Belen Consolidated Schools Board President Jamie Goldberg announced a new measure he and the board are taking to ensure the public is informed about what the school district is doing.

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.

Parents of students in the Belen High School Intensity Marching Band are asking for help from both the community and the Belen Consolidated Schools Board of Education to replace worn out band uniforms.

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.

The Belen High School Class of 2012 is looking for targets. Yes, targets. Read below:

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!!!

Buildings once used as classrooms for Belen Middle School students will soon be demolished.

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.

Belen Consolidated Schools has secured stimulus money to install solar technology at one of its schools, according to the Office of Governor Bill Richardson.

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.

The Belen Consolidated Schools summer food service program will start on June 7 at more sites for local families to get meals.

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.

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 program, among other things.

Board Member Sammy Chavez said the high number of graduates is also due to the district’s alternative education programs, like Infinity High School, which graduated a number of students this year.

According to some, the highest number of graduates from Belen High School was 315 in 1978.

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 as much as $600,000 set aside for it at the time.

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 and district have joined forces on summer recreation, helping to keep local summer programs funded and available to youth.

The first collaboration involves the district’s swimming pool.

The city is expected to provide in-kind services to the district to keep the Belen High School swimming pool open this summer, pumping approximately 350,000 gallons of water into the pool free of charge.

Earlier this month, Dolores Quintana, a school board member, and Frank Ortega, the head of district maintenance, asked the city council for the water. At Monday’s council meeting, the city council will consider the in-kind contribution.

Both the city and district agree that this is the first of many collaborations.