Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Specialized Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Regent Agnes Josephine Vallejos advanced to full Senate after subcommittee reappointment hearing
Summary
A Senate subcommittee voted to send incumbent regent Agnes Josephine Vallejos back to the full Senate for confirmation after sponsors highlighted her long service and the regents' role in superintendent transitions and program expansions.
A Senate Rules subcommittee voted to advance the reappointment of Agnes Josephine Vallejos to the Board of Regents of the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Senator Charlie, who sponsored the reappointment, told committee members he first met Vallejos while campaigning and described her as a "passionate steward" of the school. Vallejos, in brief remarks, recounted her experience on the regents since 2017, including serving as board president and vice president and participating in superintendent transitions. She highlighted the school's national and international work, including outreach partnerships and collaborations with the University of New Mexico and the Naked Heart Foundation, and described efforts to expand the Early Childhood Program through a partnership with the State Land Office and the City of Albuquerque.
Superintendent Heather Miller again spoke in organized support and called Vallejos "incredibly knowledgeable" about the school's needs. Committee members asked about the school's expanded-core curriculum, outreach to identify students statewide, and capital needs for the Alamogordo campus. Vallejos and Superintendent Miller described the school's budget structure: the school receives funding through the state appropriation and the state land grant (permanent fund) and also has other revenues, including Medicaid-related funds; the campus budget discussed in testimony was described as approximately $22 million.
Committee members also discussed community partnerships; Vallejos and other speakers described collaboration with Holloman Air Force Base on a student-designed sensory garden. Senators praised Vallejos's personal advocacy and the board's role in the hiring of multiple superintendents.
Senator Duhigg moved to advance the reappointment. The subcommittee recorded seven votes in favor and none in opposition; Vallejos will be scheduled for a full Senate confirmation vote later the same morning.
