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$26M Pledged For RR Schools ; Gov.'s Plan Targets Growing Districts

Posted on: Thursday, 8 December 2005, 18:00 CST

By ELAINE D. BRISEO Journal Staff Writer

Christmas appears to be coming early for Rio Rancho Public Schools.

Gov. Bill Richardson announced Wednesday he wants to give the district $26 million for two new elementary schools, as part of a $290 million proposal to help fast-growing school districts.

The money would come from the state capital funding over a two- year period and would require approval by the Legislature.

Rio Rancho Public Schools spokeswoman Kim Vesely said the district was surprised by the governor's announcement.

"We did not know this was coming," she said. "We are involved on an ongoing basis making sure politicians in the state and the governor are aware of what we need. With all the growth, we need additional schools."

Vesely said the district will proceed with its $39 million bond election, scheduled for Feb. 7.

The district had planned on using a portion of that money to build the two new elementary schools but was still going to be about $7 million short. About $35 million of the bond money would go toward a new high school, Vesely said. The district planned on using bond money from the 2009 bond election to complete the elementary schools.

"The need does not go away," Vesely said. "This will free up some of the bond money for much-needed projects at existing schools."

Vesely would not specify any other projects, saying they would have to be approved by the board.

When the board set priorities for the bond election, a number of other projects were discussed. They included improvements at Rio Rancho High School's Fine Arts Academy, expansion of the Rio Rancho Mid-High cafeteria and installation of a canopy on the school's plaza, a track at Eagle Ridge Middle School, bleacher replacement and a new roof at Lincoln Middle School, playground equipment for Maggie Cordova Elementary and a classroom addition at Vista Grande Elementary.

The two new elementary schools would be built to alleviate surging populations at Colinas del Norte and Vista Grande elementaries. Colinas is in North Hills and Vista Grande is in the Enchanted Hills subdivision.

District officials have said for years that the state does not adequately fund growing school districts.

The governor's proposal --which was born amid West Side community leaders looking for a solution for school overcrowding -- includes $115 million for Albuquerque Public Schools to build two high schools on the West Side by 2008.

Millions of dollars also would go to southern New Mexico schools.

Source: Albuquerque Journal

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