Candidates for New Mexico’s 2nd congressional district race weigh in

With the 2020-21 school year drawing closer, there is much uncertainty as to what will happen when New Mexico’s estimated 330,000 students possibly return to school in August, or if they will return at all.

As districts plan for a school year plagued by coronavirus concerns, pressure is mounting at the federal level to have students return to school in person. At the beginning of July, President Donald Trump threatened to cut federal funding from schools that do not reopen this fall. The president, however, does not have the power to cut funding. The Washington Post reported that the White House and Senate Republicans plan to include incentives for schools that do reopen fully in the next coronavirus stimulus package. That bill is set for release this week. 

For its part, the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) is taking a phased approach to reopening schools. According to the department’s reentry guide: “All schools in the state will be able to start the school year utilizing a hybrid model of instruction. Under a hybrid model, the number of students present in the building at any given time will be limited in order to ensure that six feet of social distancing can be maintained at all times. Students will alternate between in-person instruction at the school building and online instruction when at home.” 

NMPED is requiring schools to create plans to remain in a hybrid model or to shift to virtual learning if health conditions change. 

While preliminary plans are in place, many questions remain. Yet there are no easy answers. We reached out to 2nd congressional district Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, D-Las Cruces, and 2nd congressional district candidates, former Rep. Yvette Herrell, a Republican, and Steve Jones, an independent, for their positions on the issue. Below are their responses when asked if New Mexico schools should reopen this fall.

Rep. Xochitl Torres Small: “Right now, one of Congress’ top priorities must be getting funding into the hands of local governments so that they have the support to fight the spread of COVID-19 and make sure our kids get the good education they deserve. Parents are being pushed to the limits, struggling to work in tough conditions and keep their children learning. State and local governments need resources and information to make regional decisions about the school year based on the health of their specific communities.” 

Former Rep. Yvette Herrell: “I believe that schools should do everything possible to safely reopen in-person classes for our children. As the American Academy of Pediatrics stated recently, there can be serious negative consequences to forcing children to stay home, including social isolation that can lead to emotional and health issues. Given this, along with the evidence that shows it is extremely rare for children to transmit the virus — and the burden remote-learning places on working parents — I support schools having in-person classes with appropriate precautions in place.” 

Steve Jones: “I minored in Learning Psychology and have taught at the university level. I have strong feelings on this matter. Well before COVID-19, New Mexico’s children were victims of a horrible public education system, and it will be worse when it resumes ‘normal.’

“According to 2020 KIDS COUNT Data Book, ‘New Mexico continues to rank 50th in the nation on child well-being. This is the fourth year the state has ranked at the very bottom for child well-being, having ranked 50th in 2013, 2018, and 2019.’

“As to high school graduation [rates], according to Wikipedia, New Mexico ranks 47th among the states. The [NMPED] should take advantage of this ‘hiatus’ to create a five-year plan that is not simply doing the same thing and spending more money.” 

According to NMPED, in the 2019-20 school year, there were 330,000 students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade in New Mexico schools, which comprises 89 districts and a little under 100 charter schools.