Albuquerque, NM: Voters urged to pass bond package to fund new special school
- Oct 7, 2025
- 2 min read
Oct 1, 2025, KOB4, Albuquerque, NM: APS hopes voters will approve bond to fund West Side special needs facility
The Albuquerque Public Schools district is hoping voters will pass a bond package that would, in part, fund a new special education facility on Albuquerque’s West Side.
The Stephen Moody Complex is designed specifically for special education students.
“One of the cool things is the light fixture, the kids love it. So, they can come in and turn the colors; different colors are calming for other students,” said Jennifer Blythe, principal of the Stephen Moody Education Complex.
While it might seem like a simple switch, Blythe says it could make or break outcomes at the complex. The facility also has modified alarms, padded walls, and what Blythe calls the school’s favorite.
“They love our outdoor playground. You got a chance to see you got a chance to see the cushiony ground for the students and our amazing sensory garden we have out there,” said Blythe.
What many families dislike is the potentially hour-long bus ride.
“I think that’s a lot for these kiddos. It’s not just a trip from home to school, it’s more than that,” said Katelyn Saavedra, a parent and teacher at Stephen Moody Educational Complex.
She says it’s a 45-minute drive from their home on Albuquerque’s West Side, a huge stressor on her child.
APS is asking voters to approve a bond this November. It would designate $15 million to build a similar facility on the West Side.
“It would be really beneficial because a lot of our kids wouldn’t have to go through as much travel, transition,” said Saavedra.
Saavedra says she can’t imagine how much more her child would improve by removing the travel burden.
“As an autism mom myself, I know that, since starting my son here, the amount of improvement I’ve seen and progress in here his just daily life has been monumental,” said Saavedra.
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