Los Alamos School Board President Antonio Jaurigue recognized Jaiya Daniels as the 2022-2023 Gatorade New Mexico Girls Track & Field Player of the Year. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos School Board met Tuesday, July 11 in the School Boardroom and via Zoom.
Board President Antonio Jaurigue started the meeting by recognizing rising Los Alamos High School junior Jaiya Daniels as the 2022-2023 Gatorade New Mexico Girls Track & Field Player of the Year. This is Gatorade’s 38th year honoring the nation’s best high school athletes.
“This award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Daniels as New Mexico’s best high school girls track & field athlete,” Jaurigue said.
LAPS Director of Technology Sal Zapien gave an update on technology in the district. His presentation included a review of the ransomware attack, which occurred at the start of the school year last year and the steps that have been put into place to make the system more secure. He praised the technology department for their quick response to the incident, noting that the system was unavailable for only a few days. Access was restored for student use within three days. He pointed out that “threats change and new challenges will emerge” but steps are being implemented to counter threats including shifting systems online, enforcing multi-factor authentication and ongoing staff training.
After hearing a presentation from Superintendent Jennifer Guy and LAPS Director of Human Resources Joe Palmer, the School Board approved awarding the food services contract for the 2023-2024 school year to Chartwells. Four companies submitted bids, which were reviewed by a committee that unanimously recommended Chartwells. The New Mexico Legislature recently passed a bill that requires school districts to provide free breakfast and lunch for all students. LAPS expects 80 percent of students to participate in this program consistently.
Palmer noted that the school district applied for the National School Lunch Program. He also noted that there are concerns regarding food quality, healthy choices and portion sizes, which are being addressed for the upcoming school year, and introduced the district’s new food service liaison, Sophia Salazar. She will be the liaison with the state and Chartwells, and will be responsible for daily spot checks of menus and service at school sites.
Superintendent Guy provided an update on the Chamisa Elementary School construction project. The Chamisa construction costs totaled $45,933,680, of which the district was responsible for $36,747,944 (80 percent) and the state match was $9,186,736 (20 percent). She recently met with the Public Schools Capital Outlay Council (PSCOC) who approved the rebuild for Chamisa Elementary School, and approved a partial waiver in the amount of $21,746,944 and an advance of $15,000,000. “This funding allows LAPS to move forward with Chamisa construction,” she said. “This is an incredible opportunity for our community,” she added.
The School Board unanimously approved to accept the state award for a waiver and advance of funds to move forward with construction, thanking Superintendent Guy for her persistence and tenacity in pursuing funding for this project. Construction is slated to begin in November with completion in early spring 2026.
LAPS Superintendent Jennifer Guy listens as LAPS Director of Human Resources Joe Palmer introduces Sophia Salazar as the district’s new Food Services Liaison during the awarding of the food services contract at the school board meeting. Courtesy/LAPS.
