Questionnaire

Albuquerque Public School
School Board Election

Voter’s Guide*
Candidate Answers to a Questionnaire

Compiled by
Concerned Citizens for APS Reform
A wide-based group of citizens for transparency and accountability to the taxpayers
(We presume that failure to respond indicated discomfort or disagreement with the tone or
content of the questions asked.)
*All previous CCAPSR Voter’s Guides do not contain all candidates responses. This CCAPSR
Voter’s Guide contains all responses received by our response deadline.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
District 1 Page
Phillip G. Chavez 3
Dolores A. Griego 5
Analee N. Maestas 8
Clara Pena 14
Jay K. Zook 16
District 2
John D. Herrara 19
Katherine S. Korte 22
Felix I Nunez 27
Peter A. Sanchez No Response
Greg Scott Snyder 31
District 4
Candido Arturo Archuleta Jr. 34
Martin Esquivel No Response
Cheryl Ann Harris 37
Charles E. MacQuigg 41
2
District 1
Phillip G. Chavez
1. What are your views on involvement of teacher's union in developing school policy?
I AM A STRONG SUPPORTER OF UNIONS. MY WIFE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE EDUCATIONAL

ASSITANTS.1
2. What are your views on collective bargaining & merit pay?
ME and my wife have been to WASHINGTON D.C. TO WORK ON COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

ISSUES. MERIT PAY ,IS GOOD FOR TEACHERS who put forth extra WORK
3. What are your thoughts regarding the possibility of splitting up APS school district? Do you have any
ideas for what would be most equitable, in terms of costs: initial, operational; academic effectiveness and
savings to taxpayers?
BIG MISTAKE ,APS HAS BEEN around for close to 100 yrs ,it has all the RESOURCES, BUT
NEEDS MORE LEADERSHIP.
4. What are you views with regards to complaints that APS has failed to comply with FOI (freedom of
information) requests by taxpayers looking for accountability & transparency?
I WILL HAVE AN OPEN DOOR ,AS APS SHOULD
5. Do you believe that students should have access to family planning services? YES
6. What age do believe is appropriate for distribution of contraceptives at school health clinics? 13 YRS
7. Do you believe there should be parental notification before providing contraceptives in schools? YES
of course.
8. How would you define sexual diversity education? APS is a PUBLIC school ,open to all
9. Do you believe their should be an “opt-in” or “opt-out” policy for parents for sexual diversity education?
Yes PARENTS NEED to be INVOLVED
10. What age do you think it is appropriate to begin sexual diversity education? 13 YRS OLD
11. Is teaching abstinence in APS schools appropriate, if so at what age? YES ,VERY MUCH SO
12. What are your views towards requiring unique architectural drawings & plans for each new building at
APS?
I PERSONALLY PREFER SOUTHWESTERN DESIGN AND SOLAR(I AM A BUILDER) BUT WE

COULD DO IT IN-HOUSE TO SAVE MONEY.
13. Would you support a building template for new construction. For example, certain size facilities would
be similar (design-cost template) for construction to save costs? SOME, again we could this IN-
HOUSE
3
14. Would you support transparency of data at APS that would be visible on its website. For example,
salaries, budgets, expenditures for each APS location? Personal data would remain confidential. YES,
VERY MUSH SO.
15. Would you support transparency of each committee meeting for APS by use of streamed webcasts
available on the APS website? Personnel related information would be confidential. YES, GREAT
IDEA!
16. What are your views regarding “intelligent design” being offered in the classroom?
RELIGION SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE PARENTS
17. What are your views on allowing non-partisan groups to register students on campus who are eligible
to vote?
EVERYONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO REGISTER AND VOTE
18. What are your views on allowing both sides of a political viewpoint (for example, environmental
concerns, religious groups addressing drugs, suicide, etc.) to speak at the same time at APS schools or
hand outs from both sides of an issue to be taken home to parents? YES, WE NEED TO
EDUCATE PARENTS
19. What are your views on charter schools & vouchers?
APS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR NEARLY 100YRS ,IT HAS MANY RECOURSES ALREADY IN
PLACE (MAINTENANCE &OPERATIONS ,SCHOOL POLICE ,NURSES ,CENTRAL KITCHEN
MEDIA CENTER ,SPORTS COMPLEXES ,LIBRARIES .TESTING SERVICES ,ETC. ETC.) WHY
REINVENT THE WHEEL? THERE ARE SOME WONDERFUL CHARTER SCHOOLS, but they need
to be UNDER APS TO SAVE MILLIONS of TAXPAYER M O N E Y !!!!!!!!!
20. What are the biggest problems at APS?
I have been a SHOP TEACHER for over 30 yrs my wife BARBARA THOMAS has also TAUGHT AT
ALBUQUERQUE. HIGH SCHOOL for close to 30yrs ,my son SAM just graduated from UNM ,3
WEEKS AGO AS A TEACHER ,we all have seen many PROBLEMS AT APS, WHICH I INTEND TO
ADDRESS.
21. Do you have any other innovative ideas of how to improve APS?
I HAVE MANY IDEAS and welcome anyone to TEXT ME ANY IDEAS 505-321-2783 OR E-MAIL
phillipbarbara@hotmail.com
22. Are any organizations, groups or agencies endorsing your candidacy?
Everyone I talk to is willing to endorse me, They KNOW THE PASSION I HAVE TO HELP KIDS
23. Do you have any legal, financial, personal or character issues that need to be disclosed? NO
,NONE
24. What is your educational involvement , background, accomplishments and do you have any well
known references to support your character & positions? Elected officials, ministers, rabbis, friends, etc.
4
MANY of my FORMER STUDENTS ARE CONTRACTORS BUILDERS ,WELDERS , BUSINESS
MEN ,IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ,LAWYERS ,ETC.ETC. I GAVE THEM A START IN SHOP CLASS!
5
Dolores A. Griego
I do believe that teachers should have a voice at the table, most especially in terms of defining the
arena in which they work. However their voice for self preservation must be balanced out in the
mission to serve children.
I believe individuals should be paid what they are worth. Most teachers, are worth their weight in
gold. A teachers position is of the utmost importance, they are the front line and they must be
rewarded accordingly.
I believe that all stakeholders need to be involved in that decision. It has currently been pushed by a
group wanting to carve out about 1/4n of the district. The communities with the greatest needs have
been omitted. I have heard both sides of the argument as far as cost, but have never seen anything
concrete. If splitting the district proved to be in the best interest of students, then that is the direction
we would need to go. I do not however, want to see a split based of philosophical rhetoric.
information) requests by taxpayers looking for accountability & transparency? \
In my observation of seeing individuals request information, plus having almost all the information
available on the web site. APS has moved progressively towards transparency
5. Do you believe that students should have access to family planning services?
Not without parent consent, however that is an issue that the legislator has already decided for us.
6. What age do believe is appropriate for distribution of contraceptives at school health clinics?
There are community clinics and distribution of contraceptives in schools should not occur. Again, the
legislator has already set the stage for this.
7. Do you believe there should be parental notification before providing contraceptives in schools?
We should not provide contraceptives, Parents need to be the individuals that deal with this issue.
8. How would you define sexual diversity education?
I wouldn’t
6
YES, again we need to concentrate on educational core requirements
10. What age do you think it is appropriate to begin sexual diversity education?
Parents need to handle this in accordance to their individual children’s needs.
11. Is teaching abstinence in APS schools appropriate, if so at what age?
Parents should be responsible for this also. However if you teach one you teach the other.
APS?
We have moved towards a prototype design. The green buildings with heating and cooling
underground do require different plans.
be similar (design-cost template) for construction to save costs?
See previous on prototype design.
salaries, budgets, expenditures for each APS location? Personal data would remain confidential.
YES
available on the APS website? Personnel related information would be confidential. Yes
Again, there are state standards that govern a lot of these questions. However I do support intelligent
design.
to vote?
I believe there are classes and clubs within the schools that would allow for a space for this to
happen. Again, students should be given appropriate information and allowed to make up their mind.
hand outs from both sides of an issue to be taken home to parents?
I taught Point-Counter Point in Political Science to NMSU. It is a good way for critical and analytical
to be developed.
I do believe in choice. Not all children can learn in the same environments. If Charters area accountable,
and do serve through a different mission then I support them. Creating a charter school for the sake of
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making a good paycheck is unacceptable. I do not believe in vouchers, I believe that those that need it
the most would not be served.
The Achievement Gap. Until we look at the issue of race and institutional racism we will not get a
grip on it. The other most pressing problem is funding. All State School funding is inadequete
It is proven that all growth and improvement involves the grassroots. A full scale parent engagement
partnership push must be initiated to the degree that it causes a cultural change.
23. Do you have any legal, financial, personal or character issues that need to be disclosed?
No.
8
Dr. Analee N. Maestas
I believe that it is critical that all stakeholders including teachers have they opportunity to
provide input into any policy which the APS is developing. The teachers are primary
stakeholders they are with our children day in and day out. They can provide great
insight into how policies may impact learning and how they could be best implemented.
Collective bargaining is an excellent example of positive communication, collaboration,

