ABQ New Waste Transfer Station, Teacher Evaluation Data, Taser International & APD
The city of Albuquerque wants to build a new waste transfer station at Edith and Comanche, but local residents are voicing concerns about traffic and pollution. Next time on New Mexico in Focus, David Wood, president of the local neighborhood association, and Michael Riordan, Chief Operating Officer for the city of Albuquerque, sit down with producer Sarah Gustavus to discuss both sides of the proposed facility.
This week, the state Public Education Department released teacher evaluation data. According to the PED, about 47 percent of teachers were ranked “effective” and 24 percent were ranked “highly effective.” Earlier this spring, NMiF covered protests over the PARCC exam through conversations with students and New Mexico Education Secretary Hanna Skandera, which is now part of the evaluation process for teachers. A panel of Albuquerque teachers will join us in studio to talk about testing and teacher evaluation.
Host Gene Grant and the line opinion panelists share their take on the debate over teacher evaluations. They also discuss a recently released report on a contract between Taser International and the Albuquerque Police Department that was negotiated while Chief Ray Schultz was still head of the department. Schultz is now a contractor with the company. The report from State Auditor Tim Keller alleges that the Taser contract violated procurement law.
GUESTS:
Michael Riordan – Chief Operations Officer for the City of Albuquerque
David Wood, president of the Greater Gardner Neighborhood Association
Local teachers
LINE PANELISTS:
Merritt Allen, Principal and Executive Director, Vox Optima, LLC
Eric Griego, Former NM State Senator
Phil C. Marquez, Talk Radio, Inc.
Sophie Martin, DukeCityFix.com & Attorney
CORRESPONDENT:
Sarah Gustavus, @SarahGustavus
HOST:
Gene Grant
The Producer of NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS is Sarah Gustavus. Associate Producer is Kathy Wimmer. Funding for this program was provided in part by the McCune Foundation Communications Fund, Santa Fe Community Foundation.
Episode 843 airs May 8, 2015