Las Cruces Public School Board addresses alleged Open Meetings Act violations

Members of the Las Cruces Public School Board met for the first time on Tuesday since the Secretary of Department of Education threatened to suspend them.

Secretary Hanna Skandera sent board members a lengthy letter last week alleging nine open meetings act violations.

In the letter, Skandera states for the past year she’s received numerous complaints of rolling quorums and board members overstepping their authority.

In a special meeting on Tuesday, Board President Maria Flores continued to dispute the allegations, telling the board at one point she “broke down crying” because of the toll the letter had taken on her.

Board members also approved to have a legal council prepare a response to Skandera.

One of the allegations in the letter stated that Flores hired an attorney with out the board’s consent. While Flores and other members agreed they had indeed voted on it, Board Secretary Barbra Hall said she knew nothing about it.

Flores also said she feels like the letter is a political game. She said it is all a misunderstanding and she never stepped outside her authority. She told ABC-7 she doesn’t think the board needs training.

“I don’t think it’s necessary,” Flores said. “But I don’t want to lose my position and it is a republican tactic actually to quell local control.”

Discussion about the letter also sparked members of the public to speak out.

“I’m asking that the board of education to ask (Skandera) to come here for a townhall meeting so we can straighten out some of her opinions instead of getting it through the Chamber of Commerce or anybody else,” Las Crucen Dr. Earl Nissen said.

Last week when ABC-7 spoke with Skandera, she stood by the nine allegations. She said the board should take them very seriously. The violations will be sent to the Attorney General’s Office for investigation.