Some Other Education Issues That Could Spark Session Fights

Yesterday I covered a League of Women Voters lunch at which Santa Fe legislators (and Sen. Carlos Cisneros of Questa) spoke. Much of the discussion centered around a couple of education issues.

No, not Gov. Susana Martinez's "social promotion" bill or other governor proposals. I'm talking about the ongoing battle between Santa Fe Community College and the state Department of Higher Education over a planned $12 million Higher Learning Center as well as proposed constitutional amendments that would make permanent the rate at which the state taps money from a state permanent fund for education.

My story is HERE

Thanks to Sen. Nancy Rodriguez, I learned that there was an attorney general's opinion about the Higher Learning Center issued last week. Basically it says that there's no need to have the Legislature approve the center -- despite what Higher Education Secretary Jose Garcia has said.

You can find that opinion HERE.

I was surprised that Higher Education Secretary apparently hadn't seen the opinion. And I was amazed that  the AG's office didn't send out a press release on this opinion when it came down last week. Of course, they've got more important things to worry about.