Saturday, March 29, 2008

Belen High athletic complex, tennis courts get go-ahead

Jackie Schlotfeldt News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jschlotfeldt@news-bulletin.com

Belen Belen High School students may soon have a new athletic complex and new tennis courts added to the campus after the Belen School Board gave the go-ahead to issue a request for proposals to design the two projects.

The action came at the regular board meeting on March 11.

Funding for the projects will come from two different sources, with the field house built from legislative appropriations and reauthorizations awarded over the past two legislative sessions. The football field house had been awarded $250,000 in appropriations in 2007. Last October, the board approved a request for Sen. Michael Sanchez, D-Dist. 29, to reauthorize $750,000 in legislative appropriations, which was designated for the design and renovations of the performing arts building at Belen High School ,to be reallocated for the construction of a field house at the athletic sports complex.

With the reallocation, $1 million in appropriations and the $1.25 million awarded to the project through this legislative session, may be enough to complete the work.

The tennis court funds will come from the general obligation bond approved by voters. Although the courts weren't in the top four prioritized projects, the board decided to start the process of designing the courts after parents and students asked it to consider moving the tennis court project higher on the list because of the condition the facility is in.

"I think it's important we're moving forward," board member Julian Luna said. "This is the first step."

Luna went on to say that while the tennis courts are moving forward, it will take some time to get everything in place regarding funding.

Board president Jamie Goldberg said the courts will benefit the community as well as the students and it's something the community wanted to see completed when they voted to approve the bond.

"When we say we will build, we will build," Luna stated.

Goldberg said between legislative appropriations and citizens approving the bond, more than $20 million in projects over a five-year period will have been done at BHS, which includes the completion of the second phase of the career academy.

"The athletic complex will be second to none in the state," Goldberg said. "All the funding for it has come through Santa Fe."

In other action, the board:

Approved a revision to the policy after discussing and changing some of the language surrounding whether homebound students can participate in extracurricular activities at school.

Luna expressed his concern that the language as written could be interpreted to say that a student may be prohibited from participating in activities such as sports. He said being able to participate in athletics could be a release for some students, and he hoped that all students would be treated fairly while on homebound status.

Mary Chavez, who directs the program, addressed the board saying all students are thoroughly reviewed and decisions regarding homebound students are not taken lightly.

"Some children have a school phobia, and one avenue is that maybe participating in extra curricular activities will help them go to school," Chavez said.

Approved a district survey questionnaire that goes out on a yearly basis to let the district know what parents think of their school's performance. Luna asked if the reports show school specifics and was told it did.

Approved a bank resolution that identifies who is allowed to conduct banking transactions as well as day-to-day transactions such as banking deposits and balance inquiries. Superintendent Patricia Rael and Finance Director Art Castillo were approved to authorize transactions necessary to operate the district, while finance specialists Kathy Chavez, Sandra Sanchez and Evangeline Torres were approved to conduct the day-to-day transactions.

Recognized the Business Professionals Association for its awards in the regional and state competition. Teacher Judy Gutierrez said some of the students qualified for the national competition that will be held in May.

Recognized the BHS chorus for its awards received at the Solo Ensemble competition. Teacher Marie Smrt said 50 students competed and 103 medals were earned.

Heard an update on Gil Sanchez by Principal Jennifer Brown. Brown said construction on the new playground equipment was under way. Brown briefly talked of the music, art, bilingual and technology programs being conducted at the school and said they were five students away from completing this year's New Mexico Standards-Based Assessment (NMSBA) tests.

Board member Sam Chavez complimented Brown on her accomplishments at Gil Sanchez. Since she was appointed principal last year, he said, he's received many complements about the school from parents. "It's refreshing to bump into someone with good news," Chavez said. "I think a lot of it has to do with the leadership and staff."

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