Senators Gallegos and Schmedes Respond to Floyd School Board Suspension by PED Secretary

Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 04 August 2021 04 August 2021

SANTA FE – Today, the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) announced that outgoing Secretary Ryan Stewart has suspended the entire Floyd Municipal School Board. The news comes on the heels of the Board's recent decision to not enforce several PED mandates, including masking for all students.

"Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and her outgoing education secretary have just confirmed what many New Mexicans already know—the Public Education Department does not have our children's best interest in mind," said Senator David Gallegos (District 41-Eddy and Lea), who serves on another local school board. "The Floyd School Board did exactly what they were elected to do. They represented the best interests of the children in their district. This gross violation of local authority is disrespectful to the students and families of Floyd, and may even be a violation of New Mexico law. It is time for the courts to finally rein in the reckless power of this administration."

"Governor Lujan Grisham is yet again putting politics above people and demonstrating that she has no real understanding of how science works," added Senator Gregg Schmedes (District 19- Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe and Torrance), a practicing physician. "The Floyd School Board looked at the same data from the CDC that I have seen, which clearly says COVID-19 is not a pediatric disease. Children are not likely spreaders of the disease and they are not prone to serious illness or death from infection. What is clear is that mask mandates for children distract them from learning. The Governor's authoritarianism has now undermined a local democratic process. If we do not push back, overt power grabs like this will become the norm throughout New Mexico."

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