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.