Entrance to Mountain Elementary School. Courtesy photo

This stairway will be repaired and completely enclosed to prevent weather damage. Courtesy photo

I am pleased to announce that the state Public School Capital Outlay Council approved funding for building upgrades at Mountain Elementary School. These funds are allocated through a pilot initiative called the Systems-Based Capital Outlay program that is designed to help New Mexico school districts upgrade existing facilities. 

The money for LAPS will extend the usable life of Mountain Elementary School by 15 to 18 years. And, it will provide a better learning environment for students and teachers. With local matching funds, the total project will be about $3.9 million.

In order to minimize disruptions in the learning process, most of the construction work is planned for summer 2019 and 2020. Overall, the funding will pay for planning, design and construction.

The building upgrades will include emergency systems, site utilities, walkways, exterior walls, doors, and windows. Also included in the project are partitions, stairs, interior walls, roof, ceiling, floor finishes, air ventilation, HVAC, main power, lighting, branch circuits, plumbing, fire sprinklers and portables.

Parents, families, and staff from Mountain Elementary School will be invited to participate in the planning process, review design documents, and receive regular updates throughout the process. For members of the Los Alamos community, LAPS will share information on the website.