You and Zsombor; that was IT? ??

My wife's exclamation of incredulity after I had named everyone in the audience for this morning's board meeting.

Readers will benefit from a heads up comparison of the coverage of the meeting by me, and by Zsombor Peter and the Journal.

Attendance at the meeting was mandatory.

Robert Lucero, Berna Facio, and Gordon Rowe were no shows without explanation, defense, or even acknowledgment.

The meeting lacked a quorum and could not begin until
Marty Esquivel's late arrival.

He offered no explanation or apology for his tardy, and
proceeded to fix himself a cup of coffee.

Bernalillo County made a presentation to the board regarding the public use of public facilities when students are not using them.

The presentation was tight;
there really is no reason that kids cannot be meaningfully engaged in positive activities at school when they are not in school.

The rub comes with getting permission to use the facilities.
And mumble, mumble, mumble "liability" issues.

Which begs the question; why is there still a question?

It seems to me that if four people who are being paid a hundred thousand dollars a year to protect the public interest,

• two directors; one from the county and one from APS, and
  
• two lawyers, one for the county one for the APS

got together for a couple of hours, there could be a contract.

Yet the County and the APS have both had their hundredth
birthday, and there still is no paperwork.

That speaks to incompetence and/or corruption;
deliberate decision (not)making against the public interest.



Delores Griego's agenda item came up next;
board successes; ethics discussion and action.

Board Member Griego, seemed visibly upset at "communication" problems within the board.

Marty Esquivel underscored her concern by busying himself with what appeared to be work on a "legal brief" during her entire presentation. He did not look at Ms. Griego once; even when she addressed him by name.

Paula Maes and Mary Lee Martin underscored Ms. Griego's concern by occupying themselves in chat the instant that Ms. Griego took the floor.

She was visibly stunned when as she began and looked toward her colleagues, she found no one in attendance.

Delores Griego needs a facilitator; someone who will orchestrate a candid, forthright and honest discussion of ethics and accountability in the leadership of the APS. Ms. Griego informed the board that the New Mexico School Board Association provides (presumably) competent and impartial facilitators to member boards.

Paula Maes immediately jumped in and demanded that
APS good ol' boy, Deedee Stroud be used instead.
She would be able to facilitate the discussion away from
the issues that Maes and Modrall do not want discussed.

Paula Maes Modrall is pushed very hard for good ol boy
"facilitation".

One can see that Delores Griego is intimidated by Maes.


Delores Griego, to her credit never gave in.
Perhaps with any community support at all,

... she won't have to.