Hispanic rights group challenges school board

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Strong words Sunday from a Hispanic rights group, accusing the Albuquerque School Board of denying Hispanic residents fair and adequate representation.

“This is about education…this is about access to education, this is about representation of the people. And if you're not representing the people right get out,” LULAC state director Ralph Arellanes said.

Arellanes went as far as to say Hispanic members of the school board had "no cajones" when they decided on new district lines during the recent redistricting process.

The result, according to LULAC, is unfair representation for Hispanics, especially on the city's Westside.

School board president Paula Maes says that is not true.

She says the redistricting process was fair and open, that Hispanics don't just live on the Westside and that school board members voted their conscience.

“There are communities of interest everywhere,” Maes said. “And you just can't - you know it's a hard thing to do, but we serve all the children of Albuquerque - not just the children of my district. And my district is going to be very changed now.”

LULAC is promising to fight the new district lines.

The group is threatening the possibility of a lawsuit.