School Board hears pitch for new Andalusia charter school
The short version
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A proposed new charter school, Andalusia Natural Sciences Academy, made its case to the School Board at a public hearing.
Board members asked about the school's leaders, proposed locations, start dates, money management and operating costs. The board will decide on approval Aug. 19.
What it means for youResidents could send written comments to boarded@aps.edu until the end of the business day July 17.
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The board reviewed early reading results for first and second graders.
District reports say 29.2% of first graders and 33.0% of second graders in the groups the board tracks read at grade level or above at year's end. The goals were 23% and 24.3% by May 2026, but the superintendent's report says the new reading test needs a full year of data before anyone can tell if the district is on track.
What it means for youThe goals cover Native American, African American, English learner, low-income and disabled students.
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Board members talked through middle school math progress.
They discussed learning lost to COVID, students using AI on math homework, middle school redesigns, staffing and intensive tutoring. The minutes give no math scores.
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A new board committee will review the board's own rulebook, its governance manual.
Board Member Benavidez will lead it, with Board Members Martinez and Jackson.
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The board met behind closed doors about selling or otherwise disposing of school district property.
Members voted 5-0 to go into the closed session, which ran from 8:30 p.m. to 9:46 p.m. The minutes do not name the property or record any decision.
What people said
- Retaliation and improper investigations
- How the district hires teachers
- Support for a charter school
- Children's health and well-being
- The board's middle school math goals
- No one spoke at the charter school hearing. People who had signed up will be asked for written comments.
What’s next
- Written comments on the Andalusia charter school were due by the end of the business day July 17.
- The district's Rising Educators Summit is Aug. 4 at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
- Next School Board meeting: Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 5 p.m. at 6400 Uptown Blvd. NE, also streamed at APS.edu.
- The School Board will decide whether to approve the Andalusia Natural Sciences Academy charter on Aug. 19.
- A Back to School event themed "Passing the Torch" is set for Aug. 20.
Everything on the agenda (8 items)
Decided by vote 3
The board approved the record of its July 1, 2026, meeting.
The school's representatives presented their plans for teaching. Board members asked about leadership qualifications, proposed locations, start dates, governance, financial health, operating costs, recruitment and growing while enrollment falls. No one spoke at the hearing. Written comments were taken at boarded@aps.edu through July 17. The board decides Aug. 19.
For you: Families weighing school options, and neighbors of wherever the school might open.
The board voted to meet in private to discuss selling or otherwise disposing of district property in Bernalillo County. It met from 8:30 p.m. to 9:46 p.m. and said it discussed only that topic. No decision was announced.
Reports, presentations and discussion 5
District staff, led by Superintendent Dr. Gabriella Durán Blakey, reported on first- and second-grade reading. They tracked students named in the Yazzie-Martinez court ruling plus African American students. At year's end, 29.2% of those first graders and 33.0% of those second graders read at grade level or above. The goals for May 2026 were 23% and 24.3%. The district switched to a new reading test, called Amira, this school year, and the report says a full year of data is needed to judge progress. Board members asked about testing, root causes, principal coaching, supports for families and grandparents, and federal money for teacher training in a teaching method called Project GLAD.
For you: Families of elementary students, especially Native American, African American, English learner, low-income and disabled students.
Staff reported on the board's math goals. Members discussed root causes, learning lost to COVID, students using AI on homework, middle school redesigns and staffing, helping students feel they belong, intensive tutoring, and city after-school programs. The record shown gives no math scores.
For you: Families of middle school students.
The board set up a temporary committee to review its governance manual. Board Member Benavidez will lead it, joined by Board Members Martinez and Jackson. Members discussed what to focus on and a timeline, but the minutes don't give the timeline.
The superintendent talked about getting ready for the 2026-27 school year, including an event thanking school custodians. She also announced a Rising Educators Summit Aug. 4 at the Albuquerque Convention Center and a Back to School event Aug. 20.
For you: Students, families and district staff.
The board president talked about handling concerns from residents, what is expected of board members, and the board's commitment to governance.
What the record doesn’t say
- Which district property was discussed in the closed session, and whether it will be sold.
- Where the Andalusia Natural Sciences Academy would open, when, and how many students it would serve.
- The middle school math results; the minutes and the portion of the packet shown give no figures.
- The timeline for the governance manual review committee.
- What the written comments on the charter school said.
Meeting details
- Meeting
- regular, 5:02 p.m.–9:46 p.m.
- Where
- John Milne Community Board Room, Alice and Bruce King Education Complex, 6400 Uptown Blvd. NE, Albuquerque
- Presiding
- Board President Ronalda Tome-Warito
- Attendance
- Five members present; Board Members Astorga and Bowman absent
- Written from
- From the approved minutes.
Written by AI from the official record and checked by code against it: every dollar figure, vote, number, date and member’s name must appear in the record’s own words, or the summary is held. Not reviewed by a person. Residents are not named. How these are made · All Albuquerque meetings