At the Los Alamos School Board meeting Tuesday the board approved a proposed $40 million budget for 2023-24, which includes a 7% raise for all employees. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) Board met Tuesday in the School Board Room on Trinity Drive and following a budget presentation by Business Manager Teresa Gatewood and Superintendent Jennifer Guy, approved a proposed 2023/2024 budget in the amount of $40,050,430, which includes a 7% raise for all LAPS employees.
Board President Antonio Jaurigue started Tuesday’s meeting by recognizing members of the Los Alamos Middle School Hawktalkers, coached by Sherri Bublitz, and the Los Alamos High School Hilltalkers, coached by Margo Batha and Tacarra Lake.
“The Hilltalkers had an excellent showing at the State Speech and Debate Championship and the State Congressional Debate Championship, earning a New Mexico Speech and Debate Overall School of Excellence Award for earning the most team points throughout the state championship,” Jaurigue said. “This is the eighth year in a row that the team received this award.”
He also acknowledged Luke Favorite on receiving the Lockhart-Henry Presiding Officer Award in Congressional Debate, and Alyssa Sun-Bennett on receiving the Top Speaker Award in Lincoln-Douglas Debate for the highest speaking points earned in preliminary rounds of Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
“This is also the first time in their history that the Hilltalkers earned the highest points in Congressional Debate and won Sweepstakes in this event,” he said.
Also during Tuesday’s meeting, Erik Harrigan of RBC Capital Markets reviewed the 2023 bond sale results with school board members. The School Board had approved Stifel as the underwriter for the 2023 General Obligation Bond sale in the amount of $10,000,000. Harrigan reported that the district maintained its strong AA2 bond rating.
School Board Vice President Ellen Specter noted that the district has the highest bond rating in the state and gave kudos to Gatewood and her team for their hard work.
The Board next approved the Part-Time Employee Resolution, which provides insurance to eligible LAPS part-time employees for the 2023/2024 school year. School board members also approved the submission of the FY2024 IDEA-B application to the New Mexico Public Education Department. This provides funding for special education services and resources.
And finally, board members approved the selections of Cuddy McCarthy LLC and Walsh Gallegos Trevino Kyle & Robinson PC for district legal services for the next four years.
The next school board meeting is 5:30 p.m., May 9 in the School Boardroom and via Zoom and is open to the public.
