School Board approves new teacher and staff union contract terms
The short version
-
The School Board approved changes to the union contracts for teachers and for support staff.
Both passed 7-0. Board members discussed working conditions and living wages for support staff, and the negotiation format and contract length for teachers.
What it means for youThe changes cover district teachers and classified support staff.
-
The board approved a tutoring purchase of $500,000 or more.
The vote was 7-0. Board members asked about how proposals were scored, pricing, accountability measures and a Legislative Finance Committee report on tutoring.
-
The board added money from six grants to the budget, including literacy and Indian education grants.
The largest were a $931,083 state structured literacy grant and $752,068.57 under the Indian Education Act. It passed 7-0. Board Member Benavidez voted yes but said the vote was not in support of Amira.
What it means for youThe money goes to reading, Indian education, food and special education programs for the 2026-2027 school year.
-
Ten items passed together in one vote, without discussion, including four purchases of $500,000 or more each.
The purchases are for bulk fuel, nutrition education, classroom books and culturally relevant and equity training. The vote was 7-0.
-
In a split vote, the board sent a resolution to the state school boards association for its 2027 lawmaking agenda.
It passed 5-2. Board Members Benavidez, Astorga, Tome-Warito, Jackson and Martinez voted yes; Board Members Betzen and Bowman voted no.
What people said
- Students with autism and students who don't speak
- Amira and parental consent
- High-dosage tutoring, and children's health and well-being
- A tech audit and thoughtful use of technology
- Maintenance, custodial and food service issues, and the workload of teachers and educational assistants
- Shariah law in schools and the board's responsibilities
What’s next
- The board holds a special work session online on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 5 p.m., shown on the APS Board of Education YouTube channel.
- The next regular meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 5:00 p.m. at 6400 Uptown Blvd. NE, also livestreamed at APS.edu.
- The coaching firm EduSolve will next connect its coaches with board members. The record gives no date.
Everything on the agenda (20 items)
Decided by vote 5
The board approved negotiated changes to the contract with the Albuquerque Federation of Classified Professionals, the support staff union. Board members discussed working conditions and living wages. The minutes do not list the changes.
For you: District support staff
The board approved negotiated changes to the contract with the Albuquerque Teachers Federation. Board members discussed task force deliverables, how negotiations are run, and the contract's length. The minutes do not list the changes.
For you: District teachers
The board approved a resolution to send to the New Mexico School Board's Association for its 2027 legislative platform. Board members discussed the process and timeline, and addressing the Yazzie-Martinez lawsuit through the board's goals. The minutes do not say what the resolution asks for.
Grants for 2026-2027: structured literacy $931,083; Indian Education Act $752,068.57; Indian Education formula grant $748,535; Food Bridge Fund $100,333; Impact Aid for Indian education $26,406; Impact Aid for special education $13,944. The Finance Committee had pulled this item for a separate vote. Board Member Benavidez voted yes but said the vote was not in support of Amira.
For you: Students in reading, Indian education and special education programs
The board approved a purchase of $500,000 or more for high-dosage, high-impact tutoring. Board members asked about the proposal scoring, pricing, accountability measures and a Legislative Finance Committee report on tutoring. The minutes do not give the vendor or the cost.
For you: Students who will receive tutoring
Passed together without discussion 10
Staff reported that in the district's lower-performing schools, 70% of English and math classrooms used grade-level, high-quality materials, ahead of the 60% goal. High school use fell 19 points. 68% of elementary teachers, or 1,607, finished a reading-instruction certification, ahead of the 50% goal.
For you: Families at the district's lower-performing schools and elementary students
The board approved the calendar for preparing the budget for the 2027-2028 school year. The minutes do not list the dates.
The board approved June 2026 transfers within grant budget categories. The minutes give no amounts.
The board approved July 2026 transfers within budget categories across all funds. The minutes give no amounts.
The board approved a list of equipment the district took out of service in May.
The board approved a bulk fuel purchase of $500,000 or more. The minutes do not give the exact amount or the supplier.
The board approved a purchase of $500,000 or more for nutrition education and sustainability program services. The minutes do not give the amount or the vendor.
For you: Students in schools that get these programs
The board approved a purchase of $500,000 or more for book sets ready for school book rooms. The minutes do not give the amount or the vendor.
For you: Students and teachers who use the books
The board approved a purchase of $500,000 or more for culturally relevant and equity training services. The minutes do not give the amount or the vendor.
The board approved the district's July 2026 payments. The minutes do not give the total.
Reports, presentations and discussion 5
The board recognized APS high school students the district hired to read to younger children at parks across Albuquerque.
Staff presented on technology use. Board members discussed responsible AI use, guarding against cyberbullying, one device per student versus computer labs, talking with families about technology, and asked for help building community trust in Amira.
For you: Students and families
The board discussed how the EduSolve coaching firm will help it raise community voice. EduSolve will next connect its coaches with board members.
Deputy Superintendent Gonzales reported on the State of the District event, students' sense of belonging and chronic absence, and invited people to the grand opening of Harrison Middle School's new wing.
The board president spoke about respectful public engagement and accountability, especially when people disagree, and about patience with the governance process.
What the record doesn’t say
- What changed in the teacher and support-staff union contracts, including any pay changes.
- Which company will provide tutoring and what it will cost.
- The exact amounts and vendors for the fuel, nutrition education, book and training purchases.
- What the resolution sent to the state school boards association asks for.
- What Amira is; the minutes do not explain it.
- The total of the July 2026 payments.
- How many people spoke during public comment.
Meeting details
- Meeting
- Regular meeting, 5:00 p.m.–9:20 p.m.
- Where
- John Milne Community Board Room, Alice and Bruce King Education Complex, 6400 Uptown Blvd. NE
- Presiding
- Board President Ronalda Tome-Warito
- Attendance
- All seven board members were present.
- 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