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Deming officials respond to recommendations
Algernon D'Ammassa, The Deming Headlight Published 3:55 p.m. MT Nov. 9, 2017 | Updated 4:24 p.m. MT Nov. 9, 2017 DEMING – Should school districts spend more budget dollars in the classroom instead of administration? Would spending more on instruction and less on administrative costs improve student success? An independent think tank based in Santa Fe says the answer is yes, as presented in a report issued last month along with a recommendation that the legislature step in. Think New Mexico, which has advocated for full-day Kindergarten and legislative reforms in other areas of state government issued its report, “Improving Our Schools by Reallocating Dollars from Administration to the Classroom,” in October. It argues that while the correlation between total spending per pupil and student outcomes is weak, the percentage of spending dedicated to classroom instruction makes a distinct difference. “Increasing the dollars available for education can improve student outcomes if they are targeted to the classroom,” the report finds. TNM is calling for the state, which provides 90 percent of public school funding in New Mexico, to “set enforceable minimum percentages for classroom spending” as a condition for district budget approval by the Public Education Department. Rep. Candie Sweetser (D-Deming) said she supports the goals of the proposed reforms but wondered about the means. "Do we really want Santa Fe dictating to that level what every school district has to do?” Local response to the report from administration, educators, and one legislator indicate support for the report’s goals but questions about implementation. As Rep. Candie Sweetser (D-Deming) put it, “Do we really want Santa Fe dictating to that level what every school district has to do?” A top-down solution? “There are many aspects of the report that I very much support,” said Deming Public Schools Superintendent Arsenio Romero, who added that the district “is currently completing audits now on how, where, and why we spend monies. We are continually evolving our internal controls so that we can better support students in the classroom.” According to district data provided by Think New Mexico, Deming Public Schools devotes 72 percent of its budget to instruction and 28 percent to administration. This puts it just short of a goal of 75 percent set by the Public Education Department, which would increase to 76 percent by 2020 according to its strategic plan. The district employs over 800 people in Luna County to serve approximately 5,200 students. One local educator pointed to some wooden blocks in her classroom as an example: 50 of them, sanded to a smooth surface. She does not know what they are for. DPS Superintendent Arsenio Romero, pictured at a school board meeting in July, said the district voluntarily audits its internal protocols "so that we can better support students in the classroom.” “I was told that the past principal had bought them for the Special Education classroom,” said Charity Cheung, a math special education teacher at Deming Intermediate School, and also Co-President of the Deming chapter of the National Education Association. “No one had a clue why, and they'd never been used.” For Cheung, the blocks represent “something admin thought was great, but the people in the classroom didn't.” She added, “Districts need to gain the input of their staff in directing how the funding will be utilized. If districts utilize the typical top down approach for deciding what to spend the funds on, it will not have as big an impact as TNM is hoping for.” Charles Goodmacher, a spokesman for NEA-New Mexico who contributed to Think New Mexico’s report (and disclosed himself as a donor to the organization), indicated concern that the recommended approach “would lead to educators having a smaller voice within the school communities. The proposal shifts too much power away from local school boards, placing it in a state-imposed formula.” Unintended Consequences? “Think New Mexico is correct that more money needs to flow into New Mexico classrooms,” said Goodmacher, who additionally welcomed “any effort that results in a reduction of paperwork districts are required to spend time and money on.” Deming School Board President Matt Robinson said, "I think any board member in any district would like more dollars going into the classroom," but is still studying the report's findings and recommendations. While reducing reporting burdens for districts is part of PED’s plan for implementing the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, Sweetser, reached by phone in Santa Fe, said, “Federal and state requirements are not going away.” While there is no proposal on the table yet, she was wary of unintended consequences from a legislative approach. “Across our entire state the districts are very wide ranging,” she said. “Are the issues that Lordsburg faces the same that Deming faces?” Sweetser worried that if districts must seek creative ways to meet requirements with reduced administration, some of that work could be transferred to teachers. “All I want to do is help our teachers teach,” said Sweetser. “Maybe we are helping them teach by taking some of that administrative paperwork off of them.” Two budgets for school districts “The issue of local control is very much something that we are considering as we develop our legislation,” said Fred Nathan, TNM’s Executive Director and co-author of the report. Think New Mexico Executive Director Fred Nathan, who co-authored the report with Kristina Fisher, hopes to have draft legislation ready for the 2018 regular session. Noting that teachers currently have “zero control” over central administrative spending, he said, “Our reform proposal would divide each school district’s operating budget into two: a budget for classroom expenses and a budget for administrative expenses. Within each of those categories, districts would maintain complete local control over their spending.” It would be up to communities and their representatives, however, to watchdog districts. “There will definitely need to be close monitoring of the implementation to make sure that the resources are actually being shifted to areas that impact students,” said Nathan. He said Think New Mexico plans to have draft legislation completed in time for the 2018 session. Algernon D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-546-2611 (ext. 2608) or adammassa@demingheadlight.com.
