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Andalusia Natural Sciences Academy pitches project‑based, AI‑integrated school; board flags gaps in application
Summary
Founders of the proposed Andalusia Natural Sciences Academy described a project‑based high‑school model centered on Al‑Andalus heritage, AI literacy and internships, but board members raised concerns about leadership experience, lack of a secured facility, optimistic enrollment projections and incomplete application materials; the board will consider the application on Aug. 19.
Representatives of the proposed Andalusia Natural Sciences Academy presented their charter‑school application and a 20‑minute overview to the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education on July 15.
Founder Raul Abu Hassan described a project‑based high‑school model that ties New Mexico history and the Al‑Andalus (Moorish) influence to interdisciplinary project work, STEM and responsible AI use. "We aim to create a school that builds on the rich history of New Mexico to prepare our high‑school students for the future," Abu Hassan said. The team emphasized culturally responsive instruction, community partnerships and planned internships and dual‑credit opportunities.
Board members asked multiple detailed questions about operational readiness. They sought clarity on whether the founding team had school‑leadership experience, whether a facility was secured (the applicants said they are "in the market" and exploring options, including potential rental space or partial capacity partnerships), and how the applicants planned to reach an ambitious first‑year enrollment target of about 80 students and scale in subsequent years.
Financial and compliance questions were central. Christopher Moore, who said his firm supports charter finance models, described contingency budgeting and grant strategies, including applying for CSP (Charter Schools Program) funding for startup marketing and operations. Board members pressed for clearer evidence of partnerships, reviewed application tables that contained blank or misprinted fields, and flagged inconsistencies between bios and the application documents. One board member noted that some fields appeared blank in the printed PDF but said the applicants also submitted a Word version that should contain full responses.
The board and staff discussed statutory process and timeline: the hearing was convened under the New Mexico Charter Schools Act (section 22‑8B‑6), the charter office will prepare an analysis and recommendation by about August 6, and the full board will consider action (approve, approve with conditions, or deny) at its Aug. 19 meeting.
What’s next: Applicants were asked to correct application inconsistencies, provide missing partnership evidence and clarify governance roles, and district staff will include the hearing record and written submissions in the official packet for the August decision. The board emphasized that missing or inconsistent materials would need to be corrected before a favorable decision could be made.
