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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Pinto

DATE TYPED 03/08/05 HB

SHORT TITLE Sanostee Day School Building Funds

SB SJM 0092

ANALYST Weber

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Indian Affairs Department

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial 92 (SJM 92) urges the New Mexico Congressional delegation to

do the following:

Identify funding for temporary school buildings for the Sanostee Day School.

Identify funding for construction of a new Sanostee Day School.

Encourage the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to remedy the unsafe conditions at

the Sanostee Day School and place school on the BIA facilities construction prior-

ity list.

It further directs that the memorial be given to the New Mexico Congressional delegation

and representatives of the BIA, Navajo Nation, and the Sanostee Navajo Chapter.

Significant Issues

The Indian Affairs Department reports.

Data from the U.S. General Accounting Office show that, compared to other schools na-

tionally, BIA schools (1) are generally in poorer physical condition, (2) have more unsat-

Senate Joint Memorial 92 -- Page 2

isfactory environmental factors, (3) more often lack key facilities requirements for educa-

tion reform, and (4) are less able to support computer and communications technology.

Sanostee Day School is one of 49 BIA schools in New Mexico. Located in San Juan

County, the Sanostee Day School serves seventy-two Navajo children in kindergarten

through third grade. In December 2004, Sanostee Day School was condemned due to

major structural damage caused by a cracked foundation forcing the students to attend

classes in 4 portable buildings. The library, computer lab, administration and special

education programs currently occupy community housing quarters removed from the

portable classrooms. Consequently, the children must walk a long way to access these

resources. Also, the children must ride the bus every day to the Sanostee Chapter multi-

purpose building to eat breakfast and lunch.

According to the school staff, the BIA has made numerous visits to inspect the building;

however, they remain unclear as to BIA’s plans to rectify the building conditions.

The lack of adequate funding for the repair or new construction of the Sanostee Day

School jeopardizes the health and safety of Navajo children, families and staff. Further-

more, the unsafe school conditions may force Navajo families in the Sanostee community

to send their children to the Newcomb public school or the BIA boarding school located

approximately 30 miles away.

MW/sb