During the Valencia County Fair this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the fairgrounds in Belen, citizens will get a chance to toss balls at a target to dunk locals, like Belen City Councilor Jerah Cordova, into a tank full of water.

Below you will find a list of “SPLASH TARGETS” that have verbally committed to be in the dunk tank at the Valencia County Fairgrounds this weekend:

Friday, August 27
2:00pm Jamie Goldberg
3:00pm Jamie Goldberg
4:00pm Alonzo Baldonado
5:00pm Sheriff Rene Rivera
6:00pm Deputy Chris Trujillo
7:00pm Jerah R. Cordova
8:00pm Pauline Gallegos

Saturday, August 28
12:00pm Ron Lopez, Esq.
1:00pm Ron Lopez, Esq.
2:00pm Jim Danner
3:00pm Lawrence Romero
4:00pm Louis Burkhard
5:00pm Robert Chavez
6:00pm Becky Rivera
7:00pm James Lawrence Sanchez
8:00pm James Lawrence Sanchez

Sunday, August 29
12:00pm Angela Gabaldon
1:00pm Judge Danny Hawkes
2:00pm Rudy Gallegos
3:00pm Phillip “Shorty” Romero
4:00pm Phillip “Shorty” Romero
5:00pm Belinda Martinez
6:00pm Deputy Paul Gonzales

Below is a list of local businesses that have already made generous donations to the fundraising event:

Better Belen
Valencia County News-Bulletin
Mike Griego, Esq. & Larry Guggino, Esq.
Daylight Electric & Appliance Inc.
Bent Computers
Honorable Ronnie Torres
Belen Goju Ryu Karate
NM Travertine
Ned’s Pipe and Steel
Rita’s New Mexican Restaurant
Po’ Boy’s Smoke Shack
Pete’s Café
Chucky’s Wings
Pedro G. Rael, Trial Lawyer, P.C.
Norman McDonald, Esq.
Toby’s Doors
Long John Silvers
Loyal Order of Moose Belen Lodge #1680
David C. Chávez, Esq.
Charlie’s Paint and Body
Sisneros Bros. MFG
Amavalise Jaramillo, Esq.
Mark Jarner, Esq.
Dr. Roland K. Sánchez
www.youravon.com/mjsanchez
Steven M. Chávez, Esq.

For more information or to donate, call 966-0116.

The board sought to halt “rumors” around the district about where the cuts might be made.

Board President Jamie Goldberg said no decisions were made on where to cut after last week’s budget workshop, where board members heard more details of the statewide cuts and began considering how to deal with them.

“We need to look multiple years down the road to keep the best quality of education for our students, number one, and, number two, take care of our employees,” he said.

Goldberg said the good news is that the federal government approved a new infusion of cash for school districts across the country, which might supplement some of the money the district was going to have to cut.

According to United States Sen. Jeff Bingaman’s office, the federal government will pump $126 million into Medicaid in New Mexico, freeing up an equal amount within the state’s budget to close the state’s budget deficit. It’ll also provide an additional $65 million for New Mexico’s school districts.

Bingaman said the money will prevent teacher layoffs.

Board Member Julian Luna echoed Goldberg’s sentiment, saying he was “digesting proposals” for possible budget cuts.

“We want to ensure our students get the best education they can,” he said.

In order to manage the budget, Luna said everyone needs to continue to help reduce spending.

“We’re going to be very conservative in how we spend our money over the next few years,” he said.

Board Member Dolores Quintana was a bit more blunt.

“We’re not going to promise a lot of things,” she said. “We’re going to do the best we can.”

According to Goldberg, the board and public will now get regular updates during board meetings about the discussions and decisions made by the district’s various committees.

The committees, often made up of two school board members and district staff, discuss topics like construction projects and board policy.

New uniforms haven’t been purchased in more than 10 years, which means the uniforms band students are using are tattered and torn, with faded maroon and white.

In many cases, because so many uniforms have gone missing, students are given uniforms that don’t fit properly.

During band competitions, points are knocked off when the students’ attire isn’t presentable. Parents also say the worn out uniforms are causing low morale in the program.

Right now the band program has 56 students in it. Parents are hoping to purchase 100 new uniforms, allowing the high school’s new band director to grow the program, which in the past has had 80 or more students in it.

Because the uniforms are a special order, they have to be ordered all at once.

One uniform can cost up to $250.

Parents are hoping to have the new uniforms in time for November’s Miracle on Main Street electric light parade in Belen.

Board President Jamie Goldberg and Belen High School principal Jim Danner both hope the district and parents can create a plan to figure out how to find the funding and donations.

The district needs around $25,000. With more budget cuts looming for the district, it’s a difficult task.

“I don’t think we can do anything this year,” Danner said.

BHS Class of 2012 Presents: “SPLASH CLASS”

At the 2010 Valencia County Fair the Belen High School Class of 2012 will operate a dunking tank “Classroom.” Several local residents, including many public figures and elected officials have volunteered to serve as Splash Targets.

This is a great opportunity to support the Class of 2012 and have fun Splashing your favorite local people. Splash Class starts on Friday August 27, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. and will conclude on Sunday August 29, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. The Splash Classroom will be located at the Valencia County Fair Grounds.

Splash Class will be conducted on Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Saturday from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m., and Splash Lessons shall be taught by the BHS Class of 2012.

For more information, or if you would like to participate as a Splash Target or Splash Student for this fundraising event, please contact Splash Counselor “Missy” at 417-0759 or Splash Target “James” at 966-0116.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE BHS CLASS OF 2012 – GO EAGLES!!!

The Belen Consolidated Schools Board of Education this week approved a $115,220 bid to have the former classrooms at the current site of Belen Middle School knocked down.

The buildings, located at the southeast corner of the school’s grounds, hadn’t been used by students for years, instead housing for a short time the district’s warehouse and maintenance offices.

The work was awarded to Coronado Wrecking.

The new Infinity High School.

Belen Consolidated Schools began moving into its newest school this week.

Construction on Infinity High School ended last week, with school board members and staff walking through the new building to take a look at the work.

A full view of the science lab.

The instructor's science demonstration table.

The two-story alternative high school, located at the intersection of Baca Avenue and Fourth Street, has commons areas, classrooms, a computer lab, a science lab and other rooms, like offices.

The principal’s office has enough windows to provide a nearly 360-degree view of the entire first floor and main entrance, for added security.

Three board members view the computer lab.

A colorful floor and wall compliments a bookshelf.

Last school year, Infinity High School students attended class in two portable classrooms on Becker Avenue.

The district will get approximately $300,000 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for a 50-kilowatt, nearly 20,000-square-foot photovoltaic solar power system.

Late last year, the district submitted an application to construct the system at Belen High School, not only to save on energy costs but also to provide students at the Career Academy a chance to learn about solar technology.

The district has been developing solar technology curriculum.

Only 15 districts across the state were awarded the funding, after a competitive application process.

Los Lunas Schools was also awarded funding for a similar solar project.

Meals will be free for children 18 years old or younger.

Families can get meals at Belen High School, Rio Grande Elementary School, H.T. Jaramillo Community School, Logsdon Hall Park, Anna Becker Park, Willie Chavez Park, Timan Park, Jose Gallegos Park, Tome-Adelino Fire Station, Calvary Chapel, Abo Baseball Field, and the Belen Community Center at Eagle Park.

The program will run from June 7 until July 30.

For more information call 966-1714.