Interior rendering of the proposed North Mesa mixed-use gymnasium near LAMS. Screenshot/ladailypost.com
Exterior rendering of the proposed North Mesa mixed-use gymnasium near LAMS. Screenshot/ladailypost.com
From left, Acting Superintendent Jennifer Guy, Board President Antonio Jaurigue, Vice President Ellen Specter, Secretary Christine Bernstein and members Melanie Colgan and Sondra Wyman at a work session Thursday at Aspen Elementary School. Screenshot/ladailypost.com
By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bjgordon@ladailypost.com
The main business discussed at Thursday’s (Los Alamos Public Schools LAPS) Board work session was the proposed North Mesa mixed-use gymnasium near Los Alamos Middle School (LAMS).
The project is a collaboration between Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) and Los Alamos County. The facility would serve the public as well as LAMS. Los Alamos County Deputy Public Works Director Eric Martinez and Drew Fisher of FBT Architects presented the latest progress on the project. A number of public meetings have been held since June 2022 as well as a community survey.
That information gathering phase culminated in the selection of “Site C” of the three sites under consideration. This option was the choice of the Parks and Recreation Board, which also recommended the “larger program” option, that includes more features. In a joint meeting, the County and the School Board agreed to move forward into the design phase with those options.
LAMS Principal Jill Gonzales weighed in on the proposed new gym.
“Since 1961, we’ve used this gym,” she said. “Sixty-two years later, we’ve outgrown this space. The plan for mixed use with the community and the possibility of creating a sixth-grade academy will increase the need for space.”
The design phase is now 60 percent complete, Fisher said.
“It’s a steep site, so it’s nestled into the hillside,” he said. “There are separate access areas for the school and for the public.”
LAPS Acting Superintendent Jennifer Guy announced at Thursday’s work session at Aspen Elementary School that summer school will be back full time this year.
Students will be in class in the morning and extracurricular activities will be offered in the afternoon during the summer school session, which will run June 5 to July 14.
“We’re excited to have a robust program,” Guy said.
She also announced that the job of principal at Mountain School will be posted Monday, Jan. 30. Suzanne Lynne came out of retirement to fill in this school year, but is choosing to return to retirement.
Education Leadership expert Robyn Jackson will be in the District for five days in February, Guy said.
“We need to decide what we want for the district,” she said. “We will be taking a comprehensive look at the district. Our goal is meeting the needs of 100 percent of our kids.”
The Odyssey of the Mind program for 4, 5 and 6 grade students showed off skills and skits at the meeting.
“Our theme for this year is Way To Grow,” Aspen Principal Michele Altherr said.
Aspen has 450 students and 85 staff. There are 39 teachers of which 29 hold master’s degrees, Altherr said.
The next School Board Meeting is 5:30 p.m., Feb. 14 in the District Board Room on Trinity Drive.