Las Cruces Public Schools Superintendent Sonia Diaz has gone on the offensive against rumors that she is an anti-athletics administrator.
Rumors have abounded on the Internet and throughout the athletics community that Diaz, who has only been in
Jim Spence, who is the primary announcer for the high-school BTK Radio Network, recently wrote a column published in the Las Cruces Sun-News that accused the school district’s administration of making secret plans “that will push the highly accomplished music and athletic programs at LCPS back into the stone ages.”
Diaz began her offensive with a column published Friday in the Las Cruces Bulletin stating that arts and athletics are important parts of a well-rounded curriculum. She wrote that her goal is to “enhance what has worked for students while at the same time, to address deficiencies in the areas of literature and numeracy.”
Diaz continued her offensive this morning on The Morning Show with Michael Swickard. She and Spence were on the program together. When Spence asked specifically if Diaz would continue allowing students to receive course credit for taking part in some extracurricular activities, she didn’t commit.
“My commitment is about making sure kids get a well-rounded education,” Diaz said. “… It’s very hard to give (Spence) that firm commitment.”
She did say she believes athletics, band and chorus are important, and she is committed to continuing funding for them. Diaz said she’s reviewing a lot of options.
This is a hot potato that has sat steaming at LCPS for years while other controversies were dealt with (and we all know there have been plenty in recent years). It’s no secret that some don’t think students should receive class credit for attending football or volleyball practice – particularly since athletes who take part in some less-visible sports don’t receive the same perk.
Others who are entrenched in the tradition of high school athletics here are infuriated by such thinking.
This issue may be finally reaching the boiling point. With a school board election coming up in February and a history of this community chasing out superintendents it didn’t like, look for this to be a controversial topic for the next few months.
Swickard was kind enough to share the audio files of his interview with Diaz and Spence. It’s in five parts, and each is only a few minutes long. Enjoy!
Click here to listen to part 1.
Click here to listen to part 2.
Click here to listen to part 3.
Click here to listen to part 4.
Click here to listen to part 5.