The Chimayó Elementary School has a problem which occurs every time it snows and persists throughout the winter. The arrival/departure point for the students is north facing, and during the winter months, it commonly freezes. Since the winter of 2010, the Española School Board has considered installing a snow melt system but stopped at the discussion stage.
It was decided by the Board in November 2010, the Chimayó snow melt system was one of the capital improvements to be fixed with the $28 million of general obligation bond monies.
The snow melt project was to consist of two snow melt strips each three feet wide and 20 feet long. This would cover two walkway locations heavily used by students, teachers and parents to get in and out of the school building. The estimate for this project, using R and M Construction, is $19,170.
This item came before the Board for approval last December. The item was tabled.
On the Oct. 9 meeting, the item once again came before the Board for approval, and once again was tabled.
“This has been on the agenda for three years at least,” Board President Ralph Medina said. “I’m very concerned about it,” he said.
Small projects manager for the District Joseph Torres said while the idea for snow melt strips at Chimayó was good, it had some flaws. Torres said the strips would only cover the walkways. This would leave the parking lot and drop off loop exposed to the elements and likely to freeze, Torres said.
“The cars can slide into the people,” Torres said.
Torres instead suggested constructing a porch over the walkway.
“Growing up in Chimayó with a house that has northern exposure, I know that once that snows there, you’re not gonna move it,” Board member Lucas Fresquez said. “Once it turns into ice, it’s there until it sees the sun. I like the idea of a porch,” Fresquez said.
The Board was in consensus of building a porch as the best long term solution for Chimayó Elementary. However, no action was taken. Torres will create a new scope of work and construction estimate for this project to present before the Board at the Oct. 16 Board meeting.
“Let’s not take too long, because the storm doesn’t wait for us,” Medina said.