and negotiation between employees and employers. If open communication is always at
the forefront of negotiations common contract agreements can be reached.
I think merit pay can be a great system that supports, encourages and rewards
employees. It is critically important that it must be well thought out and include the input
from all stakeholders its criteria. The development of a rubric that honors and rewards
the work that they do must be fairly measured and well defined.
3. What are your thoughts regarding the possibility of splitting up APS school district? Do
you have any ideas for what would be most equitable, in terms of costs: initial,
operational; academic effectiveness and savings to taxpayers?
Careful consideration of all facts and research must be given in deciding if this is at the
best interest of the students in APS. I would need to review and consider all this
information before I could answer this question. It would require the involvement of all
stakeholders in the community including the educational experts in the schools. At this
point I have not had an opportunity to interact with the community on this issue, they
need to have a major role in this decision.
4. What are you views with regards to complaints that APS has failed to comply with FOI
(freedom of information) requests by taxpayers looking for accountability &
transparency?
All taxpayers should have access to public information. This would ensure that APS in
fact does have a system of accountability and transparency.
5. Do you believe that students should have access to family planning services? Yes
Need parental guidance for a policy.
7. Do you believe there should be parental notification before providing contraceptives in

schools? Yes
9
Sexual diversity education provides for the education of students about individual sexual
orientation preference.
9. Do you believe their should be an “opt-in” or “opt-out” policy for parents for sexual diversity
education?
Need parental input for a policy.
Need parental input for a policy.
11. Is teaching abstinence in APS schools appropriate, if so at what age? Need parental input
for a policy.
12. What are your views towards requiring unique architectural drawings & plans for each new
building at APS?
I believe that the best architectural drawings and plans for new buildings in APS should
be based in providing the best possible facility that would make teaching and learning
comfortable for our students and employees.
13. Would you support a building template for new construction. For example, certain size
facilities would be similar (design-cost template) for construction to save costs?
I think it is important to keep parents, community and students involved in the design of
any school in any community; after all they are the taxpayers who will foot the bill.
14. Would you support transparency of data at APS that would be visible on its website. For
example, salaries, budgets, expenditures for each APS location?
Personal data would remain confidential. It is public information, I can’t see any reason
it should not be transparent.
15. Would you support transparency of each committee meeting for APS by use of streamed
webcasts available on the APS website?
Personnel related information would be confidential. A major factor would be the cost of
such webcasts, I would rather see money spent in the classrooms. The alternative
would be to have committee meetings open to the public, which should not be a
problem, the public should know what information is shared in making any decision.
10
17. What are your views on allowing non-partisan groups to register students on campus who
are eligible to vote?
I think it is a great idea to have students register to vote including on school campus.
Students need to understand how important it is to take an active role in the democratic
process. This is real world education.
18. What are your views on allowing both sides of a political viewpoint (for example,
environmental concerns, religious groups addressing drugs, suicide, etc.) to speak at the same
time at APS schools or hand outs from both sides of an issue to be taken home to parents?
Charter Schools have provided families a clear public choice in the education of their
children. Charter Schools have proven to provide alternative educational settings for
students in the Albuquerque who have chosen specific focused areas. I do support the
development and continuation of charter schools as long as there is a fair and equal
educational and fiscal accountability required of all public schools including charter
schools.
I would need to see more research and data in the implementation of a voucher system
before addressing this issue.
• Balancing the Budget without impacting direct service to children

• Raising Academic Achievement for all students
• Improving communication and collaboration with all stakeholders including school
and district educators, parents, community, school board, and students.
We need to stop using a model that is centuries old, we need to think out of the box. Students
are bored, they don’t want to go to school. Teachers are tired of testing, testing, testing, and not
being allowed to be creative and energized with the wonderful opportunities to make learning
engaging and exciting for students. Parents want to be involved, they want their children to be
excited about school and are open to working together as a team to improve student learning.
Parents want to have school choice when looking for the best environment for their child.
22. Are any organizations, groups or agencies endorsing your candidacy? NO
NO
24. What is your educational involvement , background, accomplishments and do you have any
well known references to support your character & positions? Elected officials, ministers, rabbis,
friends, etc.
11
Clara Pena
1. What are your views on involvement of teacher’s unión in developing school

policy? We need student achievement, measurable benchmarks, connecting teacher’s
salaries to student’s performance goals, (remains controversial) or use teachers
evaluation to improve class room instruction. The question remains on how to work with
teachers to improve them.
2. What are your views on collective bargaining and merit pay? My thoughts would be
how well does or has collective bargaining worked towards the improvement of student
achievement through employee organizations/agreements. How one defines what
“merit” is, what is important, such as; student test scores, working in high need areas,
class room observations, evaluations of teachers (who does these evaluations).
3. What are your thoughts regarding the possibility of splitting up APS school
district? Interesting Do you have any ideas for what would be most equitable, in
terms of cost: intial, operational; academic effectiveness and savings to
taxpayers? Take a look at other states that have split their school districts, evaluate the
outcome, look for similarities.
4. What are your views with regards to complaints that APS has failed to comply
with FOI (Freedom of Information) requests by taxpayers looking for
accountability and transparency? I don’t know what steps were taken in requesting
information, and your question is leading towards a specific answer.
5. Do you believe that students should have access to family planning services. You
need to define what you mean by “family planning services” and what it entails.
6. What age do you believe is appropriate for distribution of contraceptives at school

health clinics? None
7. Do you believe there should be parental notification before providing

contraceptives in schools? Yes
8. How would you define sexual diversity education. I wouldn’t.
9. Do you believe that there should be an “opt-in” or “opt-out” policy for parents for
sexual diversity education? In the opt-in or out, who is third party receiving
information on behalf of the individual opting in or out? I believe our tax dollars can be
spent in other areas of education that can bring our school rankings up.
10. What age do you think it is appropriate to begin sexual diversity education? Who
the parent or the school?
11. Is teaching abstinence in APS schools appropriate, if so at what age? No
12. What are your views towards requiring unique architectural drawings and plans
for each new building at APS. Too costly.
12
13. Would you support a building template for new construction. Yes there are already
designs in place. For example, certain size facilities would be similar (design-cost
template) for construction to save money?
14. Would you support transparency of data at APS that would be visible on its
website. Some of this information is already on the internet Information should be
available to taxpayers. For example, salaries, budgets, expenditure for each APS
location? Personal data would remain confidential.
15. Would you support transparency of each committee meeting for APS by use of
streamed webcasts available on the APS website? Yes, this question is similar to
#14. Personal related information would remain confidential.
16. What are your views on “intelligent design” being offered in the classroom? As
long as it is taught as a theory, we must remember that there are different opinions and
views on this issue.
17. What are your views on allowing non-partisan groups to register students on
campus who are eligible to vote? Not a good idea.
18. What are your views on allowing both sides of a political viewpoint (forexample,
environmental concerns, religious groups addressing drugs, suicide, etc.) to
speak at the same time at APS schools or handout from both sides of an issue to
be taken home to parents? There is a time and a place for everything.
19. What are your views on charter schools and vouchers? Education is important and
if charter schools can provide that, then that is a good thing.
20. What are the biggest problems at APS? Budget and education to begin with.
21. Do you have any other innovative ideas of how to improve APS? Yes
22. Are any organizations, groups or agencies endorsing your candidancy? Yes
23. Do you have any legal, financial, personal or character issues that need to be
disclosed? At this point in time, I am not aware of any.
24. What is your educational involvement, background accomplishments and do you

