Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 122, No. 276 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
November 17, 2013
www.rdrnews.com
SUNDAY
NM to move forward with new teacher eval system
SANTA FE (AP) — Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration plans to move forward with implementation of its teacher evaluation system despite opposition from some teachers and Democratic lawmakers. Two state senators had asked Public Education Secretary-designate Hanna Skandera for more time to acclimate to the new rating system. But the administration signaled this week it
will not budge, The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Saturday. Skandera wrote in a letter to Sens. John Sapien and Rick Miera that “now is not the time to delay.” She said the state’s low status in national education rankings warrants immediate attention. The evaluation system, supported by Martinez and implemented by Skandera in August, measures
State champs
teacher performance using a variety of factors. Half of a teacher’s rating is based on students’ standardized test scores, while observations of classroom teaching account for 25 percent of the evaluation. The evaluation system will af fect about 18,000 teachers statewide. Some lawmakers and teacher unions have sued in state district court to halt the implementation. A
hearing in that case is scheduled Thursday. Not all of the state’s 89 districts have aligned with the evaluation system — Santa Fe Public Schools is one of several that have put together their own plans — though all districts must emphasize student test score data. While the heavy emphasis on test scores has been a point of contention, the discussion at Thursday’s
Legislative Education Study Committee meeting focused on the observation portion of the teacher evaluations. Sapien and Miera are members of the committee. Many legislators from both parties said they have heard complaints from principals that the requirements are too burdensome. Some say the initial classroom observations can take up to four hours. The observations cover
preparation and planning, the ability to create an environment for learning, teaching for learning and professionalism. Teachers can be rated as ineffective, minimally effective, effective, highly ef fective or exemplary. Despite criticisms about the time the observations take, Santa Fe Public See EVALUATION, Page A3
Courtesy Photo
Top: Kevin J. Keller Photo
A sample of gourd art by Bob and Yolanda Espinoza, participants in this year’s Holly-Day Magic event.
The Goddard volleyball team screams in anticipation of receiving the state championship trophy after beating Piedra Vista in the NMAA Class 4A State Championship Match in Rio Rancho, Saturday. For more on Goddard's championship victory, see Page B1.
Holly-Day Magic Art and Craft Show to offer goods for good causes VANESSA KAHIN VISTAS EDITOR
Right: Arnold J. Roe Photo
A more extensive version of this article will appear in Vision Magazine, available Thursday, Nov. 21. The article in Vision will include interviews with the event’s featured artist Bobby Goode, fours maker Lynne Hooper and local painter Pat Hittle. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas — a Southwest Christmas.
Members of the Lake Arthur 6-Man football team celebrate with the state championship trophy following its 66-50 win over Hondo Valley in the NMAA 6-Man State Championship Game on Saturday in Lake Arthur. The championship is the third straight for the Panthers.
Bringing together the colorful sights, homegrown tastes and the unique feel of art and food primarily from the Southwest as well as other parts of the nation, the 33rd annual HollyDay Magic Art and Craft Show will soon of fer locals the chance to kick-of f their holiday shopping and support local causes all at once. See HOLLY-DAY, Page A3
Writer, math tutor Mitchell helps create young artists collective JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Sara Mitchell is confident she can be instrumental in making an impact on Roswell by helping the art community join together. As a co-executive director of the newly created Young Professionals for the Arts Collective, Mitchell has already seen the group grow to some 40 members in just a few weeks. “It’s just in the very
beginning stages, but I think it’s going to be pretty amazing,” Mitchell said. The collective’s other coexecutive director is Carolyn Madison. The new collective brings together artists or individuals interested in the arts, ages 21-45, who are community-minded
young professionals. The artists participate in the performing, visual, literary or culinary arts. YPAC’s mission is to increase awareness of cultural events, and encourage networking and colSee MITCHELL, Page A3
United Way
622-4150 of Chaves County
Collected
Jill McLaughlin Photo
Sara Mitchell and her husband, James, are working with others to encourage cultural activities and collaboration in Roswell.
$249,758 Goal
$525,000
48%
Of Goal Collected
Upc Upcoming coming Seminar Seminar Thursday Thursday, y, Dec. 5th, att 10am WHERE WHERE: E: Lovelace Regional Hospital ospital - Roswell TOPIC:: Urology & You You with Donald D W Wenner enner III, M M.D. WHEN WHEN::
a special program ram for everyone agee 60+
HIGH 73 LOW 41
TODAY’S FORECAST
lovelacesilverelite.com velacesilverrelite.com
RSVP P toll fr free ee 1.877.419.3030 9.3030
• Leslie Marie Earnest • James “Jim” Groseclose • Dayl Mary Wilson
• Janice L. Hayes • Dalton Truitt Waldrop
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A6
BUSINESS...............C4 CLASSIFIEDS ..........D1 COMICS .................C3 GENERAL ...............A2
INDEX HOROSCOPES .........A8 LOTTERIES .............A2 NATION..................A7 OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ..............A8 VISTAS...................C1