Education

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Nearly 90 percent of New Mexico schools missed the latest targets for boosting student achievement, the Public Education Department reported Friday as it announced plans for replacing the federally mandated system for rating schools.

A total of 720 schools, or 86.6 percent, failed to make "adequate yearly progress" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. That's up from 76.7 percent, or 634 schools, last year.

The improvement objectives were met by 111 schools, or 13.4 percent. That compares with 193 schools, or 23.3 percent, last year.

Former Los Alamos Middle School Assistant Principal Rex Kilburn was selected as the school’s new principal. Kilburn takes over the position vacated by Donna Grim, who is leaving to pursue an advanced degree.

Kilburn previously worked for five years at Pinon Elementary in White Rock, where he taught under the direction of principals James Telles and Megan Lee. For the last two years, he served as the assistant LAMS principal.  

Before his arrival in Los Alamos, Kilburn worked in three Alaskan communities, including Skagway, Kake and Sitka.  He received his B.A. in Elementary Education at the College of Idaho and his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Phoenix.

So far 2011 has not been kind to school districts in the State of New Mexico; Los Alamos is no exception. Due to tough financial times, districts were forced to cut 3.4 percent from their budgets this year.

LAPS received some help from Los Alamos County by way of reducing fees at the Larry R. Walkup Aquatic Center and agreeing to share certain employee costs, but were still forced to trim approximately $600,000 from its budget.

Despite the cuts, the LAPS Fine Arts Program continues to thrive thanks to the Fine Arts Education Act Grant. For the past 10 years, LAPS has received funding through the FAEA grant. LAPS teacher Kim Letellier, serves as the fine arts grant coordinator. She’s also the music team leader for the district.

UNM-Los Alamos has joined forces with six Northern New Mexico colleges to offer Accelerate New Mexico. This program, sponsored by the Department of Energy, provides curriculum and coaching designed to quickly prepare people of various ages and all educational backgrounds for employment in technical fields.
Students will have the opportunity to apply for tuition assistance, course credit, and a stipend. A coach will guide students, help place students in internships and assist them with future employment. Nontraditional students or working people interested in either pursuing a certificate program or returning to college for career training are a good fit for the Accelerate program.