have any well know references to support your character and positions? Elected
officials, minister, rabbis friends, etc. Sat on a number of boards, co-founder of a
charter school, brought capital out lay to my community, volunteer 1000’s of hours within
my community (example PB&J 400 hrs). Sure I can give you a few references.
Congress Women Heather Wilson, Representative Larry Larranaga, Representative
Janice Arnold Jones, Representative Ernest Chavez, Judge Ernesto Romero, Senator
James Taylor, Senator Linda Lopez, Ron Paiz, Michelle Bishop-Couch, Gunney Sargent
Jim Flores, Attorney Lisa Torraco, Cris Sanchez, Commisioner Art de la Cruz, Anita
Lucero, Pastor Danny Sanchez, Charlotte Alderette Trujillo, Patsy Chavez to name a few
13
Jay K. Zook
I believe the Educators, school staff, and parents should all have a voice in policy and
decisions being made.
One has a right to collective bargaining and merit pay would work if all things were equal. I
see problems with teachers that teach ESL and teachers with special credential that would
be teaching any type of learning disabilities.
3. What are your thoughts regarding the possibility of splitting up APS school district? Do you
have any ideas for what would be most equitable, in terms of costs: initial, operational;
academic effectiveness and savings to taxpayers?
I believe if we had all the answers such as cost, operational, and academic effectiveness,
we would know if splitting the district was in the best interest of our children. Once known
than I would support a measure to vote on the idea.
(freedom of information) requests by taxpayers looking for accountability & transparency?
I believe there is a serious amount of failure in APS for not addressing accountability and
transparency. Information should flow up and out then to APS vice current measures of
down and out.
The word Family is the key question and I believe that any family planning should be with
the family. The schools can educate the students to better help with questions.
This would constitute a family matter and does not relate to school educations.

schools?
This is a family matter and schools are needed for educations.
All students should be treated as students and be provided with a positive learning
environment.
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education?
The parents should have a voice with regards to their children’s education.
When Sex Ed is taught in the schools.
Abstinence again is a family matter.
building at APS?
IF APS was in the market to build schools like Wal-Mart and Wendys than every school
could be a cookie cutter. The schools should be able to support the community’s needs.
facilities would be similar (design-cost template) for construction to save costs?
Templates are great sources of lesson learned issues. This is a proven fact with Navy Ships,
however each ship has a slightly mission therefore design changes are modified to fit their
needs
example, salaries, budgets, expenditures for each APS location? Personal data would remain
confidential.
APS is supported by taxpayers and taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being
used.
webcasts available on the APS website? Personnel related information would be confidential.
The best way to solve problems is for people to be informed.
Students should be taught theories as theories provide thought. The caveat to theories
should state that there are many different theories that offer different opinions. Along with
theories the students must be taught the assumption that precedes each one of the theory
being discussed.
are eligible to vote?
15
time at APS schools or hand outs from both sides of an issue to be taken home to parents?
Charter schools offer different options for parents. Competition is good for the customers at
K mart and Target, competition would be good for students. The idea is to give the students
the best education.
Wasteful spending
Transparency
Reactive vice Proactive
Making all schools equal in education
Information flow is going in the wrong direction
Give students better options when they graduate such as work with industry that upon
graduation they could have a Journeyman’s type certificate and or more opting for
accreditations then they currently have.
Endorsed by the Teachers, Education Assistance, and Secretary Unions.
None
24. What is your educational involvement , background, accomplishments and do you have any
well known references to support your character & positions? Elected officials, ministers, rabbis,
friends, etc.
7 years as a youth coach in basketball, baseball, soccer,
7 years as a PTA member, Vice President, President
3 years as a Parent Action Committee member
3 years working with youth ministries
Many schools Principals and school staff, Several church group leaders, and 106 men and
women that I lead through three tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan without leaving
one behind.
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District 2
John D. Herrera
The School Board develops school policy and the Superintendent implements it.
Necessary to protect employee rights and compensation.
Economically this is not the time to split the APS school district. In the future if the tax base can afford
a split it appears that it will happen.
APS is a public institution and the freedom of information act allows it. Although information on
individuals, especially students must be protected under HIPPA.
No
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Parents have the sole responsibility until the age of 18.
I believe in Christian principles.
Yes
The parents need to make this decision.
17
The parents need to decide.
APS?
I believe that all future building be safe, solar, green, low maintenance, and ecologically sound.
be similar (design-cost template) for construction to save costs?
Yes
Yes
available on the APS website? Personnel related information would be confidential.
Yes
Excellent
to vote?
OK
hand outs from both sides of an issue to be taken home to parents?
Yes, with parental consent.
What ever is best for the individual student according to parents.
Budget, Safety, top heavy administration,, classroom ,PTR, unacceptable state and national test
scores.
Schools within Schools, Project Based Learning, Positive Behavior Support, Students as Partners in
Team Learning.
18
Most all West Siders..
None. Thank God!
known references to support your character & positions? Elected officials, ministers, rabbis, friends, etc.
43yrs in education. 1000’s of students.
19
Katherine S. Korte
1. What are your views on involvement of teacher's union in developing school policy? I
believe all players in our school district should voice their opinions regarding school
policies. However, I do not think the district should follow blindly the union’s
recommendations. There are 8,000 members of the union and they should have a voice
at the table. But overall, I believe unions are a roadblock to many of the goals our public
schools want to achieve. This union, in its president Ellen Bernstein, has spoken out
against merit pay linked to student achievement. She has said the measures of teacher
success are not adequately gauged by standardized tests. Yet it is these same
standardized tests that give a school a pass/fail grade each year – whether it is fair or
not. If we can’t measure our students’ or teachers’ success rates by the mandatory
standardized tests, then what can we measure student success by and why are we
focused on these standardized tests to begin with?
2. What are your views on collective bargaining & merit pay? Collective bargaining
agreements make it easier for principals to manage the teachers in their respective
schools: they offer clear boundaries as to what teachers can and cannot be forced to do.
That is very helpful to administrators. But unions, it would appear to me, sometimes are
out of touch with the rest of the nonunionized world. They fail to see that mandatory pay
increases just cannot happen in the present climate. In this financial climate, I would
hope unions would be willing to work with the district in negotiating new contracts under
the reasonable assumption that pay increases are not likely but pay cuts for teachers are
off the table. As for merit pay, I absolutely believe APS has phenomenal teachers who
deserve a boost in their pay because they continuously have success in their
classrooms. These are the teachers we want in our classrooms and they could serve as
an example to other teachers to step it up.
3. What are your thoughts regarding the possibility of splitting up APS school district? Do
you have any ideas for what would be most equitable, in terms of costs: initial,
operational; academic effectiveness and savings to taxpayers? APS, with its 90,000
students and 134 schools, is too large, many parents and teachers believe.
a. “One-size-fits-all” proposals to streamline all school operations to make managing
schools easier. Last year, the district proposed block schedules for all middle
schools. It was an effort, it appeared to parents, to streamline because it doesn’t
have the means to improve student success in failing middle schools. It would be
better for the district to look at schools that are a success and model the behaviors at
those performing schools at low-performing schools. APS’ attempts at blanket
policies ignore the needs of individual schools. That kind of approach to education is
not going to work, and thankfully, APS didn’t push either block schedules or start
times based on vocal and vociferous opposition from the school communities.
b. Many parents and teachers believe the residents of the West Side are highly under-
represented on the board. It is ludicrous that Cibola High School is not in the same
district as Volcano Vista High School. We need more representation on the board. In
the redistricting that is to take place in 2011, the West Side board representative
must make sure that the city is divided by numbers – not by political alliances.
c. If the West Side’s 80,000 residents do not get more representation on the board, a
split should be in play. It deserves a thoughtful look. I believe the news media in
Albuquerque has utterly failed the student families of the city by not doing an in-
depth, thoughtful story about the pros and cons of such a split.
d. According to the proponents’ financial study done by Casey Financial, a new district
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would have the resources available to break off and keep up with growth. Opponents
have constantly criticized the Casey Study and we parents have never received a
solid reason as to why the Casey numbers are not to be believed.
e. APS says a new district’s bonding capacity will start off as 49.7 percent capacity with
not enough room to fund immediate capital needs of existing schools and take care
of new schools.
f. As a parent and taxpayer, I do admit a fear of the tax ramifications of a new district.
These are all questions that parents don’t believe have been adequately answered
by a NEUTRAL third party. Who do parents believe? Do we believe proponents’
version of the financial impact? Do we believe APS’ version of the financial impact?
g. On the whole, I find the idea of a new school district for the West Side very
appealing. But I cannot give an outright yes/no answer for lack of sufficient
information from a neutral third party – whether that be a journalistic piece or the
Legislative Finance Council.
transparency? I believe wholeheartedly in the transparency of any public entity
subsidized by taxpayers. As a lifelong journalist, I have seen how entities make it very
difficult for taxpayers and/or journalists to get information that might be damaging to the
entity’s reputation. If you have nothing to hide, then put the information out there! If
you’re making it difficult for the public to acquire documents, then I am going to believe
that you are doing something wrong. (Look at Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration of an
excellent case in point.)
5. Do you believe that students should have access to family planning services? In 7th grade,
students are taught in health classes the emotional, physical and mental consequences of sex.
In my child’s 7th grade class, her teacher stressed abstinence as the best and only way to avoid
pregnancy, STDs and the emotional and mental toil of sex when you are too young. She also
taught other methods of contraception. But her emphasis was on abstinence. I believe when
you offer students contraceptives on school grounds you are tacitly endorsing sexual activity. I
believe no school should offer family planning services and instead offer at the minimum health
classes and at the maximum a school nurse or counselor who can recommend to a family that a
child needs further assistance from a private health care practitioner. I would be mortified if my
children were offered family planning services at school.
Anyone younger than 18 has no business getting contraceptives from a school health clinic –
therefore no contraceptives should be distributed on school grounds.

