Three vie for Los Alamos school board District 1 seat

Los Alamos Public Schools will fill its vacant District 1 seat on April 14, putting three applicants in line for a vote that will shape board oversight, district spending and superintendent-level decisions for the rest of the year. The seat opened after Margie Serrato resigned, effective March 26, 2026, leaving a district that is already moving through its 2026-27 budget process and a crowded calendar of public meetings.

Elisa Baker, Stephanie Galvez and Katie Mussack all appeared at a public forum April 6 in the School Boardroom at 2075 Trinity Drive, where current board members asked about their reasons for serving and what each would bring to the job. Mussack framed the post as public service and said she wanted to represent students, teachers, staff and families. Galvez pointed to nearly 25 years of management experience, citing complex projects, diverse teams and large budgets, along with her deep family ties to Los Alamos schools. Baker described herself as a rational thinker with experience in complex problem solving and said she wanted to help the community move forward in a unified way.

The appointment carries more weight than a routine vacancy. The Los Alamos Public Schools Board has five members, each representing one district in Los Alamos County, and members serve four-year terms. District 1 includes precincts 1, 7.1, 8.1, 8.2, 9 and 10, and its boundaries include Piñon Elementary School. In a district of about 3,543 students, five school buildings and a $76 million operating budget, one vote can affect how quickly the board responds to staffing pressure, student support needs and family concerns.

The timing is especially sensitive because the board is also working through the 2026-27 budget. LAPS held a community input and information session on April 7, and the board is scheduled to vote April 14 before the plan moves on to the New Mexico Public Education Department for state review. The new appointee will join those discussions immediately, with little time to ease into a year that will test spending priorities and school-level staffing.

The vacancy also lands at a moment when the district has been publicly recognized for its work. The Los Alamos Public Schools Board was named the 2025 New Mexico School Boards Association Large District School Board of the Year, a distinction the district says reflects governance, advocacy, training and community engagement. That makes the April 14 appointment more than a routine replacement. It is a choice about who will help guide a board that is being watched closely, in a district where governance decisions can reach classrooms quickly.