Inside the rewrite
For four years, Lesley Galyas worked to bring the Next Generation Science Standards to New Mexico. Blown away by the breadth of scientific opportunities in the state for both teachers and students, she thought it was the perfect place to roll out the new wave of science education. This week, SFR has the story of her growing frustration with higher-ups at the Public Education Department whom, she says, weren't interested in learning about the new standards and were more concerned about what they could keep out. Just hours after we published, the PED announced a planned revision of its widely panned proposal.
Act II
Just what that full revision will look like is anyone's guess. The four standards released Tuesday night were generally well-received by many critics, but this is education policy. What the science standards are not is the full Next Generation Science Standards. The department has said it plans to make a final decision in the next few weeks.
Repeal and replace
You wouldn't think that phrase would be the first choice of policymakers in describing their plans, but it certainly fits the bill for Gov. Susana Martinez' effort to change the way the state handles accused criminals before they're convicted. Martinez says a constitutional amendment passed by voters just last year that allows both pretrial detention of suspects deemed dangerous and release of most others is being applied too broadly and putting the public in danger. She's calling on lawmakers to repeal and replace the amendment in the next legislative session.
Pass it on
The addiction equation
New Mexico’s struggles with opioid addiction got the national treatment this week on the PBS Newshour, as Hari Sreenivasan traveled to Rio Arriba County to highlight the state’s efforts. It’s as serious a look at the problem as you’ll see on the evening news and underscores Aaron’s reporting this week.
UNM curious about SFUAD campus
The University of New Mexico is interested in exploring some sort of partnership with the city to use the soon-to-be-empty campus of the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. That’s according to email exchanges with city officials. Both the Fine Arts Department and the business school are pondering a way forward. The city has also entertained ideas about leasing the campus for a Shakespeare festival next summer.
PRC hearing finds flaws in PNM renewable plan
A state hearing examiner says PNM’s plan for a solar project is rushed and a geothermal energy buy from a company that’s filed for bankruptcy is unwise. She’s recommending that the Public Regulation Commission reject the plan and ask PNM to come up with something more cost-efficient for itself, for customers and for the renewable energy industry in the state.
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