schools? You bet.
8. How would you define sexual diversity education? I would define it as teaching children that it
is OK to be in a gay/lesbian relationship, to have bisexual tendencies and or perverted views of
sex. We don’t need this type of “education” in our schools. There is right and there is wrong.
And I don’t want any educator telling my child that sexual diversity is OK and/or minimizing the
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importance of marriage between a man and a woman. I would like the liberal agenda to be kept
out of the classrooms.
9. Do you believe there should be an “opt-in” or “opt-out” policy for parents for sexual diversity
education? I believe schools should not offer this type of education to the entire school
community as a whole, period. I believe such education and counseling should come from the
school counselors and health providers, with the request or recommendation by counselors and/
or the affected student and/or his/her parents. Let’s face it: some of our students are
gay/lesbian/bisexual. They ought to have the means of getting emotional and educational help if
they need it.
10. What age do you think it is appropriate to begin sexual diversity education? Sorry, but I can’t
see any of my children getting this in public school at any age. I do not condone cruelty based
on sexual diversity or any other difference associated with race, religion, sex, creed or national
origin. Therefore, anti-bullying/cruelty programs should be taught starting in middle school. But
that is about the furthest any diversity education should go.
11. Is teaching abstinence in APS schools appropriate, if so at what age? As mentioned above,
my 7th grader was taught in health class about abstinence and I had no problem with that.
Teaching about sex at any age younger than 7th grade is not going to get my support. The 5th-
grade human development curriculum teaches students about their bodies and leaves the sex
part for parents to fill in the gaps. And that’s how it should be.
building at APS? I believe our schools should be inviting and comfortable for our
students/staff/administrators. But let’s not be ridiculous with the costs of making a school
pleasant either. There has to be a middle ground that allows for some architectural limitations
while at the same allowing structural beauty.
facilities would be similar (design-cost template) for construction to save costs? I would, but
again, if the design looks like a prison, I am not going to support that! Our children are at school
six hours a day! It has to have some pleasant features or school becomes a prison! Also, we
must keep in mind that some schools need to be larger than others, depending on future
growth. I think as a taxpayer it is best to plan for the future and build to suit prospective needs.
That would be much more cost-effective than having to turn around and add/redesign a school
at a higher cost.
example, salaries, budgets, expenditures for each APS location? Personal data would remain
confidential. You bet! I am eager to see how the state’s new Sunshine Act will be implemented
and believe the idea of the act should be emulated at all public institutions supported by
taxpayers. If you’re on the public payroll, you deserve to have protected information. But your
job title and salary are not protected.
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webcasts available on the APS website? Personnel related information would be confidential.
You bet. The public has a right to see what’s happening, and sunshine tends to be the strongest
antiseptic to discourage white-collar shenanigans.
16. What are your views regarding “intelligent design” being offered in the classroom? I need
more information to show this is happening in classrooms. I looked at my son’s 6th grade
Science book, “Science Explorer” by Prentice Hall, to see how the beginning of Earth and life is
taught. I have no problem with how the concept is laid out in the textbook, with the use of the
words, “scientists hypothesize” quite dominant. It is not a question in our household that God
created the Earth and scientists by their nature are going to try to determine the origins of the
Earth using fact, not faith. When a teacher tells my child outright that God played no role in
Earth or life, then I have a problem. And that has not happened in my children’s classrooms yet.
are eligible to vote? Since you can’t vote until you’re 18, why do we need such registration
drives on campus? If a student wants to vote, as I did when I turned 18, then the student can
register on his/her own time at the county clerk’s office or any other public place where such
registration is offered (like the post office).
time at APS schools or handouts from both sides of an issue to be taken home to parents? I
don’t believe any religious group should distribute pamphlets on campus. I don’t have a problem
with drug/suicide prevention efforts offered by neutral parties. If you have an environmental
group on campus, then invite some ranchers, too! In other words, any savvy public school
principal would be cautioned to vet a group before it is allowed onto campus. Just as the PTSAs
are nonpartisan, a principal better make sure that all groups speaking to students do not have a
political or religious affiliation or agenda.
19. What are your views on charter schools & vouchers? I believe charter schools and vouchers
are cop-outs. I believe parents must demand public schools ante up and deliver excellent
services to their children. Seeing that APS and the state of New Mexico are riddled with charter
schools, and they are supported by my tax dollars, then I firmly believe charter schools should
be open and their finances and educational efforts laid out on the table for all to see.
20. What are the biggest problems at APS? My perceptions are that APS is overgrown, top-
heavy in the administration and wasting taxpayer dollars. I believe it has an image problem that
cannot be solved by a bloated public relations office. In its shallow efforts to involve the
community, it has instead disenfranchised parents with its “I know better than you” attitude. I
believe APS in general, and Superintendent Brooks in particular, has a cozy relationship with
the Albuquerque Journal, and therefore, we taxpayers are not getting a fair and impartial view
through the news media of APS and its operations. I believe that APS discourages its
stakeholders – administrators and teachers – to express opposing views or risk being
reprimanded, blackballed or isolated.
23
21. Do you have any other innovative ideas of how to improve APS? I believe the board
members are the link between the superintendent and the parents, teachers, administrators and
students. If elected, I will continue to talk to parents and teachers and administrators in all the
schools covered by District 2. I will listen. I will answer e-mails. I will be responsive. And I will
not be intimidated by the people that run the district. I feel strongly that I have been an effective
voice in my community because I’ve engaged parents and teachers in the democratic process.
As a result, the principal, teachers and parents at LBJ Middle School have a wonderful working
relationship that has minimized conflicts because we communicate openly, we stand as a unit
and come to agreement on issues we may disagree on. This model must be implemented in the
district as a whole in order to increase morale, improve relationships and see success.
22. Are any organizations, groups or agencies endorsing your candidacy? LBJ Middle School
PTSA
I have never been in any legal trouble before. I am a practicing Catholic who holds very dear to
my heart my values and principles and has never shied away from doing the right and moral
thing.
However, in the interest of complete transparency, I have no reluctance to disclose that my

husband and I were named in August in a police complaint stemming from a dispute with our
neighbors. In turn, we have filed several complaints against them with police and the city Code
Enforcement Division.
Also, the state Taxation and Revenue Department is assisting me in a managed audit. That
process began earlier this year after I discovered and reported a mistake with my gross receipts
taxes from my self-employment. I am currently working with a Tax & Rev auditor to fix this.
24. What is your educational involvement, background, accomplishments and do you have any
well- known references to support your character & positions? Elected officials, ministers,
rabbis, friends, etc. Resume attached
References:
State Sen. Sander Rue, 301-0189
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Felix I Nunez
1. What are your views on involvement of teacher's union in developing school

policy?
Union’s bring good ideas to the table and a strong voice from their member’s. Some
policies need to be passed whether the unions agree or disagree with the outcome. We
have to think of why we are all here; it is for the sake of our students’ educational future.

