HOUSE MEMORIAL 75

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Eliseo Lee Alcon

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE INDIAN EDUCATION DIVISION OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY ACCESS TO PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE RAMAH AREA OF NEW MEXICO AND THE POSSIBLE NEED FOR A NEW SCHOOL DISTRICT.

     WHEREAS, the Ramah area of New Mexico encompasses the southeast corner of McKinley county and portions of Cibola county and is contained within two public school districts, the Gallup-McKinley county school district and the Grants-Cibola county school district; and

     WHEREAS, the nearest public schools for students in the Ramah area are located in McKinley county, but the majority of students live in Cibola county; and

     WHEREAS, four-fifths of the Navajo school-age population in the area attend federally funded, Navajo Nation-sanctioned schools known as the Pine Hill schools operated by the Ramah Navajo school board, incorporated, a Navajo Nation school board, with dual status as a privately incorporated nonprofit educational and charitable entity under the laws of New Mexico; and 

     WHEREAS, the combined Indian and non-Indian school-age population in the area totals well over five hundred students; and

     WHEREAS, there may be ways in which federal money could continue to be used to support Navajo students within a public school district created for the area; and 

     WHEREAS, the Indian education division of the public education department has access to funds for the completion of a study on the public education situation in the area;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the Indian education division of the public education department be requested to convene a task force no later than July 1, 2009 to study access to public education in the Ramah area and the possible need for and feasibility of establishing a new school district in the area; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be composed of three representatives appointed by the Indian education division of the public education department, two representatives appointed by the governing body of Ramah village, two representatives appointed by the Gallup-McKinley county school board, two representatives appointed by the Grants-Cibola county school board and two representatives appointed by the Ramah Navajo school board, incorporated; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report its findings to the appropriate interim legislative committees and to the governor no later than December 1, 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the assistant secretary for Indian education, the governing body of Ramah village, the Gallup-McKinley county school board, the Grants-Cibola county school board and the Ramah Navajo school board, incorporated.

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