ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and top members of her cabinet will be hosting a community town hall on education ahead of the upcoming legislative session.
The first-year governor will be joined at Wednesday evening’s event in Albuquerque by Early Childhood Education and Care Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky, Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart and Higher Education Secretary Kate O’Neill.
Earlier this year, school districts and parents revived litigation that accused the state of failing to provide a sound education to vulnerable children from minority communities, non-English speaking households, impoverished families and students with disabilities.
Lawmakers have increased spending on teacher salaries and longer academic calendars at many schools, but the school districts and parents involved in the lawsuit say more needs to be done to help disadvantaged children.
Advocacy groups also have been calling for more spending, pointing to an expected budget surplus that has resulted from the continued oil boom. However, some legislative analysts and state finance experts have warned against boosting recurring spending in case of another downturn.
The governor’s office has put out the call for questions ahead of the town hall, saying the public can submit them online. The event also will be streamed live that night.
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