Natalie Chadborn, LCPS School Board Dist. 3 candidate

What do you see as the top infrastructure needs for the district? 

There is a backlog of repairs needed, including refurbishing older buildings, renewal of roofing and HVAC systems; lighting, plumbing etc., while some new construction is also needed. 

As the district increases its use of technology, we need to make sure there is enough internet bandwidth to avoid outages that could interrupt student learning. 

What would you do to help make sure each campus is safe for kids to go to school? 

All schools should have adequate perimeter fences to keep out people who have no business being on campus. Security doors at critical access points to the building need to be maintained in good condition. 

School Resource Officers should be present on campus at every school.  

If LCPD cannot accommodate all the necessary officers, then private security and/or volunteers from former law enforcement should be incorporated into campus safety procedures.  

What policies or programs would you support to address bullying and cyberbullying in the district? 

As a Board member I will be actively involved in this process and I support effective and appropriate anti-bullying programs. Many parents feel that their concerns about bullying have fallen on deaf ears.  

Last year, the Board passed the JICFA policy on bullying and cyberbullying, which the superintendent establishes procedures for reporting and investigating incidents. There is also a state mandate for the district to establish an annual bullying prevention program.  

What are some new classes or changes to curriculum that you would like to see? 

Financial literacy should be available in middle and high schools, and vocational (trade school) classes should be an option as well.  

Technology is constantly upgrading and evolving. It will be a large part of the world our children will graduate into. We need to keep pace with innovation, and technology classes should be available for students. 

What are some of your top priorities when it comes to creating a budget? 

As the majority of LCPS students are unable to read or do math at grade level, we cannot continue to simply rubber-stamp budgets that lead to the same low-performing results.  

The budget priorities should be high-quality curriculum and high-quality teacher training programs that are effective, including Teacher-Mentorships, so that both students and teachers have the tools they need to be successful. 

Can you provide us with a quick bio which includes your age and current job/ job prior to taking office? 

I was born and raised in New Mexico. I am 54 years of age, and currently a small business owner of two Florist Retail Shops in Las Cruces, as well as a small bookkeeping/accounting business.  

I previously owned and operated multiple childcare centers in New Mexico and Arizona. I earned a child development associate's degree from Western NM University and an associate's degree in accounting from University of Phoenix.  

Why are you running? 

I am running for school board because as a mother, a grandmother and a business owner, I believe all of our children and grandchildren deserve to grow up safely and graduate prepared for college, the workforce, and the military.  

Too many of our students graduate without the knowledge or skills to be successful. I witness this personally, often in my businesses, where I am having to teach LCPS graduates basic skills, such as multiplication and where to put a stamp on a letter.   

There is not a sense of urgency coming from the current school board. I am running to change that. 

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Las Cruces Public Schools? 

LCPS students are struggling with the basics, teachers are prevented from restoring order in their classroom and they are getting burned-out.  

Meanwhile, a lack of transparency has led many people in the community to distrust both the district in general and the school system itself.  

What do you hope to do to address these issues? 

People want to be heard and we get very frustrated when no one seems to listen or care. As a board member, I will listen to and respect everyone, while answering questions as accurately and honestly as possible. 

I will support teachers and administrators in restoring discipline in all the classrooms and a safe learning environment on every campus. I will hold the district accountable to the students, parents, taxpayers, and our whole community by ensuring that high-quality education is our top budget priority.