0001|                       HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 51
    |
0002|     43RD LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 1998
    |
0003|                            INTRODUCED BY
    |
0004|                              BEN LUJAN
    |
0005|     
    |
0006|                                   
    |
0007|     
    |
0008|     
    |
0009|     
    |
0010|                           A JOINT MEMORIAL
    |
0011|     REQUESTING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION TO ENDORSE
    |
0012|     A GOVERNMENT-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP BY DEVELOPING A PILOT PROGRAM.
    |
0013|     
    |
0014|          WHEREAS, a chronic shortage of qualified substitute
    |
0015|     teachers exists in the public school system; and
    |
0016|          WHEREAS, it is difficult for public schools to attract
    |
0017|     qualified substitute teachers when the schools cannot provide
    |
0018|     high pay, job security or benefits to substitute teachers; and 
    |
0019|          WHEREAS, frequently, the lack of substitute teachers
    |
0020|     requires classes to be combined or to be in the charge of
    |
0021|     unqualified people; and
    |
0022|          WHEREAS, government employees and retired government
    |
0023|     employees comprise a large pool of highly qualified potential
    |
0024|     substitute teachers; and 
    |
0025|          WHEREAS, the national governors' association has endorsed
    |
<center>- 1 -</center>

0001|     a public-private partnership to foster a renewed national
    |
0002|     commitment to community service and volunteerism;
    |
0003|          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE
    |
0004|     STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state department of public
    |
0005|     education be requested to study the potential for using state,
    |
0006|     federal, city and county public employees and retired public
    |
0007|     employees as volunteer substitute teachers; and
    |
0008|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state department of
    |
0009|     public education develop a pilot program to eventually expand
    |
0010|     to the rest of the state; and
    |
0011|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
    |
0012|     transmitted to the superintendent of public instruction.
    |
0013|                                  
    |
0014|     
    |
0015|          
    |