Opinion

Letter To The Editor: Then And Now … Why I Still Vote Yes For The School Bond

by

By Jenny McCumber
Los Alamos School Board

I remember voting yes for the school bond more than a decade ago to rebuild the high school. Our family was relatively new to Los Alamos. Life was very full with three boys in elementary school.

Things have changed a lot for us.

Then: If you don’t go back to bed and go to sleep … (insert useless consequence).

Now: If you don’t wake up and get out of bed … (insert different useless consequence).

Then: This is definitely not an appropriate show for kids to watch.

Now: This is definitely not an appropriate show for you to watch, Mom.

Then: I want 30 minutes Read More

Letter To The Editor: Cunningham Endorses Colgan

by

By ANDREA CUNNINGHAM
District 4 School Board Member
February 2015-December 31, 2019

I am writing to endorse Melanie Colgan for Los Alamos School Board, District 4 (Barranca/North Mesa).

As the sitting Board member for this District, it has been an honor and a privilege to serve and I look forward to passing the torch to a candidate who is as uniquely qualified for this position as Melanie.

While we are lucky to have two wonderful candidates for this District, Melanie is exceptionally qualified and will bring her experience and expertise to the board for the benefit of our schools, staff, parents Read More

Letter To The Editor: Morris Pongratz Would Be An Invaluable Addition To Los Alamos School Board

by

By SYDNE ASHFORD
Los Alamos Public Schools Alumna

It is my pleasure to write a letter in support of Morrie Pongratz for the Los Alamos Public Schools School Board. Throughout my time at Los Alamos High School, I had the opportunity of working with him through Los Alamos High School’s Key Club.

I began working closely with Morrie in my senior year of high school (2017-2018) when I served as a Lieutenant Governor for the Southwest District Key Club. I had to train Key Club board members around the area, plan fundraisers, and attend meetings in Arizona and Texas. This job was extremely challenging for Read More

Letter To The Editor: Morrie Values Our students, Teachers And Our Schools

by

By JOANNA GILLESPIE
Los Alamos

My friendship with Morrie began when I was a teen and he mentored a small leadership group I was a part of called, “Youth Working for Youth”. As a result, he and his wife Cheryl spent nearly every Friday for many years chaperoning informal dances that kept all of us kids dancing and out of trouble.

Like many small town youth, I could not wait to leave town. Later, I could not wait to return to raise my own children. Imagine my surprise at finding Morrie, by then an empty-nester for more than a decade, still working vigilantly on the School Board, the Juvenile Justice Advisory Read More

Letter To The Editor: Izraelevitz Endorses Morrie Pongratz For Los Alamos School Board

by

By DAVID IZRAELEVITZ
Los Alamos County Councilor
 

Different times demand different leaders for an organization, and this is a time when the Los Alamos Public Schools will be facing a series of challenges and demands that require an experienced and thoughtful leader such as Morris Pongratz.

No one can take issue with his background and experience: long-time student mentor and advisor of the Key Club, our high school student service organization, several terms on the County Council, prior experience on our School Board when he led the fight to maintain federal support for our schools,

Read More

Letter To The Editor: Thank You To Supporters Of Mountain Elementary School FunD Run

by

By Mountain Elementary School PTA
Kristy Ortega, President
Ruth Burns, Vice President
Karen Morris, Secretary
Natalie Morgan, Treasurer

The Mountain School PTA, teachers, students and staff would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to our generous community members!

A large thanks also goes to our amazing Mountain families! Together you have raised an astounding amount of money that will enable the PTA to fund fun things like teacher grants, fun community events, transport for field trips, technology needs and more!

This year’s sponsors include :

Platinum Sponsor:
Kristy Ortega, RE/MAX
Read More

Letter To The Editor: In Support Of Chris Bernstein

by

By JOLENE MARTIN
Pojoaque
 
As a high school teacher, I sometimes use my lunch period to get caught up with grading. It was one such day that a colleague, a Spanish teacher from the other end of my hall, popped in to ask me a question.
 
Apparently, during her planning period that morning, she walked by while I was teaching with the door open. A strategy we were working with caught her eye and she wanted to know more about it. We often bounce ideas off of each other and share methods. She asked me about the lesson she’d overheard. I told her about the activity and she excitedly offered suggestions
Read More

Los Alamos Daily Post Endorses LAPS Bond

by

By CAROL A. CLARK
Publisher
caclark@ladailypost.com

Following careful consideration, the Los Alamos Daily Post is endorsing the Los Alamos Public Schools Bond.

Thanks to Los Alamos voters in a previous bond election, the LAPS School Board has been able to remodel Los Alamos High School, Los Alamos Middle School and Aspen Elementary School. Major facility improvements are underway at both Barranca Mesa Elementary School and Mountain Elementary School.

Well maintained schools enhance the learning environment for students, provide a comfortable work environment for teachers

Read More

Letter To The Editor: Four Great People But Two Outstanding Women Running For LAPS Board

by

By KARYL ANN ARMBRUSTER
Public Education Commissioner Dist. 4
LAMS teacher (1992-2009)
LAFSE president (2002-08)
 
What a relief and joy to have a nonpartisan election for LAPS School Board. This election has four wonderful candidates but two stand out as uniquely qualified and outstanding.—Christine Bernstein and Julia Baker.
 
The first, Christine Bernstein, who will represent Aspen School will be the first LAPS Board member who is at this very moment teaching in the  “trenches” at Pojoaque High School. She has been a teacher for 24 years ( 9 years at LAHS, in CA, and
Read More

Letter To The Editor: Morris Pongratz Has Character, Personality, Time, Energy To Make Outstanding Contributions To Los Alamos Public Schools

by

By JULIE WANGLER
Los Alamos
 
I am supporting Morris (Morrie) Pongratz for school board from District 3, the Aspen School District.
 
Morrie has consistently throughout his many years of living in Los Alamos supported our public schools.
 
Morrie previously served on the school board (2003-2007). When he was on the board, he started the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, which helps all students feel included and valued.
 
When on the school board, he never failed to support the staff of the public schools. When the school board debated about letting staff add untraditional
Read More