At this time, we need to look into all aspects of collective bargaining and merit pay in
order to move forward.
3. What are your thoughts regarding the possibility of splitting up APS school district?
Do you have any ideas for what would be most equitable, in terms of costs: initial,
operational; academic effectiveness and savings to taxpayers?
No, I believe that it would be detrimental to everyone in APS if there was a split in the district at
this time.
transparency?
I believe that APS should comply with FOI in order to have transparency and accountability
when asked for by taxpayers.
Yes, as long as the parents are able to have a voice in whether they want their student to have
this service or not.
6. What age do believe is appropriate for distribution of contraceptives at school health

clinics?
I believe middle school age is appropriate, as long as their parents are involved through the
communication process.

schools?
Yes, as I stated before. Parents need to have the choice whether or not their student should
receive contraceptives in schools.
My definition of sexual diversity education and equal rights for all APS members.
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9. Do you believe there should be an “opt-in” or “opt-out” policy for parents for sexual
diversity education?
Yes, I do think there should be an opt-in or opt-out policy for parents on issues like sexual
diversity education.
I think middle school age would be appropriate to begin sexual diversity education.
I would have to bring it to the attention of the parent/teacher and student committee to see
what the consensus would be.
12. What are your views towards requiring unique architectural drawings & plans for
each new building at APS?
I would have to gather more information before stating my opinion.
13. Would you support a building template for new construction. For example, certain
size facilities would be similar (design-cost template) for construction to save costs?
I would have to gather more information before making a decision.
14. Would you support transparency of data at APS that would be visible on its website.
For example, salaries, budgets, expenditures for each APS location? Personal data
would remain confidential.
Yes I would support this.
15. Would you support transparency of each committee meeting for APS by use of
streamed webcasts available on the APS website? Personnel related information would
be confidential.
Yes, I would support this.
No comment at this time.
17. What are your views on allowing non-partisan groups to register students on campus
who are eligible to vote?
I think it is a good idea. Most young people today do not have the understanding of how
important it is to have a voice in voting.
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environmental concerns, religious groups addressing drugs, suicide, etc.) to speak at the
same time at APS schools or hand outs from both sides of an issue to be taken home to
parents?
It should be brought to the parent/teacher and students committee for a vote, then a
permission form should be sent home for parental permission.
I believe that there are some charter schools that are appropriate and model APS for the
better. I believe that vouchers will only impact our students’ education negatively as well as our
schools and their performance.
The budget short fall, public safety within are schools, the achievement gap and non-direct
positions in the classrooms.
Working closely with each individual department and getting an understanding of APS and
its internal organization. Looking at ways to save taxes payer’s monies from wasteful spending.
Work on making are school safer for our students and APS employees.
No.
23. Do you have any legal, financial, personal or character issues that need to be
disclosed?
I do not have any legal, financial, personal or character issues that need to be disclosed.
24. What is your educational involvement , background, accomplishments and do you

have any well known references to support your character & positions? Elected officials,
ministers, rabbis, friends, etc.
I have always had an interest of the inner workings of APS, and the elected board. I am a
product of APS, I have children in APS and I have always been involved with their schools
and their education. I will bring a broad spectrum of ideas and listening skills in order to be a
productive insight for all aspects of APS;
Self History:
APS schools in Elementary, Middle School, and a Graduate of Albuquerque High. Finishing up my BS
degree at the University
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State of NM Law Enforcement Officer
Married with children
Coaching several sports
Board Member in various sports and activities at my students schools
Parent Volunteer in various sports and activities at my students schools

Religious Education Teacher
Director of Junior Metro Law Enforcement Program
Certified Instructor for the State of NM
Many years of budget and board relations within the local and state government
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Greg Scott Snyder
The primary purpose of a school is to educate our children, and not to provide employment for teachers.
What is best for the students should be the main focus of the school board. The spectrum that the board views
policy needs to be through value-added or cost benefit perspective. It is fine that teachers have formed a group
to represent their concerns, but they should not come first in the equation. APS has an obligation to look after its
teachers, but students and taxpayers should come first.

I am a strong advocate of merit based pay. I believe that an individual should be rewarded when they
exceed expectations or outperform their peers. It is a shame when the very best receives the same
compensation as the poorest performer. By adding a merit based component to the pay system, at minimum,
hard work and dedication will be rewarded, but hopefully incentives will be in place to promote greater
excellence throughout APS.
3. What are your thoughts regarding the possibility of splitting up APS school district? Do you have any ideas for
what would be most equitable, in terms of costs: initial, operational; academic effectiveness and savings to
taxpayers?
As Albuquerque and APS continue to grow the need to divide the school district becomes greater. The
single greatest obstacle to dividing APS is the cost. There is a concern that tax base is too small, and that there
could be new fixed expenses that will require a tax increase to properly fund a new school district. In the
recession we currently face, a tax increase should definitely be off the table. It might be possible to reduce
waste and improve efficiencies to offset any additional expenses. The details is what will make or break the
plan. Under the right set of circumstances, I believe that it could work to everyone’s benefit, but if implemented
poorly it would be a horrible failure. In the end, the best decisions are often the ones made at the most local
level, so dividing should be the ultimate goal when the time is right and when a plan has been perfected.
Transparency is one of the few checks that government is subject to and owes to the voters and
taxpayers. APS and every other governmental agency should strive to be efficient and responsible, but the
people need a method for keeping them accountable. Governments work for the people and as such have an
obligation to keep the people informed. With all of that said, it is unacceptable if citizens are denied the ability to
see how their tax dollars are being spent. Every reasonable effort must be made to complete FOI requests.
We have to ask ourselves, “ what is the purpose of school?” Are we sending children to be educated or
dropping them off for their Planned Parenthood appointment? The whole argument behind distributing
contraceptives is that kids are going to do it anyway, so we just want them to be responsible about it. I
understand that there is a percentage of students who are and will be sexually active during their school years,
but the issue is wether or not it is the right and responsible thing to be doing at their age and position in life? I
believe the answer to that question is no, it is not. Students may be physically or sexually mature enough to be
engaging in intercourse, but this generation is not mentally, emotionally, and financially mature enough to be
partaking in sexual intercourse responsibly during their school age years. As such, by providing contraceptives,
school health clinics are promoting irresponsible behavior which is something I oppose.
As stated above, I do not believe that it is appropriate and responsible for school health clinics to
distribute contraceptives.
I oppose contraceptives being passed out at schools, but if it is going to occur, I would demand parental
permission not just notification.

Sexual diversity education is program designed to inform students about and legitimize various non-
traditional sexual lifestyles. It is void of morality and promotes an everything is acceptable perspective.
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Sexual diversity education (SDE) involves moral component that is much more complex than the
question of where do babies come from. I believe that SDE often crosses the line of requiring acceptance rather
than tolerating a lifestyle choice that is morally questionable. Due to the controversial nature and personal
morality of SDE, I would not want it to be included in the curriculum at APS.
Even though schools are the vehicle by which students are educated, parents are still responsible for
ensuring their students are prepared for the world and educated. The topics discussed in sexual diversity
education should be left to the parents when they feel their child is ready to have that talk.

Abstinence should not only be taught but also encouraged. In question “5” I discussed that school aged
individuals are not mentally, emotionally, and financially mature enough to take responsibility for the possible
consequences of sexual intercourse. Unfortunately, students are engaging in sex at increasingly younger ages,
so consequently the age to discuss abstinence should coincide with the onset of puberty. Out of necessity, I
would recommend that it was introduced to students during their first year of middle school.
12. What are your views towards requiring unique architectural drawings & plans for each new building at APS?
It is fiscal insanity. There is no need to make every building distinctively different from the next. If
architects, contractors, and private citizens would like to donate their funds, services, and materials to construct
marvels of modern architecture, then we can have unique buildings. Since taxpayers will be funding the bill for
construction projects it is necessary to be done in a cost effective way. Custom building may be more
aesthetically pleasing, but will inevitably waste money unnecessarily.
13. Would you support a building template for new construction. For example, certain size facilities would be
similar (design-cost template) for construction to save costs?
Absolutely, it is fiscally reckless to continue to build completely unique and custom school building for
each project. I have worked with many new home builders across the metro area and virtually all of them
employ this tactic. Private industry grasps the cost effectiveness of streamlining design and construction. There
are many cosmetic variants that would allow a building to look different from the next school, but still use the
same template blueprint.
14. Would you support transparency of data at APS that would be visible on its website. For example, salaries,
budgets, expenditures for each APS location? Personal data would remain confidential.
Definitely, it would create more accountability to operate each and every location in an efficient and
responsible way. The ability to compare budgets and expenses across schools provides a valuable auditing tool
to find waste, abuse, and fraud.
15. Would you support transparency of each committee meeting for APS by use of streamed webcasts available
on the APS website? Personnel related information would be confidential.
Janice Arnold-Jones led the charge to have this done for the state legislature and it has been a success.
I see no reason that APS should not put in place a similar system.
h. What are your views regarding “intelligent design” being offered in the classroom?
Students should be given all information about the possible origins of our universe. It is academically
dishonest to not include intelligent design in the conversation about the start of our existence. Both sides of the
issue will agree that something greater and infinitely more powerful than ourselves that we cannot explain, in full,
scientifically is responsible for our existence. The issue is who are what is that power? To exclude the
possibility of intelligence design shows the bias and hatred of the academic closed-minded.
17. What are your views on allowing non-partisan groups to register students on campus who are eligible to
vote?
Non-partisan does not mean non-political. APS, rightfully so, does not allow political campaigning on its
campuses. Due to the gray area this creates I would oppose allowing outside group from signing up students as
voters. If a student has questions about registering to vote, they should be directed to the county clerk, who will
have no problem getting them registered.
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18. What are your views on allowing both sides of a political viewpoint (for example, environmental concerns,
religious groups addressing drugs, suicide, etc.) to speak at the same time at APS schools or hand outs from
both sides of an issue to be taken home to parents?
I believe that it is good for students to get all sides of an issue. It is beneficial for students to learn how
to find truth and understand how and why both sides of an issue feel as they do. This however creates a
responsibility for parents to talk with their kids about the confusing and controversial elements of the topics.

