WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced today that the Laguna Elementary School in New Laguna, New Mexico, will receive $26.2 million for the construction of a new school.
“As Secretary of the Interior, I am responsible for the education of 48,000 native children in the Bureau of Indian Education school system, and that is an honor and responsibility I take very seriously,” said Secretary Zinke. “I applaud the Laguna Department Of Education’s commitment to providing a first class education to its students and for developing a successful plan. An investment in our youth is an investment in our future. I am hopeful that the proposal President Trump and I put forward to rebuild Indian schools is passed by Congress.”
“The Pueblo of Laguna is realizing a dream come true with the award to replace the previously condemned Laguna Elementary School,” said Laguna Pueblo Governor Virgil Siow. “Our Pueblo Administration and Council has worked for many years to obtain funding for a modern, state of the art school to replace the current school. Finally, our children will learn in a safe and modern environment. This school will benefit future generations to come. We are very grateful to the Creator for this blessing and the opportunity for our community.”
The Laguna Elementary School replacement project will support the construction for an education facility serving approximately 220 students in grades ranging from kindergarten to fifth. The school is slated to be built on a 48,200 square foot campus and includes a Cultural Arts classroom, an additional computer lab, permanent stage space and increased allotments for Special Education therapy and resource classrooms. The school will be designed for sustainability and is expected to achieve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver certification status.
In 2016, through the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) replacement school construction process, Indian Affairs selected 10 schools for replacement. Laguna Elementary School was the first 2016 NCLB School to complete the planning phase. The Pueblo of Laguna has elected to manage the project using a design-build contract for their new school utilizing an amendment to their existing education grant.
