On Dec. 18, the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education voted to approve a right-sizing plan that will close Taft Middle School next year due to declining enrollment.
The hours-long meeting saw members of the public who rallied against the plan and board members criticizing school officials for the way it was handled.
APS Superintendent Dr. Gabriella Durán Blakey acknowledged “missteps” to board members and the public and said her team has to rebuild trust within the community.
The right-sizing plan was implemented in 2017 and includes consolidating schools. This is the first time an APS middle school has been the focus.
Under the plan, the attendance boundaries will change to allow Taft to close next year and move its students to Taylor Middle School.
Coronado Elementary Dual Language Magnet School will move from its campus Downtown to the former Taft campus on Schulte Road NW. Coronado will expand over the next few school years to offer grades six, seven and eight. Fifth-grade Taft students who have been in a dual-language program may attend Coronado at the old Taft site.
Del Esparza, Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce President and Esparza Digital CEO, spoke to the board during the meeting in support of the plan.
Esparza said such decisions are difficult.
“We believe this plan is a crucial step toward ensuring our district’s resources are allocated efficiently, equitably and in a way that will benefit APS students and families,” Esparza said. “With APS enrollment declining by over 20,000 students since 2016, it’s essential that we take the proactive approach to align our resources with the current needs of our community; expanding the dual-language program at Coronado to serve grades K-8 will provide more opportunities for students to access this in-demand and high-quality educational experience.”
Esparza concluded with, “(the Chamber) wants to emphasize the financial responsibility of this plan, continuing to operate enrolled school buildings such as Taft and Taylor is not sustainable. Thank you for your leadership in moving this plan forward. We encourage the board to approve these necessary steps to right-size our district and improve opportunities for all students.”
The vote among the seven-member board was 4-3 — with board members Ronalda Tome-Warito, Heather Benavidez and Josefina E. Domínguez voting against.
Durán Blakey released a prepared statement defending the right-sizing plan.
“We’ve always believed this plan is good for the vast majority of students in the Taft attendance zone, at Coronado and students who will attend the international high school,” Durán Blakey said. “But I always recognized we have work to do as we go forward in right-sizing, and we will work hard to improve that process in the future.”
