Taos Municipal School Administrators must really be feeling like they’ve been thrown under the bus by Governor Susana Martinez. Not only are they being accused of gaming the system, now she says they’re guilty of jumping the gun by terminating 37 teachers last week.
Martinez appeared at a Republican fundraiser reception at the Sagebrush Convention Center and teachers and supporters demonstrated out front.
Protester and teachers union (T-FUSE) activist Orion Cervio was hopeful the protest would be well attended.
Shirley Reyes, president of Taos chapter 8053 of League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) had a bull horn and was chanting about the many complaints LULAC has with Martinez – from immigration to promising not to cut education.
“Five months of Susana Martinez is five months too long,” Reyes said.
Nearly 300 demonstrated in all. There were several Taos and State police present but only one instance when law enforcement had to step in as a man supporting teachers confronted a man who held a sign in support of Governor Martinez.
The confrontation was short-lived and the demonstration was a success as Martinez did eventually meet with eight teachers and school board members long enough to say the administration was wrong to make the 37 teacher terminations prior to budget approval.