Letters to the Editor
Co-op trustees get swagger back
Editor:
We see that since the annual meeting the Socorro Electric Co-op trustees have become more smug and arrogant. They now feel there is no need to honor the new bylaws voted in a year ago.
Due to the low turnout at this year’s annual meeting and lack of quorum, votes recorded by members in attendance and those mailed in are not counted. This makes the board trustees very happy, we’re told. They’re getting their old swagger back.
Did any of the trustees who attended the annual meeting register votes — lest they be counted as attendees and contribute to the quorum? Another question on my mind is how many of those trustees submitted expense bills for their attendance? How could they ask for payment for their attendance when they weren’t officially there?
Let’s examine the records. Will we be allowed to see those transactions? I’m sure Anaya and Ulibarri will object. Bustamante wasn’t there, they told us, but, I find that improbable since his shadow, lawyer Dennis Francish, was there.
I’m sure the attorney billed us for his presence that day — an hourly wage plus travel expenses probably cost us at least $1,500.
Trustees are now pushing to dispense with the annual expense limit of $10,000. That’s an official limit. Not subject to the whims of the board. We’ll see what the courts say on May 18, at the Socorro County Courthouse. I suggest we pack the place. Let’s see how high official collusion in Socorro has gone.
Come on, members. You have to stand up for something … or against something. The hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. at the courthouse, May 18. That’s a Wednesday.
It could be the vote we the members celebrate.
Herbert Myers, Socorro
Take time to thank a teacher
Editor:
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. It is the perfect time for all of us to thank educators from our past or present for being important in the growth and development of our young people. It is rewarding work, but it never hurts to hear that the work is appreciated. That is especially true for teachers now.
The education profession has received a tremendous amount of state and national press in the last few years. As we all know, bad news seems to sell more than good news does. So the proportion of published good to bad news does not reflect well what is happening in our schools and classrooms.
The American public knows there is much to appreciate about our educators as evidenced by how they answer the Gallup survey each year, stating a high degree of satisfaction with their own local schools. Socorro’s Quality of Education Survey, though the return rate is limited, also shows a high degree of satisfaction.
In spite of that view, due to difficult economic times and legislative decisions to balance the budget in part by paying less for education while costs continue to increase, our districts lost financial resources and most educators in New Mexico will take a net pay cut of approximately 2 percent while continuing to work hard to educate New Mexico’s children.
While educators struggle with increased accountability at the same time they are facing diminishing resources, what brings them joy and keeps them coming back to this challenging and rewarding job is seeing their students learn and being acknowledged by the community for their efforts. So please be sure to thank those you appreciate.
Please support our local educators by thanking them for a job well done and by encouraging your legislators to make education a priority so educators have the resources they need to provide a quality education for our community’s children. This means resources in the classroom (resources like good teachers, textbooks, supplies and time) and resources outside the core classroom (resources like librarians, counselors, arts education and administrative assistance) so that teachers can focus on teaching and students have the assistance they need to be successful.
Support us by working with us to make sure our children get the most they can from their education. Call us if your child is not being challenged or supported like you believe he or she should. We do really want to work with our community to continuously improve the quality of education each child receives.
This Teacher Appreciation Week as the superintendent of the Socorro school district, I would like to thank our community for being your children’s first teachers, their parents and guardians, and for staying engaged in your child’s education to help ensure they are truly ready for college or the workplace when they leave our system.
I know you will join me in thanking Socorro’s educators for working with you to make sure your children have all they need for a promising future!
Cheryl Wilson, Socorro Superintendent