BetterBelen.com

Belen graduates one of its biggest senior classes

May 26, 2010

Under football stadium lights last night, Belen High School graduated one of its biggest senior classes ever, totaling 264 graduates. “We’re making great strides in keeping our kids in school,” said Board Member Julian Luna. The Belen Consolidated Schools Board of Education has been working for years to keep students in school, building an anti-truancy [...]

Belen Schools preps for auditorium renovation

May 26, 2010

The Belen Consolidated Schools Board of Education tonight awarded a more than $280,000 bid for renovations to the Belen High School auditorium. The bid was awarded to Fox Builders Inc. The auditorium will get new lighting and an improved speaker system. The renovation was initially expected to take place during the summer of 2009, with [...]

City, school district collaborate on recreation

May 13, 2010

The City of Belen and Belen Consolidated Schools have begun collaborating with one another in a renewed relationship that could better both city and educational services. The new partnership was formed after each government reached out to the other to begin finding areas where the city and district can work together. So far, the city [...]

Belen board approves Family School lease

May 11, 2010

The Belen Consolidated Schools Board of Education tonight unanimously approved a new lease agreement that will allow the district’s Family School to remain in Rio Communities for the 2010-2011 school year. The lease is for $625 a month, which Superintendent Patricia Rael described as “greatly reduced” from more than $2,800 a month this school year. [...]

Belen Family School staying in Rio Communities

April 29, 2010

Belen Consolidated Schools has scrapped a plan to move its Family School to Becker Avenue, what had been a cost-saving proposal because of the district’s tight budget. The announcement was made during last night’s school board meeting, followed by excited applause from parents of Family School students. Instead, the district has negotiated a new lease [...]

Los Lunas parents oppose schedule change

February 26, 2010

Parents of elementary school students in Los Lunas are overwhelmingly opposed to changing the start and end times for the school day, according to the results of a survey released by Los Lunas Schools this week. Under a high school reform initiative, the Los Lunas Schools Board of Education has proposed changing the start time [...]

Districts observe state budget uncertainty

February 26, 2010

Members of the Belen Consolidated Schools Board of Education, having recently attended a board institute in Santa Fe for mandatory training, said they were surprised with how much uncertainty there is about the state’s budget and its possible effect on local education. During the training, the board members heard from officials with the New Mexico [...]

Board sees huge success in halting truancy

February 24, 2010

Belen Consolidated Schools has shown substantial success in reducing its truancy rates, according to a three-year report released yesterday by the district. “I am pleased to report, after reviewing three years of data, that initiatives and interventions recommended by the truancy committee have come to fruition, and the ultimate goal of reducing truancy and habitual [...]

Subcommittee to discuss alternative schools

February 24, 2010

The Belen Consolidated Schools Board of Education formed an alternative schools facilities management subcommittee last night to help transition alternative high school students into their new school building next year. The subcommittee will also discuss moving the district’s Family School to a new location. Construction continues on the new Infinity High School near Belen Middle [...]

Board skeptical of “cheese sandwich” proposal

February 23, 2010

Three members of the Belen Consolidated Schools Board of Education tonight nearly defeated a policy that might deny some students a hot lunch. The board members — Julian Luna, Jamie Goldberg and Sammy Chavez — quickly expressed opposition to the proposed policy, which in three paragraphs says students who have charged five meals and haven’t [...]