April 6, 2001

SENATE EXECUTIVE MESSAGE NO. 94

The Honorable Richard Romero and

Members of the Senate

Executive-Legislative Building

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503

Honorable President and Members of the Senate:

I have this day VETOED and am returning SENATE BILL 661 enacted by the Forty-Fifth Legislature, First Session, 2001.

This bill provides that the State Board of Education need not assess and accredit our public schools once every three years, but gives to the Board the discretion to determine the frequency in which schools are evaluated.

By changing the law only one year after the initial accreditation system was implemented this proposal is a disservice not only to the 166 probationary schools identified last year, but also to all 766 public schools in the three-year accreditation cycle. I am concerned this legislation would lead to school evaluations that are so few and far between that parents and students would not be able to get a clear picture of whether or not their schools are providing a good education.

Sincerely,

Gary E. Johnson

Governor

RECEIVED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR:

Time: _____________________ By:_____________________________

Secretary of State

Date ______________________

Time:______________________

Date_______________________ By:_____________________________

Chief Clerk of the Senate

Sem64sb662v