Note: A recording of this meeting is not available due to technical difficulties within LAPS.
Los Alamos Public Schools’ Curriculum Director Dr. Sharon Fogle presented the results from a spring 2025 survey of students, parents, and LAPS faculty and staff administered by data analytics company Panorama Education. The twice-yearly survey assesses the attitudes of students, teachers, and families about two of LAPS strategic plan’s goals: “social-emotional wellbeing” and “civic responsibility.”
The results presented by Fogle (available in the meeting agenda packet) spurred a long discussion among the board members and district administrators about two long-standing concerns: bullying and communication.
Board Secretary Lauren Coupland reminded the board that the issue of bullying has been brought up at several meetings, and that, as is highlighted in the survey results, students continue to “feel that discrimination and bullying” are ongoing issues.
Superintendent Jennifer Guy also noted two other issues raised with her by students. For one, many LAHS students said they wanted more follow-up on reported incidents, with many feeling that once they report something to district officials, they never receive an update and don’t know what, if any, action was taken. Secondly, students report a rise in “political discrimination,” from both sides of the political spectrum.
The district is in the process of implementing new initiatives, such as “structured bullying training for staff members,” implementing the Second Step curriculum throughout the district, and using focus groups to better understand students’ concerns.
Data from the nearly 700 families surveyed showed that while the school district’s strengths lie within its teachers and staff, communication and transparency (or general lack thereof) were at the top of respondents’ minds. District 2 school board candidate Antonio Jaurigue also emphasized the importance of communication and commented that the district needs to do more to publicize the steps being taken to make improvements.
Audience member Katie Belobrajdic emphasized that these communication issues contribute to a “perceived lack of transparency” by families, which in turn results in parents worrying that “the district is more interested in protecting themselves.”
The results from the faculty and staff portion of the spring 2025 results will be discussed at a later meeting but can be found in the agenda packet from the September 25 board meeting.
The fall 2025 survey is currently underway for students, families, teachers, and staff. Boomtown requested a link to publicize the family survey but did not receive a response by publication time.
Consent agenda and budget review
The consent agenda (posted here), including a monthly budget review and school policy updates, was passed with one change: Secretary Coupland made a request to continue reviewing the advertising policy (1332) and to discuss it at a later date.
The details of the various agenda items were not discussed, but Boomtown noted an apparent $1.5 million shortfall in the operational budget (page 3 in the agenda packet). In a follow-up e-mail to Boomtown, Superintendent Guy clarified that the October 14 budget review was “printed before we lifted encumbrances for vacant or duplicate positions” and that “this will not affect district operations or our overall budget this year.”
Other items of note
Two members of the public spoke during the public comment period. Dr. Katie Belobrajdic expressed concern that LAPS has not yet publicly shared the results of the district’s 2023 literacy progress assessment data and urged the board to “develop radical transparency” between the district and the community.
Mrs. Naomi Sanchez, a first-grade teacher at Piñon Elementary School, expressed to the board the difficulty she’s had arranging transportation in the mornings for her middle-school age daughter from Piñon to Los Alamos Middle School. Her statement was cut short by the automated timer and her full written statement is available here.
The board approved the 2025-2030 Facilities Master Plan with minor changes to update the demographic projections used in the planning process.
Superintendent Guy reported on the new initiatives for Early Childhood Education and Career Technical Education that are being developed in conjunction with UNM-LA, which will provide a wider array of education opportunities for both LAHS students and district staff.
The LAPS board is scheduled to hold a work session on October 23 at 5:30 pm at Los Alamos Middle School. The agenda is posted here. Written public comments can also be submitted and reviewed here.