Education

Minimum Wage For High Schoolers Passes NM House

STATE News:

SANTA FE — High school students will no longer receive a sub-minimum wage for their after-school or summer jobs under new legislation passed by the New Mexico House of Representatives Sunday.

Currently, employers are only required to pay students $8.50 per hour instead of the state’s standard minimum wage of $10.50 per hour.

Sponsored by Rep. Miguel Garcia (D-Albuquerque) and Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces), Senate Bill 35: Minimum Wage for Secondary School Students updates this outdated law to ensure that all workers receive New Mexico’s established minimum wage. 

“As

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NMPED: 16 New Mexico Schools On COVID-19 Watchlist

NMPED News:

SANTA FE — Sixteen New Mexico school buildings appeared on the COVID-19 Watchlist in the week ending Friday, March 12, signifying they had at least two Rapid Responses within a 14-day period:

ALAMOGORDO

  • Mountain View Middle

ALBUQUERQUE:

  • Albuquerque Academy
  • Public Academy for Performing Arts
  • Sandia Preparatory
  • St. Charles Borromeo School
  • Ventana Ranch Elementary

ARTESIA

  • Artesia Park Junior High 
  • Yucca Elementary

CARLSBAD

  • Carlsbad High
  • Carlsbad Intermediate 

CLOUDCROFT

  • Cloudcroft Elementary

FARMINGTON

  • Farmington High

MORIARTY

  • Moriarty Edgewood School Transportation
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Los Alamos Community Foundation Invites Applications For Youth Sports Grants

LACF News:

The Los Alamos Community Foundation is now accepting grant applications requesting up to $1,200 to fund youth sports activities in Los Alamos County.  

Organizations are invited to apply for funding for projects that build leadership skills in youth through achievement in competitive team sports. Youth served by the program must be located in Los Alamos County and/or attend Los Alamos public schools and be between the ages of 5-18 years old. 

This grant is funded by the Los Alamos Community Youth Sports Endowment established by Paul and Jill Cook to benefit youth sports in Los Alamos. Read More

Gov. Lujan Grisham, Lt. Gov. Morales, State Leaders Mark One Year Milestone Of First COVID-19 Cases In New Mexico

Flanked by state leaders this morning, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham mark the one-year milestone today of the first COVID-19 cases in New Mexico. Screenshot/LADP

STATE News:

…“After a year of fighting and sacrificing to protect one another, New Mexico’s future is bright.”

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today marked the one-year milestone of the first COVID-19 cases in New Mexico:

“Reflecting on the past year, thinking back to where we were last March and all that has happened since, more than anything else I am genuinely and incredibly proud of New Mexicans.

“As I said in my State Read More

Steinhaus Updates Board On 2021 Legislative Session

By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bjgordon@ladailypost.com

Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus presented an update on the 2021 state legislative session at the March 9 School Board Meeting. There are 9 days left in the session.

“It changes every day,” Steinhaus said. “As the chair of the Education Committee told me, these are crazy times.”

Steinhaus gave the Board a summary of the bills that most impact LAPS.

The House passed HB 268 on a party line vote. This bill increases workers compensation for those making less than $15 per hour. The legislation now moves Read More

Topper Library Seeks Donations For Local Animal Shelters

LAPS News:

The Topper Library is asking the community to show love to the many lonely cats and dogs by dropping off donations for local animal shelters March 15-19.

Items such as dog and cat food, treats, toys, leashes, towels and blankets may be dropped off 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Los Alamos High School Topper Library outdoor entrance.

A list of needed items may be found here.

Topper library assistant Cami Heath is organizing this event. She decided to pursue this project after her cat of 10 years passed away.

“I care a lot about keeping animals happy and safe,” she said. “It gets lonesome in times like Read More

LAHS Students Receive LASO 2021 Scholarships

LAHS student and LASO scholarship recipient Ursula Coe. Courtesy/Bob & Jackie MacFarlane 

LAHS student and LASO scholarship recipient Jackson Bell. Courtesy/Bob & Jackie MacFarlane 

LAHS student, LASO scholarship recipient Karin Ebey. Courtesy/Bob & Jackie MacFarlane 

LASO News:

Three years ago the Los Alamos Symphony Orchestra needed a bassoon player. A Sophomore from Los Alamos High School (LAHS), Karin Ebey, very capably filled that spot. In the years that followed Ebey has continued to be an active member of the community orchestra. She also has played in the LAHS band Read More

Senate Finance Committee Votes To Work Additional Funds Into Budget So College Is More Affordable For New Mexicans

U.S. Sen. Mimi Stewart

By ROBERT NOTT
SFNM

The prospect of additional state funds brought welcome news for New Mexico’s college students Wednesday.

Based on an improved revenue outlook, New Mexico will have an additional $373 million to spend, bringing the state budget to $7.436 billion, financial experts said during a Senate Finance Committee hearing. 

The extra money would include a one-time appropriation of over $20 million to make college more affordable for New Mexicans. 

