On December 18, the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education approved a right-sizing plan that will result in the closure of Taft Middle School next year due to declining enrollment. The decision followed a lengthy meeting where members of the public expressed opposition and board members criticized school officials for their handling of the situation.
APS Superintendent Dr. Gabriella Durán Blakey acknowledged "missteps" during the process and emphasized the need to rebuild trust within the community. The right-sizing plan, which was implemented in 2017, involves consolidating schools and is being applied to an APS middle school for the first time.
Under this plan, attendance boundaries will be adjusted to facilitate Taft's closure next year, with students moving to Taylor Middle School. Additionally, Coronado Elementary Dual Language Magnet School will relocate from its Downtown campus to the former Taft site on Schulte Road NW. Over several years, Coronado will expand to include grades six through eight. Fifth-grade students from Taft who are part of a dual-language program may attend Coronado at its new location.
Del Esparza, President of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Esparza Digital, addressed the board in support of the plan. He described such decisions as challenging but necessary: "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 stated.
Esparza further noted that APS enrollment has declined by over 20,000 students since 2016. He argued for aligning resources with current community needs and expanding Coronado's dual-language program: "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."
He concluded by emphasizing financial responsibility: "(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."
The board voted 4-3 in favor of adopting the plan, with Ronalda Tome-Warito, Heather Benavidez, and Josefina E. Domínguez opposing it.
In defense of the right-sizing initiative, Durán Blakey released a statement affirming its benefits: "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 international high school." She acknowledged ongoing efforts needed for improvement: "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 future."
