Public Education Department Awards $1.96 Million to
Assist 14 Public School Districts with School Improvement

(Santa Fe, NM)--The New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) announced today that 14 districts in the state would be awarded a total of $1.96 million in federal Title I School Improvement funds to carry out their school improvement or corrective action plans. Priority was given to districts with corrective action and school improvement schools and ensuring that the needs of middle schools were met.

“These dollars will fund critical needs like instructional materials, staff development, technology and other resources to support reading programs. This competitive program is the only funding resource available and designed specifically to support school improvement schools,” said Sam Ornelas, director of the NMPED’s Grants Management Unit.

The recipient districts and dollars awarded are:

· ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, $584,510
For Ernie Pyle Middle ($75,000), Eugene Field Elementary ($28,000), Garfield Middle ($75,000), Harrison Middle ($72,425), Los Padillas Elementary ($28,500), Lowell Elementary ($63,200), Polk Middle ($72,385), Truman Middle ($75,000), Washington Middle ($20,000) and Whittier Elementary ($75,000)

· BELEN CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS, $30,191
For Belen Middle ($30,191)

· BERNALILLO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, $135,000
For Cochiti Elementary ($30,000), Santo Domingo Elementary ($30,000) and Santo Domingo Middle ($75,000)

· CENTRAL CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS, $220,000
For Naschitti Elementary ($40,000), Newcomb Middle ($50,000), Nizhoni Elementary ($40,000), Ojo Amarillo Elementary ($40,000) and Tse’Bit’Ai Middle ($50,000)

· DULCE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS, $25,000
For Dulce Middle ($25,000)

· ESPANOLA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, $85,000
For Alcalde Elementary ($20,000), Espanola Middle-East ($25,000), Hernandez Elementary ($20,000), Sombrillo Elementary ($20,000)

· GALLUP-MCKINLEY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, $467,500
For Chee Dodge Elementary ($40,000), Church Rock Elementary ($20,000), David Skeet Elementary ($20,000), Gallup Junior High ($37,500), John F. Kennedy Middle ($45,000), Navajo Elementary ($40,000), Rocky View Elementary ($20,000), Stagecoach Elementary ($20,000), Thoreau Middle ($45,000), Thoreau High ($75,000), Tobe Turpen Elementary ($20,000), Tohatchi Elementary ($20,000), Tohatchi Middle ($45,000) and Washington Elementary ($20,000)

· JEMEZ VALLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, $75,000
For Jemez Valley Middle ($75,000)

· LOS LUNAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, $75,000
For Desert View Intermediate ($75,000)

· MORA INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS, $25,000
For Mora Middle ($25,000)

· ROSWELL INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS, $20,000
For Pecos Elementary ($20,000)

· SANTA FE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, $20,000
For Agua Fria Elementary ($20,000)

· WEST LAS VEGAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, $75,000
For West Las Vegas Middle ($75,000)

· ZUNI PUBLIC SCHOOLS, $125,000
For Twin Buttes High ($50,000) and Zuni Middle ($75,000)