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Parents press JEMEZ VALLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS board for clearer communication after sudden staff absences
Summary
Two parents told the JEMEZ VALLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS board that sudden teacher absences and delayed messaging left families confused and considering alternatives; they demanded clearer, timely communication and asked whether leadership was responsible for recurring staffing instability.
Parents told the JEMEZ VALLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS board at a February meeting that they are frustrated by sudden staff absences and a lack of timely information from district officials.
"Trust is important. But trust goes both ways," Holly Lopez told the board, describing a seven-day period when her daughter’s classroom had substitutes and interventionists "with no explanation" and little prior notice for families. Lopez said the delayed communications prompted rumors, left parents scrambling, and caused some families to consider pulling students from the district.
Julian Lopez, who followed during the public-comment period, said a meeting with district leaders left questions unanswered and asked how parents can contact elected board members directly. He pressed for clearer plans to protect classroom stability after staffing changes, citing the unresolved absence of a PE teacher as an example. "Could it not be that he may be the problem?" Lopez said, referring to a district leader named in the comment, and asked that the board examine recurring staffing patterns rather than react after the fact.
Board staff acknowledged the comments during the meeting and reiterated that investigations and personnel actions involve confidentiality, but parents asked for at least a prompt statement about whether staff are returning and what interim classroom plans will be. The exchange ended with the board clerk confirming the public-comment time limit and proceeding with the agenda.
The public comments came during a meeting that also included routine district updates and announcements. The board did not take formal action on the complaints during the session; parents said they expect follow-up and clearer communication in the weeks ahead. The district previously told the board it will provide additional reporting at the March meeting on related staffing and enrollment metrics.
