A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE EXPLORA SCIENCE CENTER AND CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION DEVELOP PROCEDURES FOR INFORMING SCHOOL DISTRICTS ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY AND USE OF EXPLORA AS AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE.

WHEREAS, the Explora science center and children's museum is a facility in Albuquerque that serves as an educational resource for school children throughout the state of New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, Explora will be relocating to a new and much larger facility in the museum corridor near the old town of Albuquerque; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative that all school districts in New Mexico be informed about the availability of Explora and how it can be used to enhance and augment science, technology and art instruction; and

WHEREAS, for school districts that are located a significant distance from Albuquerque, procedures need to be developed for overnight visits in the new facility that will allow students to spend the night at Explora's new facility; and

WHEREAS, overnight visits to Explora will also allow school children the time and opportunity to visit other museums that are located near Explora's new facility in the museum corridor;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it request the director of the Explora science center and children's museum and the state department of public education to develop procedures for informing school districts about the availability of Explora as an educational resource and for assisting school districts with planning overnight visits to Explora; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the director of Explora and a representative from the state department of public education report to the legislative education study committee and the legislative finance committee prior to October 31, 2003 regarding development of those procedures; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the director of the Explora science center and children's museum, the superintendent of public instruction, the director of the legislative education study committee and the director of the legislative finance committee.