HOUSE MEMORIAL 43

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Patricia A. Lundstrom

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE INDIAN EDUCATION DIVISION OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE INDIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF A BISTATE CHARTER SCHOOL IN THE RED LAKE CHAPTER OF THE NAVAJO NATION.

     WHEREAS, Alfred Barney, president of the Red Lake chapter of the Navajo Nation, presented a letter of intent to the interim legislative Indian affairs committee to establish a charter school within the Red Lake chapter; and

     WHEREAS, the proposed charter school would be a joint project between New Mexico and Arizona because the chapter lies on the border of both states and serves community members on both sides of the state line; and

     WHEREAS, the proposed charter school would be one of the first charter schools established in the Navajo Nation; and

     WHEREAS, the school would not only provide education to the local population, it would also increase the number of children who stay in the community; and

     WHEREAS, many of the young people in Red Lake have dropped out of high school; and

     WHEREAS, vocational programs, particularly animal sciences and agriculture, could be popular with young people and serve the needs of the community; and

      WHEREAS, relevant educational opportunities, where real-life skills are taught and where there is Navajo input, are critical to the success of students in the Navajo Nation; and

     WHEREAS, the proposed charter school could meet the educational needs of Navajo children living in both New Mexico and Arizona;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the Indian education division of the public education department and the Indian affairs department create a work group to study the feasibility of a bistate charter school in the Red Lake chapter of the Navajo Nation and develop a report with findings and recommendations; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the work group present its report to the governor, the legislative education study committee and the appropriate interim legislative committee by December 2013; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the legislative education study committee, the secretary of public education, the secretary of Indian affairs, the Navajo Nation department of Dine education, the governor of Arizona and the Arizona department of education.

- 3 -