Superintendent Dr. Blakey and district finance and academic leaders presented the Albuquerque Public Schools operational and federal-state program budgets Wednesday and described structural changes intended to align resources to the district’s goals.

The presentation highlighted three organizational shifts: creation of a Federal and State Programs office to reduce duplication, closer alignment of the academic side with budgeting, and the introduction of a performance framework that ties resource allocations to school outcomes. “This office was created to break down silos and ensure that federal and state dollars are being used effectively,” Dr. Blakey said.

Deputy Superintendent Dr. Antonio Gonzalez and executive staff detailed changes staff said have already produced savings and reallocations. Dr. Gonzalez said the administration had identified $2,000,000 in "project abandonment" — funds previously spent on initiatives judged not to yield a sufficient return on learning — and had redirected those resources. District staff also said that with the reorganization, Title I allocations will now be routed directly to schools rather than retained centrally.

Board members used the presentation to press for specifics. Courtney Jackson recalled asking a year earlier whether the superintendent could guarantee that redundancies would be addressed; staff described structural steps taken in the intervening year, including program evaluation, consolidation of departments and stricter criteria for instructional-material purchases. Renette Apolaca (budget office) said the budget includes an anticipated 4% across-the-board increase for employees in preliminary figures, reflecting legislative and negotiation developments the board should expect.

Discussion covered a range of topics the board requested in advance: the district’s high-quality instructional materials policy, how funds are braided across state and federal streams for Career and Technical Education (CTE), and whether special-population groups (notably Native American students) are being appropriately identified for special education or gifted services. Staff said they are using a unified application for federal funding (titles I, II, III, IV and IDEA) to increase coherence and that major categorical grants signed in the legislative budget are secure for next year.

Board members pressed staff for more granular numbers on contract eliminations and savings: Heather Benavides asked how many external contracts were discontinued and the aggregate savings; staff reported three contracts discontinued, totaling approximately $1.5 million, and said they would circulate a fuller list. Members also discussed the state's secondary funding factor change (grades 6–12 factor 1.3) and how above-the-line vs. below-the-line categorization affects district flexibility.

The presentation also responded to community requests and prior public comments. District staff said a new staffing commitment would provide one behavior redirector for every elementary school next year and that Title I funds would be allocated to schools rather than retained centrally. The administration noted that final updated fiscal numbers would be presented at the May 7 meeting; the adopted budget is due to the New Mexico Public Education Department on May 19.

District staff invited board members to submit additional questions in advance of May 7, when the board is scheduled to consider final budget adoption.