-Haul’s latest migration report

Published

11 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

Slowed growth: New Mexico drops 21 spots in U-Haul’s latest migration report

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New Mexico

New Mexico AG files motion to halt $1.9M buyout for WNMU president

Published

19 hours ago

January 6, 2025

Press Room

SILVER CITY, N.M. — New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a motion to halt a $1.9 million buyout for the departing president of Western New Mexico University.

Joseph Shepard stepped down as president of WNMU after a state audit found he spent $316,000 of university money on lavish international trips, high-end furniture and other items over the course of several years. During the investigation, the state auditor’s office blamed university management and the WNMU Board of Regents for not upholding their responsibilities and enforcing travel rules.

After this, the board approved a $1,909,788 buyout last month for Shepard.

AG Torrez argues the payment isn’t supported by Shepard’s contract and “is unconscionable as a violation of public policy and the public interest.”

“This payment is an egregious misuse of public funds and a betrayal of the Board’s responsibility to act in the best interest of the university and its students,” Torrez said in a statement Monday. “Dr. Shepard voluntarily resigned, and the Board had ample opportunity to negotiate a reasonable or no-cost separation agreement. Instead, they chose to pledge nearly $2 million in taxpayer money without justification or consideration of the public good.”

The New Mexico Department of Justice is requesting the court temporarily block the $1.9 million payment before a hearing can happen. The NMDOJ is requesting the hearing be held before Jan. 15 – the deadline for the payment – or issue an ex-parte order until the hearing can be scheduled. They are also requesting the court prohibit the board from disbursing the payment until a special audit – requested by WNMU, the regents and Shepard – is complete and a report is available.

Shepard’s buyout is just one part of the board-approved separation agreement. The agreement also calls for Shepard to get $200,000 guaranteed for five years as a newly-tenured faculty member once he returns from an eight-month sabbatical. The sabbatical would begin the day he officially resigns. Then, when he returns, he will work remotely.

The agreement drew ire from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who sent a letter demanding the entire board step down. Before siding with the WNMU Faculty Senate in a unanimous vote of no confidence in the board, faculty senate president Phillip Schoenberg said he heard from the board president that the regents would comply with the governor’s order.

The faculty senate also called on the regents to rescind Shepard’s separation agreement.

New Mexico Higher Education Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez described the buyout as “gross negligence and mismanagement of taxpayer funds.” Her department is also investigating this.

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