46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003
REQUESTING THAT THE GOVERNOR ENCOURAGE STATE EMPLOYEES TO MENTOR AT-RISK CHILDREN AND PARTICIPATE IN OTHER EDUCATIONAL ENHANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES BY PROVIDING ACADEMIC ENHANCEMENT LEAVE.
WHEREAS, many jobs in state government require incumbents to hold baccalaureate or higher degrees, and those employees could be great educational resources and role models for children; and
WHEREAS, providing at-risk and other children more positive interactions with adults, particularly those adults who have achieved through education, will expand the educational environment in New Mexico and offer those children the guidance needed to become successful adults; and
WHEREAS, if the influence of adult educational mentors can positively affect the lives of at-risk children, New Mexico will benefit not only in reduced adult incarceration rates but in the creation of productive, tax-paying citizens; and
WHEREAS, current economic conditions make it difficult to add money to the public school budget for educational enhancements like student mentoring; and
WHEREAS, other states, such as Connecticut and Florida, have implemented state initiatives to encourage state employees to serve as educational mentors for children by providing paid time off from work; and
WHEREAS, the state work force is not only an untapped resource for educational enhancement, but a good way to offer additional services to children with very little fiscal impact;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor be encouraged to initiate an educational enhancement leave policy that allows state employees administrative leave for educational mentoring activities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state department of public education and local school boards be encouraged to assist in the development and implementation of an educational enhancement program in the public schools that uses state employees as educational mentors; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the office of the governor and the state board of education.