Posts Tagged ‘The Bridge of Southern New Mexico’
Early College School to Offer Opportunities
Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Sun-News
By Christine Rogel
LAS CRUCES – “It’s not just a school; it’s an opportunity,” said Early College High School student Joel Macias during Friday’s groundbreaking ceremony at New Mexico State University, which drew more than 100 guests.
Artist's Rendering courtesy of Studio D Architects
The Early College High School (ECHS) opened in July to 117 Las Cruces freshmen at its temporary location at Dona Ana Community College. The first phase of construction will be complete by the summer of 2011, according to Las Cruces school district Superintendent Stan Rounds. Within four years, the school can boast a maximum of 500 students.
The school will be located within the Arrowhead Research Park at NMSU under a lease agreement with Las Cruces Public Schools. The 65,000-square-foot facility is designed by Studio D Architect of Las Cruces and will be constructed by GenCon Corp. of Las Cruces. It will feature classrooms with state-of-the-art technology, a cafeteria/multipurpose center, a student commons area, and administrative and counseling offices.
“It’s so high tech it will make your head spin if you are my age,” Rounds said.
Students also will continue to utilize facilities and labs at both NMSU and DACC, Principal Jennifer Amis said.
Advocates say that the school reflects best practices in education resulting in a national graduation rate of 90 percent. The school aims to reduce the dropout rate by engaging students in the college process early, offering small class sizes and real-world applications in coursework, officials said. Students graduate with a high school diploma and an associate’s degree.
Rounds said that the ECHS will not only provide students with more individual attention, but is also more affordable to run and build as costs were reduced through partnerships with NMSU and DACC. For example, the district doesn’t have the additional expense of building a gym or library because students will use university facilities instead.
ECHS will cost around $18 million and serve 500 students, compared to the new high school under construction on Dripping Springs, which will have between 1,500 and 2,000 students, and cost around $110 million, resulting in a total cost per savings of 16 percent per ECHS student, officials said.
The Early College High School is the first in New Mexico to take advantage of New Mexico House Bill 33. Instead of spending $18 million to build the school, Las Cruces Public Schools will lease the building for six years, paying 4 percent interest on the certificate of participation bonds, and make no lease payments until the campus opens in August 2011. In the sixth year, the school will buy out the lease for the principal amount of $18 million, paying off the loan with future bonds.
Rounds also credited The Bridge of Southern New Mexico for helping to launch the project. The Bridge was created through an education committee initiative of the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce that formed the Regional Education Initiative, which led to community discussions regarding school attendance and graduation rates.
Christine Rogel can be reached at (575) 541-5424.
Governor Bill Richardson Welcomes New Mexico’s First Early College High School
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was on hand today at a press conference announcing New Mexico’s first Early College High School.
Governor Bill Ricardson speaking at ECHS press conference
The new school will be built in the Arrowhead Research Park on the campus of New Mexico State University (NMSU). It is slated to begin holding classes in the fall of 2011.
The Early College High School(ECHS), a regional project, will focus on increasing the area high school graduation rates, enhancing career and technical education opportunities, and ensuring that students graduate with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in postsecondary education and the 21st century workplace.
ECHS will provide new and enhanced opportunities for up to 500 Dona Ana County teenagers. Students will experience an academic environment in a small, active learning community, which includes connections to learning opportunities outside the classroom through industry internships, online learning, and independent projects and participation in dual enrollment. Students completing Early College High School will graduate with a high school diploma and up to two years of college credit, with the potential of earning an associate’s degree.
Dignitaries joining the Governor at today’s press conference included: NM Department of Education Assistant Secretary Dr. Gloria Rendon; NMSU Interim President Dr. Manuel T. Pacheco; NMSU Provost Dr. Waded Cruzado-Salas; NMSU Vice President of Economic Development and former Governor Garrey Carruthers; NMSU College of Education Dean Dr. Michael Morehead; Dona Ana Community College CEO Dr. Margie Huerta; Las Cruces Public Schools Superintendent Stan Rounds; and Suzanne Quillen, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Bridge of Southern New Mexico.
The ECHS is a collaborative effort of New Mexico State University, Dona Ana Community College, