Those attending the Monday meeting on plans to rebuild an elementary school divided into five small groups to discuss the options. Pboto by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

Around 60 people gathered at Chamisa Elementary to discuss plans to rebuild an elementary school, Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

By BONNIE J GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post

A crowd of around 60 turned out Monday to discuss the rebuilding of one of the Los Alamos elementary schools Monday.

The meeting was held at Chamisa Elementary School in White Rock. This was the fourth in a series of public meetings  meetings on the subject. The high turnout was driven by the impact of the decision on the fate of Chamisa. One option under discussion has been the closing of Chamisa while rebuilding Pinon Elementary to house more students.

Discussion about rebuilding a school began in the spring, when the School Board voted to apply for state matching funds. The District was passed over in the first round of funding, but funding may be available in the future. The Aspen School project began without matching funds, but funds became available during the project. Should the Bond fail, the Board will need to revisit rebuilding a school.

Three schools, Barranca, Chamisa and Pinon are on the list of New Mexico’s worst school buildings, making them eligible for a 42 percent match from the State. At a cost of around $20 million to renovate a school, that match may be crucial.

In a recent revision of the list, Barranca moved from 41 to 17, the smaller the number the worse shape the school building is in. The other schools also moved up, but not nearly as much.

When asked if this makes Barranca a better candidate to receive state funding, School Board Vice-President Matt Williams said, “Definitely, we feel it does. Renovating the lowest ranked school will improve our odds.” School Board President Jim Hall agreed.

Matching funds, in addition to funds from a 2017 Bond Election would be used to fund the renovation, if the bond is approved. Money from a previous bond is available for the initial design of the new school. The School Board will decide whether to approve beginning the design phase at the Nov. 10 School Board Meeting.

The matching funds question now seems to be driving discussion on which school to choose. Another consideration is lack of data on the impact of consolidating the two White Rock Schools.

“Discussion about what path to take in White Rock has not yet happened,” one audience member noted, to applause from the group.

“We need to look at a long term vision for White Rock,” Hall said.

Most of the group seemed to favor keeping Chamisa open, whatever the decision on which school to rebuild.

One of the driving factors in the decision to build a new school, with or without matching funds, is the continuing need to renovate the aging school building.

According to data presented by the School Board, maintenance costs were $1,470,000 at Barranca over the past 10 years. Repair costs to keep the buildings up to code will be $2,571,000 over the next 5-7 years and costs at Chamisa are similar. Costs for upcoming repairs at Pinon are even higher.
Students are in portable classrooms, not intended for long term use at both Barranca and Chamisa.

“The building of new schools will free up money to maintain Chamisa,” Chamisa Principal Debbie Smith said, voicing her support for rebuilding a school, even if it isn’t hers.

The group divided into 5 subgroups and reported back with the outcomes of their discussions.

The groups expressed support for maintaining Chamisa, citing its unique teaching culture and the maintenance of a small-school environment. All of the groups stressed the need for long-term planning for White Rock schools.

The group at table five felt that the School Board should maximize the use of state funds, and there seemed to be a willingness among all the subgroups to wait for a new school in White Rock, if the school situation there is grappled with in a meaningful way.

“If Barranca is chosen, we should take this opportunity to develop a vision for White Rock,” said the spokesman for Table One.

“These meetings have been very informative and productive,” Hall said. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to trust the people of Los Alamos.”