Issues for Taosenos

We shall stick to the policy issues and avoid the political personalities this week. Though there’s nothing more that Taosenos like than mitote, we will elevate the conversation–not that anything will change but it might. Below there’s news about KCEC, TMS, the town and county and Soccer.

KCEC

On Dec. 6 the deadline for rate protests at the PRC expired. Insiders estimate, conservatively, that about 200 Coop members filed protests, due to concerns about rate increases, perceived Coop debt overload, and excessive spending.

Several members say they don’t understand why the COOP has borrowed money to buy expensive property and build a Command Center for “public safety.” No other entity, including the town and county, has signed up to join the Coop in this venture. What’s another $3 million for a redundant facility?

The new 60 million Broadband initiative, which requires another loan of $19 million, has caused members to wonder about the sanity of the trustees. How do the Trustees expect to pay back a $19 million loan based on speculation? The Coop has lost, insiders say, about $10 million on Propane and Internet during the last decade due to competitive markets.

Further, members are upset by the way the Coop keeps its books—borrowing from Peter to pay Paul—while shifting funds around to maintain the appearance of solvency. Recently, the Coop has borrowed money from a specialty financial institution to make short-term payments on USDA/RUS loans, according to observers. Members say the electric side assets have been pledged as collateral for loans aiding and abetting adventurism at the Coop.

It’s no wonder that a “recall” movement has begun. A group of activists has been meeting to consider petitions that will “correct” the behavior of the trustees. Targets include 9 of 11 members—those who apparently support Broadband, the Command Center, pay increases for the CEO, and, most importantly, the rate increase. Next year is not an election year for the Trustees but the petitioners may stir up the stew.

Down the road, redistricting, reduction in numbers, and changes in by-laws to curtail excess board expenses will be addressed at either the annual meeting or at new elections. Activists have succeeded in righting the ship in other Coops—Mora-San Miguel and Socorro. It usually takes a few years but the activists are “all from here.”

TMS

TMS continues to be plagued by many of the same problems revealed by a 2003 systems audit, when the schools were found to be in violation of student civil rights, assigning teachers without appropriate qualifications to classrooms, reading below grade-level, and entailing an incoherent curriculum, etc. Further, for years even the schools’ friendly auditors have found the institution to be in noncompliance with respect to inventory controls. It is thought that many of the fine artworks donated to the schools over the years have disappeared—like welding equipment or tools from the Vo-Tec center, the occasional tractor, food, etc.

During the last year, three consecutive audits have revealed flagrant patterns of regulatory violations at the central administration finance office. In response to questions from the board, “Why do students get promoted despite not reading at grade level,” administrators shrug and say “I don’t know.” According to TMS agendas, the administration has “out-sourced” training for teachers to private consultants.

At the heart of TMS there are a lot of mysteries. Despite decreased enrollment, poor test scores and graduation rates, some board members, administrators, and the public believe the historic decline is the fault of the current board. But the current board is merely the messenger—the cover-up has been going on for a decade inside the walls of central administration. Former board member Gary Embler (RIP) told me himself that after the legislature passed HB 212 in 2003, empowering superintendents, that progressive ideas were discarded in favor of continuing the status quo.

Given the media hubbub and apathetic voter turnout during school board elections, one can only conclude that the public is either indifferent or discouraged by the current system. Charter schools, and smaller public schools like Questa and Penasco, appear to educate their students better than the larger systems, due to community involvement. Certainly one man can make a difference occasionally: Bob Benavidez (RIP), aka Mr. B, knew what to do at Ranchos Elementary School—according to any measure. And some teachers succeed inside the classroom, like some coaches.

While the causes of decline at TMS are myriad and reside within the society at large, the effect is singular: adults shortchange students.

Town and County News

According to its agenda for Tues. Dec. 7, the County will discuss a “particular” candidate for the manager’s job. Rumors and news reports suggest the county is trying to snatch up Young Daniel Miera, the town manager. Last night, on the way home from Monday night football, I believe I saw the energetic young fella working late at Town Hall. They say he wants a contract to better define his role and give him a sense of security.

Taos Sports Alliance

Soccer aficionados say FIFA, the international football-soccer certifying agency, has given the Town of Taos/Taos Municipal Schools new soccer field a two-star rating. Apparently, Taos will be one of four such highly qualified sites in the country. Subsequently, the community will benefit from big league soccer events and high altitude team training. (Think hockey writ large.) Ultimately, when soccer season begins, the local kids will benefit. For all the tumult, the new sports facility at the high school and the soccer field on Salazar show what can be done when cooperation occurs between local governing bodies. A press release will be issued soon about the rating and events already scheduled for the new field.