Mistakes prove costly in Broncos’ 34-31 overtime loss to Patriots Sports, B-1
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Monday, November 25, 2013
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Secret talks led to nuclear deal
Santa Fe digs out after winter storm
The Obama administration began laying the groundwork for this weekend’s historic pact with Iran in a series of highlevel gatherings. PAge A-3
Public schools to implement 2-hour delayed start Monday Staff and wire reports
Curbing kids’ antibiotic use New guidelines from the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics urge doctors to avoid over-prescription. FAmIly, A-9
HEALTH INSURANCE
Report faults agencies for costs
A large storm that blanketed Santa Fe and much of New Mexico with snow now threatens to wreak havoc on holiday travelers as it moves east. The storm, already blamed for at least eight deaths in the West, slogged through Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and other parts of the Southwest on Sunday, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations ahead of Thanksgiving.
In Santa Fe, residents were greeted Sunday by a blast of overnight snowfall. National Weather Service meteorologist Jennifer Palucki said the Santa Fe area received between 5 inches and 9 inches of snow by Sunday morning. The Santa Fe area was to remain under a winter storm warning until Monday morning, and Santa Fe Public Schools issued a two-hour delay for Monday.
Please see STORm, Page A-4
A snow plow makes its way north on the Old Las Vegas Highway on Sunday morning. Santa Fe received between 5 inches and 9 inches of snow overnight Saturday. CLYDE MUELLER/THE NEW MEXICAN
Record participation: SFPS program for homeless youth helping more than ever
Efforts to make plans affordable for public employees questioned By Steve Terrell
The New Mexican
New Mexico agencies responsible for health insurance for public employees have done a poor job of controlling health care costs for public employees, a report for the Legislative Finance Committee says. Instead of focusing on cost-saving measures, the report said, the agencies “have shifted costs onto employees and employers through higher premiums,” which is “unsustainable in the long run.” Also, the report said that “lack of effective oversight of provider rates and quality improvement has made employee health care less affordable.” Both the state Risk Management Division and the New Mexico Public School Insurance Authority have implemented or plan to implement premium increases between 19 percent and 25 percent, the report noted. But A.J. Forte, director of the state’s Risk Management Division — one of the major agencies involved with providing health care benefits for public employees in the state, said Friday that while he agrees with much of the report, he disagrees that his agency
Please see COSTS, Page A-4
Obituaries Melvin Martinez, 68, Santa Fe, Nov. 20 PAge A-10
Today Mostly cloudy; not as cold. High 37, low 18. PAge B-6
Pasapick www.pasatiempomagazine.com
Doug montgomery Pianist and vocalist, 6-10 p.m., Vanessie, 427 W. Water St., call 982-9966 for cover. More events in Calendar, A-2 and Fridays in Pasatiempo
Index
Calendar A-2
Classifieds B-7
Isabel Ribe, program development specialist for Adelante, handles a bag of food for students in need Wednesday. Adelante, a program within Santa Fe Public Schools that supports homeless students and their families, is currently providing assistance to more than 1,300 individuals — a record number. LUIS SÁNCHEZ SATURNO/THE NEW MEXICAN
Adelante caters to increasing need By Robert Nott
The New Mexican
I
t’s been a tough year for “Rebecca.” Her mother, who often watched over Rebecca’s elementary school-aged son, died. Rebecca, a single mom, has been looking for work for a while. And on a recent rainy Wednesday afternoon, she was expressing thanks for Adelante. “This is the first time I’ve ever had to ask for help,” she said as she gathered up a paper bag of groceries from the Adelante compound in the BF Young Building on Camino Sierra Vista. Adelante is the program within Santa Fe Public Schools that supports homeless students and their families. By its own estimate, it is assisting more
than 1,300 individuals this year — a record number. The reasons are numerous: the economy, job loss, deportation of parents, substance abuse and kids running away from home. “The city has no money, we have no money, nobody has money, so everybody is falling,” said Allegra Love, an attorney who serves as the middle school liaison for Adelante. About 1,000 of Adelante’s child clients are K-12 students; 34 are in college or pursuing their General Educational Development certificate. More than 200 are siblings of SFPS students, who also fall under the protective umbrella of Adelante. Another 70 or so are of pre-K age. In terms of defining homelessness, Adelante goes by the guidelines set by the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act,
which provides funding to help districts give educational and environmental support to homeless youth. Children sharing housing due to the loss of their own home qualify, as do students living in motels, campgrounds, emergency shelters, cars or other vehicles, parks, public spaces or abandoned buildings. Adelante’s 1,300 clients include about 150 students who are living with their grandparents because their parents are out of the picture for one reason or another. In terms of students who may actually be living on the streets in Santa Fe, the number is 47, according to Loretta Fernandez, homeless liaison for Adelante. Gaile Herling, coordinator of Adelante, knows of a woman in her 70s who is now the main provider
Please see ADelANTe, Page A-4
Judge rejects move to block teacher-evaluation system By Robert Nott
The New Mexican
An Albuquerque district court judge rejected a petition to stop the Public Education Department’s continued implementation of a new teacher-evaluation system. In issuing a written decision late Friday afternoon, Judge C. Shannon Baca wrote that existing legislation does give the department the authority to create and impose an evaluation plan by executive force, noting
Comics B-12
Family A-9
El Nuevo A-7
that “the manner in which teachers are evaluated is a discretionary matter that may not be controlled by mandamus.” The move is a major setback for Hanna Skandera the many educators who are fighting against the new rule. Three Democratic lawmakers — Sen. Howie Morales of Silver City,
Opinions A-11
Editor: Ray Rivera, 986-3033, rrivera@sfnewmexican.com Design and headlines: Kristina Dunham, kdunham@sfnewmexican.com
Police notes A-10
Sen. Linda Lopez of Albuquerque and Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton of Albuquerque — joined with the American Federation of TeachersNew Mexico and other educators to file the petition in September. They argue that Education Secretary-designate Hanna Skandera is violating the state’s School Personnel Act by changing many aspects of the state’s teacher-evaluation plan without garnering legislative approval. Among their concerns: that administrators other than a principal
Sports B-1
Tech A-8
Time Out B-11
Main office: 983-3303 Late paper: 986-3010
may conduct an observation under the plan, and that the ruling exempts charter schools and thus is unfair. The judge disagreed in both instances. Since 2002, teachers had been evaluated on a three-tier licensure system in which they were found to be either meeting competency or not meeting competency. Under Gov. Susana Martinez, Skandera pushed for stronger
Please see SySTem, Page A-4
Two sections, 24 pages 164th year, No. 329 Publication No. 596-440