FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2021
Contact: Joaquin Romero
(505) 506-5798
PED doubles down on high school sports ban
Senator Mark Moores responds, urges Governor to step in
ALBUQUERQUE – Despite receiving numerous requests from students, parents, and Republican legislators, the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) this week doubled down on its pairing of in-person learning with participation in high school sports. Earlier this week, Senator Mark Moores (District 21-Bernalillo) sent a letter to Secretary of Education, Ryan Stewart, urging PED to modify its policy and allow sports to commence. In an email response, Secretary Stewart defended and maintained the state’s policy requiring schools to reopen for in-person learning and have a “two-week pause,” before acquiring permission for extracurricular activities.
Senator Moores released the following statement in response to the state’s decision:
“Every day, we learn that more and more New Mexico students are leaving the state to pursue their education and extracurricular activities elsewhere. Who can blame them? Their local school boards and state leaders have repeatedly failed them.”
“This week, it became even more apparent that these leaders will not be persuaded by the passionate pleadings of local students, parents, and lawmakers. Therefore, I am calling on the Governor to immediately step in and fix this situation. Our students have suffered enough, and each day, they are robbed of the little remaining hope they have to return to the court and the field. Governor – please #LetThemPlay!”
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