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New Mexico Department of Agriculture Facebook page 07/20/2017
Tonight the New Mexico Department of Agriculture honored Candie Sweetser, Representative for NM House Dist 32, for passing her first piece of legislation which allows NMDA to conduct inspections required by the Food Safety Modernization Act. We're fortunate to have someone who is passionate about agriculture representing us in the Roundhouse! Congratulations Candie! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 14, 2017 Contact: Daniel Marzec Email: Daniel.marzec@nmlegis.gov Cell: 505-363-8372 Committee to Oversee Legislation Involving Science, Technology and Telecommunications Santa Fe, NM – As the ink dries on interim committee assignments, Representative Candie Sweetser (D-Deming) has been tapped to Chair the Science, Technology, and Telecommunications Committee during the legislative interim. This marks the first time in New Mexico state history that a woman will serve as Chair of this Interim Committee, and the first interim Chair position for the freshman Representative. “I am representing the people of Luna, Hidalgo and Grant counties on my committee assignments, and to the best of my ability, embracing the distinctiveness and remarkable character of my home district,” stated Rep. Sweetser. “As the Chair of Science, Technology and Telecommunications, I look forward to bringing my district’s needs forward and looking at the state as a whole.” During the legislative interim, Representative Sweetser also will serve on the Legislative Ethics Committee, the Economic and Rural Development Committee, and the Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Committee. Representatives are assigned committees based on their level of knowledge and experience in various areas to hear from community members and review legislation. As a small business owner, reporter and former member of the Foundation for Open Government, together with her ties to farming and ranching in southwestern New Mexico, Rep. Sweetser brings one of the most diverse and experienced skillsets to the legislature. (Deming Headlight - Online April 19, 2017)
Algernon D'Ammassa, For the Headlight 3:27 p.m. MT April 19, 2017 First time in Legislative Session in the books for local state representative DEMING – As the freshman legislator for New Mexico’s 32nd district and a first-time office holder, Candie Sweetser (D-Deming) wrote down her core values on a piece of paper and brought it with her to Santa Fe. Back home after an historic and contentious session, Sweetser said that leaf of paper was more important than she realized. Some of those reminders included: • “Dignity for all people.” • “Rights and responsibilities of individuals.” • “An education system that fosters individuality and creative thinking.” • “Government transparency.” •“Service above self.” In particular, one that Sweetser used to keep her district in mind while in Santa Fe was: “Stewardship — responsible management and use of resources.” Last year, Sweetser, a managing partner of radio stations KDEM-FM and KOTS-AM, won the seat in the New Mexico house that had been held by Rep. Dona Irwin since 1999. Incoming legislators needed to learn the ropes amid a budget crisis. “It was a baptism by fire,” Sweetser told the Headlight. “We were meeting well into the evening every single day from the beginning, to get a solvency bill by the end of the first week.” A Democrat, Sweetser entered the House as part of the majority, but the work was not easy. The 2017 legislative session was marked by clashes with Governor Susana Martinez on taxation, budget cuts, and spending. The Governor’s line-item vetoes and rejection of the entire higher education budget led the Legislative Council to sue the Governor. Meanwhile, Governor Martinez has promised to call a special session to resume work on a budget for the next fiscal year. Sweetser was the sole sponsor for two bills that made it to the Governor’s desk. One, HB 305, allows FDA inspections of New Mexico farms pertaining to food safety to be carried out by the state Department of Agriculture rather than federal inspectors. This bill was signed into law while the other was not. HB 512, which came to be known as the “Tiny House bill,” would have defined standards for the increasingly popular small dwellings, seen as an affordable and more sustainable housing option, and authorized assessors to review those properties. This bill succumbed to the “pocket veto,” by which a bill expires without being signed into law or being expressly vetoed by the Governor. “This is a bill I worked hard on,” Sweetser recalls, “And it was pocket-vetoed with no message or complaint about it.” Asked what lessons came as a surprise to her, Sweetser named three. First, “the divide between rural and urban representatives is as great as the divide between parties. People want to blame partisan politics for everything that happens, but I found that everybody I worked with genuinely asks, ‘What is the best way to propel New Mexico forward?’ and everybody has a good, solid argument; but not everybody has the whole story. That’s my journalism background – I want to know the whole story.” The constant activity of lobbyists added to the challenge. “They are all salesmen, and they are really good.” The politics of the veto provided another rough lesson. “[Governor Martinez’s] people were with us at every step of the process telling us things like, ‘She will veto that but go ahead and put it in to ease the package along.’ It was used as a negotiating tool.” Sweetser learned the hard way, however, that individual lawmakers bear political costs for going along to get along: “I went forward saying ‘this is how the process is done,’ but some of that is hard to justify when you go home.” She described driving back from Santa Fe after the session closed in March, “listening to the radio and hearing her belittling us, vetoing bills that had bipartisan support, sometimes with no explanation.” Sweetser was also caught off-guard by the swift reaction when HB 45, known as the “Baby Brianna bill,” was tabled in the House Appropriations and Finance Committee in February. Sweetser was reported as having left the room before the vote and reaction on social media was immediate and unforgiving. “I was prepared to defend votes I took,” she said, “but I wasn’t expecting to defend my reasons for being out of the room. This was the harshest criticism I have received.” On a single evening, Sweetser said she spent three hours logged into Facebook responding to angry messages, explaining that she had been called away to present at another committee and arguing that her ‘yes’ vote would not have altered the outcome. “There was a kind of mob mentality. No matter what I wrote, it didn’t help.” Although not every moment was enjoyable, Sweetser frequently came back to saying she felt excited and honored by the opportunity to serve. “It’s never as easy inside as it is when you’re outside looking in. You have to maintain the clarity of the campaign in the muck of the process, and not get distracted by the politics. That’s why I actually wrote down my core values before I went up there.” (Deming Radio)3/7/2017
(Deming) - Representative Candie Sweetser of Deming, recognized the emergence of the tiny house industry, with her bill to define and allow assessors to review tiny homes. HB 512 passed unanimously by a vote of 66-0. Tiny homes arrived on the scene in recent years as a creative way for people to live sustainably and own a home without the burden of unmanageable mortgage payments. Sweetser said, “I think this is the beginning of giving tiny homes an avenue to move forward in New Mexico, This bill facilitates options for New Mexicans who are looking to live in tiny homes. ” Tiny homes have expanded housing opportunities for young people and low income individuals, and have also been proposed to help address homelessness across the country. This bill will begin to address concerns of tiny house contractors and New Mexicans seeking to create a market for alternative housing options. This bill has the potential to support a new industry in the state, creating new jobs in the process. Sweeter represents Luna County and parts of Hidalgo and Grant Counties in the NM House of Representative. Bill to Increase Funding Opportunities for New Mexico Agriculture Moves Forward
HB 289 Supports Entrepreneurial Endeavors that Add Value to Agricultural Products Santa Fe, N.M. – House Bill 289 the Agriculture in Economic Development Finance Act passed unanimously through the House Business and Industry Committee by a unanimous vote. The bill, sponsored by Representatives Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces), Candie Sweetser (D-Deming), Debbie Rodella (D-Española) and Bill Gomez (D-Las Cruces) opens the statewide Economic Development Department funding to value-added agriculture. The bill originated from numerous meetings with constituents during the House Democrats’ Jobs Listening Tour before the legislative session. “Value-added agriculture means more revenue for farmers and ranchers and new horizons for research and development. I’m proud to help lead this effort to increase economic opportunity,” said Rep. Small. Rep. Sweetser said, “Agriculture plays a major role in my district’s economy, and this bill will allow our farmers and ranchers to tap into the entrepreneurial spirit and create new jobs in their industry.” Value-added agricultural products are agricultural commodities transformed into products ready for sale, like salsas, jams, milled flour, cheese, etc. Value-added agriculture builds on New Mexico’s existing agricultural sector and seeks to expand the industry to create jobs and spur economic development. “My district’s agricultural community already creates new products that highlight our unique culture,” said Rep. Rodella.“This bill will give our communities the resources to build on their industrious spirit and promote our heritage through business expansion.” “The unanimous support for HB 289, shows that we have a bill that everyone can get behind,” said Rep. Gomez.“Making funds available for value-added agriculture will expand economic opportunity in rural areas, and support new businesses. I’m pleased that the agriculture industry will get credit for the $12 million it adds to our state’s economy and the ability to build on their success.” The Agriculture in Economic Development Finance Act explicitly includes language that permits value-added agricultural businesses to access federal monies and loans administered by NMEDD. The bill now moves to the House Floor. Bill Supporting Rural Entrepreneurs Passes House Committee
Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, House Bill 289 the Agriculture in Economic Development Finance Act passed the House Labor and Economic Development Committee in a 9-0 unanimous vote. The bill, sponsored by Representatives Candie Sweetser (D-Deming), Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces) and Bill Gomez (D-Las Cruces) amends the New Mexico Statewide Economic Development Department (NMEDD) to include value-added agricultural enterprises, providing small agricultural businesses in rural New Mexico with access to funding administered by NMEDD. The bill’s passage signals the prioritization of New Mexico’s agribusinesses as essential players in the state’s economic vitality. “I am so pleased by the unanimous, bipartisan support that this bill received today in committee,” Representative Sweetser said. “Our state’s agricultural enterprises are a significant economic engine. It is vital that they receive the same economic opportunities for success as any other business in our state and we should facilitate rather than neglect that success.” “Value-added agriculture creates jobs and expands opportunity for our communities,” stated Representative Small. “I am excited our legislation unanimously passed its first committee today. Our farmers, students and workers will benefit from this extra tool.” The Agriculture in Economic Development Finance Act explicitly includes language that permits value added agricultural businesses to access federal monies and loans administered by NMEDD. The bill will be heard next in the House Business and Industry committee. (demingheadlight.com)
Sandra Fish, New Mexico In Depth Published 3:23 p.m. MT Jan. 19, 2017 | Updated 3:32 p.m. MT Jan. 19, 20172017 NM Legislature SANTA FE, N.M. - The 2017 Legislature kicked off at the Roundhouse Tuesday, and the first order of business was Gov. Susana Martinez’s state of the state address to the legislature. That speech featured many proposals the Republican governor has advocated for years – reinstating the death penalty, avoiding tax increases, holding back third graders who can’t read and increased penalties for DUIs. But she also advocated bipartisanship, probably a necessary step when Democrats control the Legislature. Opening day is largely one of pomp and circumstance, especially for new lawmakers and their families. For New Mexico In Depth and KSFR Radio, we tracked down five new lawmakers in the boisterous capitol and asked about their day, the state of the state address and their goals for the 60-day session. Sen. Jeff Steinborn Sen. Jeff Steinborn is a Las Cruces Democrat who isn’t exactly new. “For me what’s new is I’m now in the state Senate. I’ve been in the House for eight years, so it’s my first day as a state senator, a new group of colleagues over here. Obviously I know many of them. But a new body, just a different pace, rhythm and how they operate, so I’m enjoying it. “The state of the state address, it was not what I’d call aspirant in terms of laying out much of a vision for the state. You know, our state is dealing with some pretty difficult challenges. And quite frankly we have not seen the level of bipartisanship in dealing with them. Moving forward, that would be a great goal that I share to deal with our state’s financial crisis and really build a brighter New Mexico future. “I’m working on a variety of bills everything from ethics to renewable energy, trying to get control and a better handle on prescription drugs, to get a better deal for the state taxpayer and state government and some wildlife issues as well, wildlife management.” Sen. Greg Baca Sen. Greg Baca, a Belen Republican, defeated former Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez. “It was terrific, I got to meet a lot of great people today. I got to hear the state of the state address. Basically getting shown around, introduced to some of the bills and what some of the priorities are going to be for the Senate. “I thought the governor did a great job of articulating her position, what she felt was important. I agree with a lot of it, and, like anybody, you know, there’s some issues there I think need a little further thought. (He wouldn’t identify them.) “My priorities first of all are to get to know my peers and to understand the positions within the Senate and get a better understanding with the budget and the status of the state. So that’s a priority. My other priority is also my district. There’s going to be a lot of cuts taking place. I think everybody understands that, so I have to look to my district as well as the state to determine what’s most important.” Rep. Candie Sweetser Over in the House, Democratic Rep. Candie Sweetser won an open seat in Deming and will serve as vice chairwoman of the agriculture committee. “It has been a little overwhelming, I will be completely honest, but also really exciting. “I heard a lot of support for bipartisanship in the state of the state. I hope it holds through the session. I certainly feel like our Democratic caucus is looking forward to forgetting about partisan politics and getting things done for the state of New Mexico. I think a lot of that gets said on the first day and some of that falls apart as the session progresses, and this year I hope that is not the case. “I decided to run because I felt we needed a strong ag (agriculture) voice in the majority, so that is my hope. I have a farm and ranch background and that’s who I’m here to represent. But honestly the overriding thing is the budget, and we have got to figure the budget out. And I don’t think we can cut ourselves into prosperity, but I do know that there’s not a strong appetite for new taxes.” Rep. Rebecca Dow Republican Rep. Rebecca Dow of Truth or Consequences won an open seat. “It was a wonderful time to get together and celebrate with friends and family and meet my colleagues and just welcome everyone together. “The state of the state, you know it’s a challenge coming in as a freshman with such a budget, with such a deficit. “My priorities are to focus on making sure children are born healthy. I really like the quote, ‘It’s easier to grow a healthy child than to mend a broken man.’ So I’ll be focusing on issues that strengthen families.” Rep. Linda Trujillo Finally, we talked with Rep. Linda Trujillo, a Santa Fe Democrat. “It was really kind of surreal, I mean it was exciting. I had my son here, my future daughter-in-law, my husband was here and it was just nice. It was really an introduction to what is going to happen. “I am thrilled as a school board member that our graduation rates are up. Our teachers have worked really hard, our staff, our superintendent. But I was a little disappointed that the governor brought up the lack of notification for students who are not achieving level in third grade. But overall, graduation rates are up. I think we all want to support business. So there were some things that I agreed with and some things I disagreed with. That’s kind of how state of the state is, right? “I’m really excited because I was appointed to the Education Committee and I was also appointed vice-chair of the Labor and Economic Development Committee, and those really are my priorities.” HB 305 Authorizes NM Department of Agriculture to Perform FDA Inspections
Santa Fe, NM – Rep. Candie Sweetser (D-Deming), a strong advocate for agriculture, is sponsoring legislation that would ensure that our local farms are inspected by local inspectors from the New Mexico department of agriculture (NMDA), rather than federal inspectors from the FDA. “Our local inspectors know our farms, they know our families, and they are more familiar with what farmers in New Mexico deal with,” said Rep. Sweetser. “It just makes sense that on-site inspections would be performed by our local department rather than by inspectors who will have a steep learning curve on the issues that face our family farmers in rural New Mexico.” Rep. Sweetser and her family farm and ranch in Luna, Hidalgo, and Grant counties, so she knows first-hand the demands being put on the agricultural industry. HB 305 adds a subsection to the powers and authority of the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Board of Regents granting them the ability to authorize the NMDA to enter onto public or private property to collect samples and to review records to verify compliance with the federal FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The FMSA was enacted in 2011 to ensure the food supply is safe by shifting the focus from responding to contamination to preventing it. If federal food safety laws were to be deregulated, HB 305 established NMDA as an authority to protect the food safety interests of New Mexico. This morning with a bipartisan unanimous HB 305 passed the House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee this morning and heads next to the House Business and Industry Committee. http://nmindepth.com/2017/01/18/new-lawmakers-express-optimism-about-session/ "The 2017 Legislature kicked off at the Roundhouse Tuesday, and the first order of business was Gov. Susana Martinez’s state of the state address to the legislature. That speech featured many proposals the Republican governor has advocated for years – reinstating the death penalty, avoiding tax increases, holding back third graders who can’t read and increased penalties for ..." ...Over in the House, Democratic Rep. Candie Sweetser won an open seat in Deming and will serve as vice chairwoman of the agriculture committee. Listen to Rep. Sweetser. “It has been a little overwhelming, I will be completely honest, but also really exciting. “I heard a lot of support for bipartisanship in the state of the state. I hope it holds through the session. I certainly feel like our Democratic caucus is looking forward to forgetting about partisan politics and getting things done for the state of New Mexico. I think a lot of that gets said on the first day and some of that falls apart as the session progresses, and this year I hope that is not the case. “I decided to run because I felt we needed a strong ag (agriculture) voice in the majority, so that is my hope. I have a farm and ranch background and that’s who I’m here to represent. But honestly the overriding thing is the budget, and we have got to figure the budget out. And I don’t think we can cut ourselves into prosperity, but I do know that there’s not a strong appetite for new taxes.” 1/19/2017 (demingradio.com)
Candie Sweetser Appointed Vice-Chair to the House Agriculture and Water Committee Bringing Economic Opportunity to Southwestern New Mexico (Santa Fe, NM) – Recently elected Representative Candie Sweetser (D-Deming) was honored at the start of the 53rd legislative session with an appointment as Vice-Chair of the House Agriculture and Water Committee where she will focus on economic opportunity in her district and throughout the state. Representative Sweetser was also appointed to serve on the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, assuming a pivotal role in the effort in shaping New Mexico’s budget and priorities. “I am working to ensure state government serves our family farmers, ranchers and business community so they can grow and thrive” said Representative Candie Sweetser (D-Deming). “It is important that our business and agribusiness people have the tools they need to succeed without unnecessary red-tape to bring their ideas and products to market.” The House Agriculture and Water Committee focuses specifically on legislation related to the regulation, safety and study of agricultural products and water throughout the state. The House Appropriations and Finance committee hears bills related to the solvency of the state’s budget and the appropriation of taxpayer dollars to state-provided services and programs. |
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