Parents urge APS to require APD notifications after Dolores Gonzales Elementary was struck by gunfire

Multiple parents urged the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education on Feb. 4 to press the Albuquerque Police Department for a formal notification process after a weekend shooting damaged windows at Dolores Gonzales Elementary.

Elena Rubenfield, a parent whose kindergartner’s classroom had nine windows hit by bullets, told the board that school leaders learned about the damage only when teachers returned on Tuesday. “APD didn't know of the shooting at the time, thanks to ShotSpotter,” Rubenfield said, and she asked the board to work with APD to finalize a memorandum of understanding so schools receive timely alerts.

Another parent, Alaric Babe, also described the same incident and asked the district for more collaboration between APD and APS so school leadership can be notified quickly and avoid unnecessary trauma and lost instructional time.

Why it matters: Parents said delayed notification left teachers and administrators to discover damage and manage trauma without prior notice. Parents asked for a single phone call or similar Standard Operating Procedure so schools are aware when gunfire occurs nearby and can secure campuses and avoid placing students in harm’s way during investigations.

District response and next steps: At the meeting administrators acknowledged the concern and said they are aware of an MOU in progress with APD but that it is not yet finalized. The board and staff noted they will follow up with APD and with district safety staff to clarify notification processes and the status of any agreement.

What remains unresolved: Parents requested a firm timeline for a finalized MOU and a clear SOP for notifications; at the meeting district staff said the MOU was in progress but did not provide a completion date.