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APS looks at land on West Side
'School corridor' would consolidate campuses, parks
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School officials are negotiating to buy state land for two new schools and a soccer park west of the new Volcano Vista High campus.
The West Side complex of schools envisioned on Universe Boulevard Northwest has been dubbed an "education corridor," the first of its kind in the city, by Albuquerque Public Schools officials.
"We're talking to them," said Jerry King, assistant land commissioner in the State Land Office. "With our intent to sell it, it can happen quickly."
The Ventana Ranch Neighborhood Association has been pushing the district to buy the land, said Laura Horton, association president. She said the complex will be convenient for families.
"This is something other school districts have done - a central location for your kids - with parks in between schools. The district is definitely moving in the right direction."
Horton said if the sale goes through quickly, a middle school could be built immediately and "provide relief for James Monroe in two years."
James Monroe Middle School in Paradise Hills is the most crowded middle school in the state. Last week it was the site of a massive response by law enforcement officials after a student falsely reported seeing an armed man on campus. She later said she made up the story because she didn't like her school.
A new elementary school would relieve crowded Ventana Ranch Elementary.
The new West Side middle school and elementary school were on the February bond issue to relieve the crowded West Side schools.
Superintendent Beth Everitt said Tuesday that negotiations are in the preliminary stages but she hoped they would produce a "win-win deal" for the district.
She planned to update the Albuquerque Board of Education at today's meeting.
Board member Robert Lucero, who represents the West Side, said he's optimistic about the deal and the education corridor it would create.
The land in question is 50 acres west of the 70-acre high school site.
The district originally hoped to buy more than 200 acres of state land on Universe Boulevard Northwest.
But in February, the district purchased only 70 acres for the high school in a land swap that involved property on Eubank Boulevard Southeast and $536,266 cash. The 70 acres was valued at $3.3 million.
King said State Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons in February told district officials he was willing to sell more land to the district.
"I'm excited Pat Lyons is working with the school district again," Lucero said. "Now he's going to make an elementary and middle school possible.
"It should go very fast and be a huge savings for the district."
