You can now remove the word “designate” from the title of New Mexico Education Secretary Hanna Skandera. The State Senate, on a 22-19 vote Monday, confirmed Governor Susana Martinez’s choice for the top education post in the state more than four years after first nominating her. Skandera’s appointment has drawn criticism over the years because she’s never served as a teacher or administrator. Senators supporting Skandera pointed to some recent improvements in New Mexico public education. In a statement following the confirmation vote, Skandera said, “The students of New Mexico are among the best in the nation and I am humbled to continue serving them. The road to reforming our education system is not always smooth, but the goal of a top-notch education for every student is one we should always pursue, no matter the obstacles.”
The Senate Education committee has unanimously passed a bill intended to keep students in school or risk losing their drivers’ licenses if they exceed 10 unexcused absences. The Senate’s Education Panel approved a substitute for Senate Bill 85 after the Committee added a clause that allows for hardship exemptions. The measure’s sponsor is Senator Craig Brandt of Rio Rancho. Brandt says for kids, especially boys who tend to have higher truancy rates, the driver’s license is a rite of passage—very important to them—and can be used as additional motivation to keep them in school. *****021615-Brandt-3 :23***** Brandt says one of those states is Georgia, which, after passing similar legislation, has seen huge drops in truancy rates as well as a major boost in graduation numbers. *****021615-Brandt-4 :08***** Brandt—a Republican—is a former School Board member from Rio Rancho
A bill that would allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in school elections has cleared its first committee. The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee forwarded House Bill 249 on with no recommendation Monday. Albuquerque Democrat Javier Martinez is the bill’s sponsor. Martinez notes that school boards have almost exclusive jurisdiction over public schools, which are there for the benefit and impact of young people. *****021715-Martinez-2 :27***** Martinez says he’s hoping his bill will get people voting at age 16 and create a culture of civic engagement for themselves and their families.
Some New Mexico lawmakers say the many uncollected fines stemming from campaign finance violations show a lack of enforcement by Secretary of State Dianna Duran. The Farmington Daily Times reports that Santa Fe Senator Peter Wirth says a bill he's sponsoring that would improve campaign finance transparency may not be enough if Duran doesn't pursue fines. The newspaper found Duran waived more than a third of fines and more than 60 percent went uncollected.
The New Mexico Senate is proposing legislation that would prevent public electric utilities from passing increased fuel costs to consumers without a public hearing. The Albuquerque Journal reports the bipartisan bill would eliminate the "fuel adjustment clause" used by Public Service Company of New Mexico and the state's two other public utilities.
The Very Large Array has undergone a major upgrade and officials say it will now be able to reveal more of the universe. KOB-TV reports that the 1970s-era telescopes near Magdalena, New Mexico, recently went through a $90 million technology update thanks to the National Science Foundation, Canada and Mexico. Up until recently, the array of radio telescopes was still using technology from when they were built in the 1970s. Officials say the new VLA is so powerful it recently discovered a star-killing storm in the core of a galaxy. Chris Carilli, the National Radio Astronomy chief scientist, says the new VLA also may help scientists peer into the very beginnings of the universe.
A project out of a New York college is set to offer free medical-screening programs for former workers at the federal government's nuclear waste repository. The Worker Health Protection Program run by Queens College of the City University of New York will announce later this month details of the screenings for former Waste Isolation Pilot Plant workers.
Santa Fe Weather: Mostly sunny today with a 20-percent chance of snow before noon, the high today, 43. Tonight: Mostly clear with the overnight low, 24. Tomorrow, sunny with the high reaching 54.