Some $11 million of the new money would go into the state’s Opportunity Scholarship Program, which Read More

Scenes From Sullivan Field House Ribbon Cutting And Tour

Los Alamos High School track standout Helen Chavez cuts the ribbon Monday on the new Sullivan Field House. The ceremony officially opens the 7,000 square foot facility for use just as the sports season gets the green light from the governor to proceed. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Officials gather Monday for the ribbon cutting ceremony held on the sidewalk in front of the Sullivan Field House on Diamond Drive. A tour utilizing COVID-19 protocols of social distancing and mask wearing followed the ceremony and included the new Press Box and remodeled Track Storage Shed. The new Sullivan Read More

Heinrich, Luján, Leger Fernández Welcome Nearly $1 Million For Broadband And Telehealth Projects In New Mexico

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) are welcoming announcements from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development that several projects in New Mexico will receive a combined $927,966 through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants program.

The funding is made available through the CARES Act that Senators Heinrich and Luján helped pass in 2020. Senators Heirnich and Luján and Rep. Leger Fernández will continue working to support broadband and telehealth Read More

Kiwanis: African Library Effort Continues Despite Pandemic

Kiwanis volunteers help pack books March 4-5 for shipment to African libraries. Courtesy/Kiwanis

KIWANIS News:

The Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos has proven once again that while service projects may be a bit more difficult during a pandemic – they are certainly not impossible.

March just happens to be National Reading Month, so very small groups of 4-5 volunteers spread way out at the Sarah McLaughlin Hall at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church on Canyon Road to pack books, books and more books March 4-5 for the African Library Project.

Book donations have been steady and high all throughout Read More

Full School Reentry Is Here; All Staff Prioritized For Vaccine

NMDOH / NMPED News:

  • All educators offered vaccine by end of March; schools to move rapidly to expand in-person learning
  • Goal: All schools in full reentry no later than April 5

SANTA FE – All New Mexico school staff members will be offered a COVID-19 vaccine before the end of March as a gateway to further expanding safe in-person learning with a goal of reaching full reentry by April 5, the Public Education Department and Department of Health announced today.

“I bring you good news today – news you’ve been waiting to hear for a year: We’re going back to school,” Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart Read More

New Mexico Announces COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility For K-12 Educators, Early Childhood Professionals And Staff

NMDOH News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) announced today that all K-12 educators, early childhood (EC) professionals, and staff will be eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine beginning today, March 8.

In keeping with a White House directive, the state will offer first shots to these groups over an approximately three-week period, as follows: 

  • Week 1 (beginning today): Educators and EC professionals outside the Albuquerque metro area;
  • Week 2 (beginning March 15): Educators and EC professionals within the Albuquerque metro area, likely at a mass vaccination site;
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Youth Risk & Resiliency Survey Virtual Presentation On Los Alamos County 2019 YRRS Results March 18

LAPS News:

The community is invited to a virtual presentation 3-4:30 p.m., March 18 from the UNM Prevention Research Center and New Mexico Department of Health about Los Alamos County 2019 Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey results.

These virtual meetings are designed for anyone interested in the health of students, including school district staff, students, parents, health professionals and other community members.

Click here to register for the virtual presentation. Once registered for the event, an email will be sent out the day before the presentation with information on how to connect. Read More

LAPS Celebrates Increase In 4-Year Graduation Rate

By Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus
Los Alamos Public Schools

I am pleased to report encouraging news about four-year graduation rates in Los Alamos. 

Recently released data show that the districtwide rate for LAPS is 93.3%, up from 91.4% in last year’s report. The statewide rate is 76.9% and the national average is 85%.

I am so very proud of staff in the Los Alamos Schools who have kept their “eye on the prize” – high school graduation. This achievement is a true testament to the hard work of LAPS students, teachers, staff, parents and the whole community. 

It really is a communitywide achievement. Read More

New Mexico Senate Rules Committee Votes For Boost In Early Childhood Program Funding

Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto

By ROBERT NOTT
SFNM

A longtime push to boost early childhood programs with funding from the state’s multibillion-dollar Land Grant Permanent Fund got one step closer Friday to its first vote on the Senate floor after years of stalling in Senate committees.

Following a brief discussion, the Senate Rules Committee approved House Joint Resolution 1, which asks voters to approve a constitutional amendment allowing a 1 percent annual draw from the endowment to pay for services for New Mexico’s youngest children.

Seven Democrats voted for the resolution, while four Republicans Read More

New Mexico Indian Affairs Dept. Partners With Honoring Native Life To Host A Suicide Prevention Training Series

NMIAD News: For Behavioral Health Providers In Tribal Communities

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Indian Affairs Department (IAD) has partnered with Honoring Native Life (HNL) to host a suicide prevention training series for behavioral health providers in Tribal communities from March 2021 to May 2021.

Created in 2011, HNL serves as a clearinghouse for Native American suicide prevention that provides culturally appropriate suicide prevention assistance to the state’s Native American individuals, families, and Tribal nations.

HNL is housed at the University of New Mexico Department of Psychiatry Read More

History On Tap Online: Women Of The Manhattan Project

Dorothea Hermann, left, and Lyda Speck sit in their barracks in the summer of 1945. Courtesy/Vieira Collection, Los Alamos Historical Society Photo Archives

Los Alamos Historical Society News:

Join the Los Alamos Historical Society and the Los Alamos Creative District for History on Tap online 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 22.

Celebrating Women’s History Month, historian Heather McClenahan will introduce us to stories of women who lived and worked here in Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project. 

History on Tap is free, and you can register to attend via Zoom here.

You may often hear the complaint: Read More

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