Harbison: Education in New Mexico

Jim Harbison

At a recent constituent meeting in Las Cruces State Senator Steve Fischmann stated that the Federal and State funds all the K-12 education at a level of $350,000 per classroom per year. This is a staggering number and would cause any clear thinking individual to wonder why, with that level of funding, we are ranked 49th in education. As someone said at the meeting “Thank God for Mississippi” because without them New Mexico would be last in this embarrassing and shameful ranking.

In order to understand the magnitude of this problem the public needs to know what constitutes a “classroom” and what are all the inherent costs associated with and included in the $350,000 per classroom figure. Failure to define “classroom” will only increase the levels of concern and discontent with the funding for education in this state. We know that the teachers are not paid act a level consistent with a $350,000 per class budget. Many of our classrooms are short on textbooks, classroom materials and equipment. So where is all this funding going?

Government mandates absorb many of the education dollars to provide a multitude of educational, special needs, bi-lingual and social services within each school district. He was asked what constitutes a “classroom” and how many services and support systems are included? Does it include bussing, cafeteria, custodial staff, utilities, maintenance, counselor, library, music, art, PE, computer labs, tech support, Spec Ed teachers, teachers, principals, secretaries, nurse, speech therapists, diagnosticians, school psych, and occupational therapists, etc? How many of these positions are mandated? Are school athletics included in this amount?

Steve Fischemann

According to Senator Fischmann in an email response “the $350,000 number includes all school services funded by the state and the federal governments divided by the number of classrooms in our school system k-12. However he didn’t quantify the number of students per classroom. For him, the point is that the State can call them schools, yet with all the money we spend on ancillary services, we do not manage to fund the basics - like texts and teacher supplies. This points to what he feels is a lack of focus - are we going to do a good job on the core functions of education, or are we going to do a mediocre job of implementing a hodge podge of individual programs”.

There are 89 separate independent school districts each having its own Superintendent and administrative staff. Forty-seven of the Districts have few than 1,000 students. How much of the $350,000 per classroom is eaten up by administrative costs? I happen to agree with Senator Fischmann who will be introducing a bill during this legislative session to require consolidation of school districts with less than 1,000 students. While this does not guarantee an improvement in education it should free up a significant amount of money that can be put directly into the classroom to address many of their needs. It can also be used to improve classroom teacher pay and quality.
Governor Martinez stated in her State of the State address that she proposes a 1.5% administrative (non-classroom) cut in all 89 school districts and redirects the savings to the classrooms. Senator Fischmann acknowledges that this massive funding is not actually reaching the classroom and that much of it is drained off by the administrative bureaucracy. As an advisory member of the Legislative Education Study Committee, Senator Fischmann believes he can work with the Martinez administration. Let’s encourage all our State Legislators to work together to consolidate our school districts to improve the quality of New Mexico’s education system.