LISA SHIN
Chair
Republican Party of Los Alamos

Election Day for our local school board is today, Tuesday Nov. 7, and I urge residents to exercise their constitutional and civil right to vote! This election cycle, I have heard people say, “I do not have kids in the school system, so I will not vote.” However, as County Clerk Naomi Maestas has aptly said, “By participating, we ensure that our schools reflect the values, aspirations, and needs of the entire community, thereby creating an environment conducive to growth, learning, and success.” By voting, you have a say in how your tax dollars will be used in shaping the next generation. By voting, you have a say in policies that will directly and indirectly impact your daily life.

I am proud of our 2 school board candidates, Sondra Wyman (District 5) and Sean Stanfield (District 3), for their willingness to serve the community in this capacity.  Both have demonstrated that they care deeply about our kids and will prioritize their well-being and success.

As those in school district 3 cast their vote in a contested race, I wanted to share a few of my own takeaways from our Meet & Greet for Sean on Oct. 25.  

• Diversity and inclusion. Sean has coached athletic teams with different cultures represented and several languages spoken. Diversity and inclusion matter to Sean, as every team member was treated with respect and dignity. However, diversity is not just about ethnic background, but also diversity of thought and ideas. Lately, I have noticed an intolerance towards those with opposing views and legitimate concerns as well as an unwillingness to debate the issues.
• LAPS school meals program. Sean is concerned about the tremendous waste and the poor quality of food. It is hard to believe that we are not hearing more from the environmental activists when all this extra food is going to our landfill. With New Mexico’s poverty rate being among the highest in the nation, we are throwing away food in perfectly good condition. It is possible that our school board could find workable and effective solutions. If elected, Sean realizes that he would need to build consensus with other members of the school board.
• Academic excellence. With his personal experience with the varying academic needs of his own children, he would bring an important perspective to LAPS’ vision for “100% of students to meet or exceed grade level expectations for academic excellence.”
• Open communication and trust between teachers and parents. Sean does not support policies that allow teachers to hide student information from parents. At the LWV forum, the other candidates’ answers to the question on parental responsibility were vague and troubling.
• Business administration and management skills. If we had had more school board members with experience in staff recruitment and hiring, a superintendent would not have been hired only to be put on administrative leave. What a waste of public resources! We must recruit and rmy.lwv.org/…/watch-video-candidate-forum-october-5-2023etain high-quality teachers and school staff to keep education strong in Los Alamos.

If you want to see changes in our local governance, please vote! Vote centers are open today 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Please mark your calendars for our upcoming RPLA Central Committee meeting on Thursday, Nov. 16, 6 p.m. at Open Door Bible Church (2101 Trinity Dr. Ste A-2). All registered Republicans are invited to join. We will hear a County Council update from Councilor David Reagor and a Board of Public Utilities Update from board member Robert Gibson.

I wish you a blessed and joyful Thanksgiving season.