The Albuquerque Public School system is having a hard time finding enough officers and security aides as violence and discipline problems increase.
Superintendent Scott Elder said in a letter to parents that it is short 11 officers and 18 aides.
"The mental health and behavior challenges all schools deal with in normal times now seem to be exacerbated by the pandemic as predicted when schools worldwide closed in response to the global health threat in March of 2020," Elder wrote.
He connected the disciplinary issues in part to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"There is no evidence or research yet to explain some of the discipline issues we’re experiencing in our schools," Elder said. "Still, we believe the rise in violence and unacceptable behavior posted to social media and reported in the news can be attributed to school closures and strains at home like unemployment, illness, and other hardships so many are facing due to the pandemic."
Albuquerque Police Department and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department are also facing staff shortages, the superintendent said.
"If you think missing a full year and then forced masking are not playing a major role here you are part of the problem," Paul Gessing, president of Concerned Citizen, a free-market think tank, tweeted.
Elder urges parents to help.
"School safety is a shared responsibility," he said. "It is now more important than ever to talk with your students, be aware of their social media activity, listen to their concerns, and access available school wellness resources if needed. We can’t ignore our students if they are acting out because they need our help."
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