We are a country of free individuals. As such we are encouraged to follow whatever path we believe is
best for us and our families. The more divergent our life paths become the greater the need for school choice.
Not every student has the same education needs, and so they require a different path. I am in support of most
options that provide additional school choice. Vouchers, specifically, are great way to increase educations
options for low and middle class families who otherwise would not be able to afford better performing schools.

The state of education in our country is unacceptable. Unfortunately, New Mexico is one of the worst
performing states in education. The biggest problem at APS is that it fails to educate our children effectively to
compete globally. Secondly, far too often governmental organizations promote inefficiency. Operations need to
be streamlined and expenses must be evaluated better in regards to value added and cost benefit to APS.
21.Do you have any other innovative ideas of how to improve APS?
APS, like all governmental agencies, need to be run more like a business. Purchases and expenditures
need to be looked at from a value added or cost benefit view point. Efficiencies need to be found and the best
employees rewarded for their excellence. In terms of academics, I would like to see an emphasis on critical
thinking and a reduction in reliance of technology. The most valuable class that I took at any academic level was
essentially a critical thinking class at UNM. Students thinking for themselves rather than being taught what to
think will make academia much easier to navigate for our students. Also, I believe that technology can be
overused in our schools today. School is meant to be about understanding the principles and the concepts
behind what we do; it is about ideas and not simply a matter of completing tasks. Each generation is more
computer savvy then the last, kids do not need to be taught how to use a computer they already know how.
What they need is to be taught how to read, write, and do math. If by some chance they do not understand how
to complete an operation on the computer they can read the manual and figure it out. Technology is great, but
the focus must be reading, writing, and arithmetic based upon critical thinking.
22.Are any organizations, groups or agencies endorsing your candidacy?

