I believe an Alcalde or Alcalde/Velarde Elementary will eventually open. It is long overdue. It is not clear it is entirely the fault of the School Board. We can’t be certain.
It should continue to be two schools. Each school has its merits, and I believe it would cause much friction between students to combine the two.
It appears, just looking from the outside, that Alcalde Elementary should be the first one to be built. Is there a possibility of building on the same site, as they did with the Española Elementary? Just a thought, as students who walk to school would not have to cross the killer highway to the proposed new site.
By the way, good job on the Española Elementary.
Of course, there is always the subject of money, or the lack thereof. We know that money has come and gone, and will continue to come and go, through our school board’s hands without a lot of accountability. Let’s get those schools built, already.
I say we take the politics out of the Espanola School Board. I read with a heavy heart the article of Nov. 27 in the Rio Grande Sun regarding the upcoming School Board election. Wow! How obvious can it be, fellow Española Valley residents, that politics is the biggest draw to our public school board?
How long will we put politics before the students? How can we even vote for these self-serving individuals who think higher of themselves than the students they serve? Okay, Leonard Valerio being the exception. He seems to have to defend himself to the rest of the board continually for not operating status quo.
Regardless, it is absolutely time the voting public puts the students of the Española Valley first. Quit voting for the primo who does nothing for your students. Bring back some discipline to the schools. Quit letting the students run them. Make rules and stick to them. Hold that school board accountable for the decisions they make and the money they spend.
Demand the schools we need. Then, when we get those schools, hold the students accountable, too. If we get the politics out of the schools, then parents cannot call and pull political strings to get their children out of trouble.
It was obvious when the Military Academy was opened that students and parents wanted discipline back in the schools. The idea was good, and I was glad to see the Academy up and running, but the good soon was overcome by the politics as usual.
We have had in the past, and still do have, some school board members who have the students’ interests at heart. Let’s fill our school board with individuals who care more about students and the Valley than their own political success. Let’s work hard to keep Española students in Española. They are running everywhere, seeking safer and better options. Help those excellent students in Española who continue to strive for something better, and those teachers who continue to try providing academics to them, by giving them all a better academic environment.
Bottom line, let’s quit blaming each other and do what needs to get done so those kids can succeed and we can ultimately make this Valley a better place for all.
Vickie Luviano is an Española resident and volunteer coordinator for McCurdy School. She also drives the local Wednesday night route for the SUN.