44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

REQUESTING THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE NEW MEXICO SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS AND PRESENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION ABOUT THE ADEQUACY AND CAPACITY OF EXISTING BUILDINGS AND PHYSICAL FACILITIES AT THE NEW MEXICO SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.

WHEREAS, the New Mexico school for the deaf was established in Santa Fe one hundred twelve years ago to provide for the instruction of deaf and hard-of-hearing New Mexicans who are between the ages of five years and majority; and

WHEREAS, the board of regents of the New Mexico school for the deaf has the full responsibility of providing suitable buildings and physical facilities that are necessary to providing a high quality education delivered in the most efficient manner; and

WHEREAS, in order to provide the best possible education to the deaf and hard-of-hearing students of New Mexico and to prepare them to function well in the world at large, the board of regents of the New Mexico school for the deaf has established a facilities task force to assess the adequacy and capacity of the existing buildings and physical facilities on the New Mexico school for the deaf campus in Santa Fe; and WHEREAS, the facilities task force has held extensive meetings and discussions and submitted its report to the board of regents of the New Mexico school for the deaf;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the board of regents of the New Mexico school for the deaf be requested to hold public hearings to discuss the facilities task force's report; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public hearings provide for participation by all constituents of the New Mexico school for the deaf, including students, parents, staff, faculty, alumni, members of the New Mexico association of the deaf, the business community and deaf persons; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that following the public hearings, the board of regents of the New Mexico school for the deaf be requested to present its final conclusions and recommendations to the appropriate legislative interim committee and the commission on higher education by September 1, 2000 about the adequacy and capacity of existing buildings and physical facilities at the New Mexico school for the deaf, including any changes to the present facilities, that are necessary in order for the school to provide a high quality education for its students during the twenty-first century; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the chairman of the appropriate legislative interim committee, members of the board of regents of the New Mexico school for the deaf, the superintendent of the New Mexico school for the deaf and the executive director of the commission on higher education.