On November 4, voters in Albuquerque will decide on a $350 million General Obligation (GO) bond aimed at funding a range of construction and improvement projects within Albuquerque Public Schools (APS). Dr. Gabriella Durán Blakey, superintendent of APS, along with Dr. Antonio Gonzales, deputy superintendent, have provided details about the bond to the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
If approved, the bond will finance projects such as converting 20 schools from evaporative coolers to refrigerated air, construction at 13 schools, a new career technical education training facility, a classroom block at Taylor Middle School, and a special needs education facility on the West Side. The package also includes continued investment in school security upgrades.
The security enhancements planned for all new APS construction include main entry security vestibules with audio and video connections to the front desk, remote buzz-in/out for visitors, security card access to major exterior doors, audio enhancement systems for emergency dispatchers, commercial heavy-duty locks on classroom doors, security cameras, intrusion and fire alarms, and a command center that monitors and controls these systems in real time. Emergency and crisis evacuation maps will be placed at multiple locations in all facilities. These measures are part of the district’s layered approach to school safety.
In recent years, APS has allocated more than $60 million toward safety improvements such as cameras, alarms, door locks, and fencing. The proposed bond would allow for further investment in these areas.
The bond proposal states that its approval would not result in a tax increase. Early voting for the measure begins on October 7, with expanded early voting starting October 18.
"The Chamber urges its members and the community to vote for approval of the GO Bond, as it will keep moving APS forward with providing a secure and competitive environment for learning."