The Republican Party of Bernalillo County is supporting my campaign.
No, I have never been arrested. I have kept my finances in order such that I meet all of my obligations.
24. What is your educational involvement , background, accomplishments and do you have any well known
references to support your character & positions? Elected officials, ministers, rabbis, friends, etc.
I am a concerned citizen who is not happy with public education in the great city of Albuquerque. I have
lived here, in Albuquerque, for over half of my lifetime. My education includes a Bachelor’s of Business
Administration from the University of New Mexico’s Anderson School of Management. At the end of high school
and during my first year of college, I had the privilege to hold a student internship at the United States
Department of Agriculture. This provided my an inside view to the working of government. The problem I quickly
noticed was that government operated in a manner completely in opposition to everything I learned at UNM
about how to run a business. Knowing that it was my tax dollars being wasted, I hoped that I could do something
to improve the situation.
Why do I want to run for school board? One of the biggest reasons that I am running for school board is
the great men in my family who came before me. I was not raised to simply live in my community, but serve it as
well. My grandfather was a volunteer fireman and village sheriff, and my father is a pastor of a church in town. I
want to continue their tradition and give of myself for the sake of the community. I have not chosen school board
by chance or out of convenience. My passions have led me to run for school board. I have a been drawn to
politics and elected office since I was 12 or 13. I also have a heart for young people; my wife and I help lead a
bible study for high school students at our local church. With a concern for young people and a love of politics, it
only makes sense that I would want to serve our community on the school board
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District 4
Candido Arturo Archuleta Jr.
It is important that the Teachers’, Educational Assistants’, and Secretaries’ Unions are all involved in the
development of Board of Education policies. These unions represent the individuals that are in the schools
providing direct services to our children. It is imperative that their knowledge and expertise be reflected in
policies since they have the most opportunities to see first-hand what is working and what needs to be improved.
They also need to be involved in the development of the APS budget since they understand what programs and
funding are most critical to keeping the school running smoothly and where potential cost savings can be made.
I support the collective bargaining process. I think that it is important for workers to be able to negotiate their
contracts to ensure that the rights of workers and their families are being protected and their needs are being
met. I believe that merit pay is important as an incentive for recruitment and retention of quality employees. It is
important that any process developed to support merit pay ensures fairness and is seen as an incentive and not
as punitive.
taxpayers?
I believe this is an important and valid question that needs studying before any informed decisions can be made
regarding a split. Having the 30th largest school district in the nation in a state that only has a total
population of approximately 2 million residents is reason enough to explore the issue. We have a duty
to ensure that the size of any public school district does not impede that district’s ability to meet the
educational, health, safety and general welfare needs of its student population. Any study completed
must be done by an independent party, such as UNM’s Bureau of Business & Economic Research and that it
must look at: the fiscal impact on the existing district as well as any newly created district(s); the educational
impact a split would have on curriculum and programming of the existing and any newly created district(s); the
impact splitting the district would have on APS employees; the capital & infrastructure needs of the existing
district and any newly created districts.
I have gone through the FOI process with APS and have been frustrated with how poorly they comply. Any
public institution funded by tax dollars needs to ensure that all administrative employees understand the
Freedom of Information Act and are fully aware of their roles and responsibilities with regard to FOI requests.
Also the school district needs to re-evaluate its copying cost policies related to FOI requests to ensure that fees
are not excessive and are not aimed at discouraging members of the public to access public records.
I believe that comprehensive sex education and access to contraceptives for sexually active students is critical to
ensure the health, safety and general welfare of students in our public schools
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I do not believe it is appropriate to set an age limit for the distribution of contraceptives. Any student who is
sexually active should have access to contraceptives and to information regarding the risks associated with
sexual activity.
I believe parents should be notified that contraceptives are available for students in the schools but I do not
believe that individual parents should be notified if their child seeks to get contraceptives. Notification to parents
could act as a deterrent for students to get contraceptives even if they are sexually active. Contraceptives
significantly lower, the risks of spreading disease, and the potential of for sexually active teens to become
pregnant it is important that teens are not deterred in anyway from obtaining and using contraceptives.
Sexual diversity education encompasses all aspects and viewpoints related to sexual orientation.
No.
Middle school.
Yes. Abstinence needs to be included in any comprehensive sex education curriculum. Age appropriate sex
education needs to begin in elementary school and continue through all levels. For example, sex education at
the elementary school level would consist of concepts such as “good touch, bad touch” and at the middle school
level would delve into reproduction and contraception, etc.
It would be more cost effective to have several sets of completed architectural designs that could be utilized for
new construction.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
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I believe our classrooms need to be open to discussions about “intelligent design” and any other theories that
challenge students to become critical thinkers.
vote?
Voting is fundamental in a democratic society and the importance of voting and civic participation needs to be
included as part of the curriculum in schools. Students should be encouraged from a young age to actively
participate in the democratic process. I do support allowing non-partisan groups to register eligible students to
vote.
I think it is important that our children learn to be critical thinkers and know the importance of making informed
decisions based on a thorough review of multiple viewpoints. When exposing students to opposing political
viewpoints it is important that it be done in a non-bias way that is meant to inform and must therefore be fair and
equitable with respect to how material is presented and in what format.
I support charter schools. I believe they provide additional educational options for students and in some cases
provide better learning opportunities than a traditional public school for certain individuals. APS should foster
good working relationships with local charter schools to strengthen Albuquerque’s educational community.
The biggest problems faced by APS are the budget cuts and the complexity of the bureaucracy.
Yes, please visit my website at www.candidoarchuleta.com for information about my policy priorities and goals.
Not any at the time this questionnaire was submitted.
No.
24. What is your educational involvement , background, accomplishments and do you have any well known
I’m an APS graduate, I have a B.A. in Political Science & Spanish from Eastern New Mexico University and a
Master’s in Community & Regional Planning from UNM. I have one child who is a kindergartener APS and a
toddler who will attend APS. I’m actively involved in my child’s education and school PTA. I’m from a working
class family and my family has lived in district 4, in the same neighborhood and on the same block for nearly 60
years and 4 generations. I am a community development planner and advocate and have a professional
background in governance capacity building and policy development.
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Cheryl Ann Harris
The teachers’ union is usually concerned with issues of working conditions, pay, benefits, etc.
However, I believe policy is best developed when there are a broad range of inputs and ideas, and
that includes teachers and their union representatives. The union as an organization also has a right
to be involved.
I am not opposed to collective bargaining- there is a legal right of employees to choose to form a union
in this state, and I uphold that. I’ve worked successfully with unions in the past. Merit pay is a concept
that I endorse. In the field of education it will probably be complicated to work out all the details and
procedures of bringing it about but I believe it can be done. The idea of reward for good teaching
results, as well as experience and longevity, is growing in popularity.
3. What are your thoughts regarding the possibility of splitting up APS school district? Do you have
any ideas for what would be most equitable, in terms of costs: initial, operational; academic
effectiveness and savings to taxpayers?
At this time I would be opposed to a split. If there is a split, it needs to be done after careful financial
and demographic/community studies, followed by a vote of all citizens in the district. I would not want
to see a school district created, or left behind, that would be set up for failure.
Both academic improvement and financial cost savings would have to be outcomes of the split to
make it successful in my opinion.
I believe APS needs to share more information voluntarily by putting it on the web. Other requests for
information need to be handled faster, more efficiently, and with more cooperation than they have
been.
I believe that the school-based health clinics have provided good services for students unable to
access health support some other way. The services should include family planning because many
children do not have access to this support and they need information from somewhere. The actually
outcomes need to be private, as part of the patient-Dr. confidential relationship.
I am not sure if there are state guidelines on ages of minor independent health care. I would follow
those, and support the patient-Dr. relationship. I’m not sure my personal opinion should enter into that.
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I would have the health clinics follow state law, and the ethics of the patient-Dr. relationship. We are
on the horns of a dilemma here- I think the professional relationship is very important. But also, the
relationship of a parent with his/her child is the foundation of our community. Unfortunately, sometimes
the parent is the problem, leaving the child with a need to turn to someone else.
I am not sure exactly what your question asks or implies. It seems a “coded” word, which could take a
number of meanings.
education?
Yes, for sex education in general. Parents usually have a right to keep their child from a number of
informative programs in the school, including sex education. [We used to call it the maturation
program.] But parents may do their child an injustice keeping them from these topics. Do all parents
then adequately fill that gap at home, or just ignore the issue and hope it will go away? It won’t.
Again, I am not sure of what you mean by sex diversity? As for sex education in general, I believe
middle school ages are appropriate. Every child is unique in his/her understanding and readiness for
this information.
Abstinence should certainly be one of the qualities we hope for in our children as they mature. But
abstinence-only education has been shown to not be very effective. Young people are human beings,
with all their failures, and they experiment, get themselves in tough situations, and sometimes make
bad decisions. We need to help them with complete information, alternatives, and resources. I do not
know any one correct age- every child is different, but again, the middle school years are probably
most appropriate.
12. What are your views towards requiring unique architectural drawings & plans for each new building
at APS?
As an architectural school graduate, I love to see beautiful buildings that enhance our visual
environment and provide stimulating work environments. However, we are in tight economy, and costs
of schools have become unreasonable, in my opinion. In the 60’s Sandia and Rio Grande were built
on the same plan- 2 for 1. They weren’t the most comfortable and attractive of schools. There needs
to be some middle ground between the Rio Grande/Sandia model and the Atrisco Heritage Academy
model.
13. Would you support a building template for new construction. For example, certain size facilities
would be similar (design-cost template) for construction to save costs?
To a degree. Every site is different, so it would be difficult today to have exact replicas as Sandia-Rio
Grande did. However, I think some aspects of schools can be similar, and the costs should be
36
justifiable between two schools, and in the ballpark with each other. I would prefer to see smaller,
rather than larger, schools.
Yes
available on the APS website? Personnel related information would be confidential.
Yes. I would also like to see the full Board meetings televised live on GOV TV, and would like to see
the board meetings moved periodically to high school PACS around the school district. The more
people engaged in education, the better.
I believe science classes should use textbooks written by experts in their scientific fields, and use
scientific principles and practices that are in use by the professional science community. I support the
use of the “scientific method”. Creationism, intelligent design, could be taught in a religious context
outside of the classroom.
17. What are your views on allowing non-partisan groups to register students on campus who are
eligible to vote?
I think non-partisan groups and state voter registrars should be welcome in schools to register 18 year
olds, and that both major parties should be invited into history/political science/civics classrooms to
talk about the democratic process, and get young people involved in dialogue about public issues.
concerns, religious groups addressing drugs, suicide, etc.) to speak at the same time at APS schools
or hand outs from both sides of an issue to be taken home to parents?
I would rather have 2 sides of an issue presented than no sides- we should be educating ourselves,
our children, and our community on all issues better than we are.
I am opposed to public vouchers for private schools, and I believe that the NM Constitution prohibits
this. I support school choice in many forms, including free public charter schools. Children learn in
different ways, and have different needs, and many charter schools have met these needs. I also think
home schooling is appropriate for some, as well as alternative schools and magnet schools. I would
also like to see more flexibility within the “traditional” APS classroom in the way teachers are allowed
to modify or change teaching methods to fit students.
The achievement gap between performance of children in poverty and middle-class and above
children is our biggest challenge that we must address. The access to equal opportunities is not the
same, and the school alone has not been able to make up this gap. It will fall to the entire community
to change the access and expectations for these children.
37
Another problem is lack of parent involvement in children’s education, starting with pre-school. Many
of our parents are under great stress, but nonetheless, should be committed to a more involved role.
This is a huge challenge. Programs like Even Start and FAST (Families and Schools Together) can
help educate our childrens’ parents.
We need to create new partnerships with advocacy groups, over and above those already in place,
especially advocacy groups working with families of poverty. I believe adult literacy is part of the
problem, and would like to see schools and other groups work on this. Confident parents will better
help their children.
We need to have an attitude that we can make change, even if one school/classroom at a time. We
hear too much that we can’t change something. We need to ask the students and teachers what is
working for them and implement their ideas.
We need to let the teachers teach, and the administration should be there to provide the support
mechanisms to make this happen, rather than a bureaucracy asking for reports and time-consuming
activities. A quality review of every process should take place, eliminating everything not necessary.
Not officially that I am aware of.
No
known references to support your character & positions? Elected officials, ministers, rabbis, friends,
etc.
I come from a family of teachers- my mother, aunt, uncle, daughter, brother, brother-in-law, and sister-
in-law are/were all teachers. I have always respected and supported teachers. Although not a
professional teacher myself, I have been a substitute teacher, tutor, active in youth activities,
especially Girl Scouts, PTA leader, and other activities when my children were growing up. I have
taught adults at work, in Habitat for Humanity, Girl Scouts, and other groups. I received both state and
national awards (the Green Angel pin and the Thanks Badge) for my work in Girl Scouts in Utah.
City Councilor Rey Garduno and State Senators Cisco McSorley and Jerry Ortiz y Pino have all
endorsed me.
There are too many friends supporting me to list all here. They have donated money, as well as
walked and called for me. I appreciate the support of everyone who believes I will bring honesty,
openness, and inclusiveness to the board.
38
Charles E. MacQuigg
School policy should be developed through collaborative decision making that provides for meaningful
participation by all interest holders.
Any interest holder has a right to participate, individually or collectively as is their choice.
That said, we need to be paying more serious attention to the 100, 000 years of teaching experience we
have at our immediate disposal.
Ironically, you cannot have both. You can’t negotiate a collective agreement that applies differentially.
Clearly, there is a need for some open and honest discussion about how we compensate great and not
so great teaching. My service will be to provide the round table around which interest holders can
defend their interests. There will be impartial facilitation of deliberative meetings.
The ongoing failure to recognize good teaching has encouraged mediocrity.
The matter is urgent.
On the issue of collective bargaining, I support providing all interest holders a seat at the table where
decisions are made. They can sit individually or collectively as is their choice. I cannot support granting
any concession before the discussion has even begun. All interests are entitled to the same respect.
taxpayers?
The administration of the APS should remain intact. There are economies of scale; copy paper is
cheaper by the trainload than the truck load. Some decisions need to be made district wide; the rest
should be made at the lowest practical level.
The split needs to be in governance not in administration. I propose splitting APS 163 times; make
every school self-governing. Deliver our power and resources directly to the people who will use them.
Let them decide and determine the size and shape of the administration the need above them.
Education is unique in that the most qualified people are at the bottom of the oligarchy in terms of power
and influence. There are more than 100,000 years of teaching experience in the APS, and they, like
parents and community members, have no seat at the table where decisions are made. It is the
fundamental source of APS’ educational failure.
I am furious about it. How can we can we have government of the people, by the people and for the
people, if it is secret from the people? I would insist upon the timely surrender of ethically redacted
public records. I would insist that redaction be done by an impartial third party, perhaps the NM Attorney
General’s Office, and not by the politician or public servant who might have greatest need to hide the
truth.
39
If a parent has made it clear that they don’t want their child provided any particular service or curriculum,
I cannot imagine government legitimately overruling them.
If a student and their parent are in accord, it is our obligation to address their needs as best we can.
If the parent and the student are not in accord, do we really want schools to be picking side in their
dispute?
I hesitate to use “age” as a standard for anything beside a census. Chronologic age does not reflect
emotional or intellectual maturity.
I do believe in distribution of contraceptives as an effective tool against unwanted pregnancy and (in the
case of condoms) the spread of STDs.
I believe also, that children should be trained in school in the aspects of character that will enable them
to make these kinds of decisions wisely and thoughtfully.
Those said, schools cannot override the judgment of parents except in the most extraordinary of
circumstances. It is not government’s role to pick a side in a familial dispute.
Schools cannot override the expressed wishes of parents except in the most extraordinary of
circumstances; these are not. Perhaps schools can assume some responsibility for enabling students
and parents to engage in this kind of decision making on their own.
I will confess that I went first to “google” and got more than a million hits.
If I have to offer my definition without the benefit of further discussion of diverging opinions; an
intellectually honest and non-proselytizing effort by schools to help students understand human and
their own, sexuality at their own time and speed.
Parents have the uncontested right to opt their child in or out of school entirely,
how could they not have the right to opt out of any specific parts?
At an age when parents and teachers deciding together, agree it is time.
I strongly support any effort to enable students to learn to think critically about the important issues in
their lives; all of them. The age at which they will have these discussions is a decision that should be left
up the student, the parents, and the teachers. There would need to be a clear line between teaching
and advocating for any particular position.
40
It seems unnecessarily extravagant, particularly in light of other uses for limited funding.
Absolutely. Particularly when funds are short, fancy and unique buildings are an extravagance we
cannot afford.
All of the power and resources that APS spends belong to the people. The truth about how they are
being spent belongs to the people as well. APS’ surrenders only truth that the law “requires”, I will
advocate strongly, for surrendering all the truth that the law “allows”.
I have a long record of fighting for webcasting of deliberative governmental meetings. They must be
stored in a searchable and user friendly archive.
I would extend the limits on public forum. In particular, I would allow stakeholders to ask questions and
expect to receive candid, forthright and honest responses to legitimate questions.
To students and parents with an expressed interest, why not?
I am in complete support of any effort to enable students to learn to think critically about the important
issues of the day. The caveat of course, is, schools cannot be seen as supporting any particular
viewpoint, and especially on the subject of religion.
It would be hard to argue that discussion of the controversy is not a legitimate one.
vote?
I am unaware of any problems this practice has caused. I don’t see a problem as long as it doesn’t
disrupt the educational environment.
As long as parents have the opportunity to participate in the decision whether their child will or will not
participate in any particular activity, I am in complete support of any effort to enable students to learn to
think critically about any important issues of their day.
41
If schools were responsive to the individual needs of students (which they are not but absolutely can be)
the need for charter schools and vouchers all but disappears. For as long as APS continues to ignore
the individual needs of students, there will be need for charter schools and vouchers.
Administratively; the biggest problem in the APS is the lack of accountability to meaningful standards of
conduct and competence, for administrators and board members.
The administration is not transparent. The standards of competence are either not high enough to
protect the public interests, or they have not been honestly accountable to them.
Educationally; the biggest problem is that 100,000 years of teaching experience are languishing in the
trenches because they have no seat at the table where decisions are made. Why spend a billion dollars
a year on teachers and then not let them teach?
We have to access the damage that NCLB and its cemetery seating model are really doing. If “cemetery
seating”, five rows of six kids moving in exactly the same direction at exactly the same speed for twelve
years, was ever the best model for education, is certainly is no longer.
Teaching children is like herding kittens; trying to get them to participate in a thought choir for their entire
education is nearly impossible and serves no useful purpose. Even if we could do it, why would we want
to?
If the leadership of the APS were honestly accountable to the same standards of conduct that they
establish and enforce upon students; a nationally recognized, accepted and respected code of ethical
conduct, every legitimate agenda would move forward immediately.
Revisit the commitment to site based management. Start by allocating power and resources directly to
schools. Let them determine what the need by way of administration.
UNM Conservative Republicans
I do not.
24. What is your educational involvement, background, accomplishments and do you have any well known
I am a retired APS teacher. I remain actively involved in the issues of standards and accountability in
the APS.
I am honored by the endorsement of Former Gubernatorial Candidate, Rep Janice Arnold-Jones.
42

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Albuquerque Public School

School Board Election

Candidate Answers to a Questionnaire

Peter A. Sanchez No Response

Greg Scott Snyder 31

Martin Esquivel No Response

Cheryl Ann Harris 37

I AM A STRONG SUPPORTER OF UNIONS. MY WIFE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE EDUCATIONAL

2. What are your views on collective bargaining & merit pay?

ME and my wife have been to WASHINGTON D.C. TO WORK ON COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

I WILL HAVE AN OPEN DOOR ,AS APS SHOULD

Yes PARENTS NEED to be INVOLVED

I PERSONALLY PREFER SOUTHWESTERN DESIGN AND SOLAR(I AM A BUILDER) BUT WE

RELIGION SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE PARENTS

EVERYONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO REGISTER AND VOTE

19. What are your views on charter schools & vouchers?

20. What are the biggest problems at APS?

22. Are any organizations, groups or agencies endorsing your candidacy?

2. What are your views on collective bargaining & merit pay?

8. How would you define sexual diversity education?

YES, again we need to concentrate on educational core requirements

Parents need to handle this in accordance to their individual children’s needs.

11. Is teaching abstinence in APS schools appropriate, if so at what age?

See previous on prototype design.

19. What are your views on charter schools & vouchers?

20. What are the biggest problems at APS?

22. Are any organizations, groups or agencies endorsing your candidacy?

2. What are your views on collective bargaining & merit pay?

Collective bargaining is an excellent example of positive communication, collaboration,

Need parental guidance for a policy.

7. Do you believe there should be parental notification before providing contraceptives in

Need parental input for a policy.

Need parental input for a policy.

19. What are your views on charter schools & vouchers?

20. What are the biggest problems at APS?

• Balancing the Budget without impacting direct service to children

22. Are any organizations, groups or agencies endorsing your candidacy? NO

1. What are your views on involvement of teacher’s unión in developing school

6. What age do you believe is appropriate for distribution of contraceptives at school

7. Do you believe there should be parental notification before providing

8. How would you define sexual diversity education. I wouldn’t.

11. Is teaching abstinence in APS schools appropriate, if so at what age? No

24. What is your educational involvement, background accomplishments and do you

2. What are your views on collective bargaining & merit pay?

7. Do you believe there should be parental notification before providing contraceptives in

This is a family matter and schools are needed for educations.

8. How would you define sexual diversity education?

When Sex Ed is taught in the schools.

11. Is teaching abstinence in APS schools appropriate, if so at what age?

Abstinence again is a family matter.

The best way to solve problems is for people to be informed.

19. What are your views on charter schools & vouchers?

20. What are the biggest problems at APS?

Reactive vice Proactive

Making all schools equal in education

Information flow is going in the wrong direction

22. Are any organizations, groups or agencies endorsing your candidacy?

Endorsed by the Teachers, Education Assistance, and Secretary Unions.

7 years as a youth coach in basketball, baseball, soccer,

7 years as a PTA member, Vice President, President

3 years as a Parent Action Committee member

3 years working with youth ministries

2. What are your views on collective bargaining & merit pay?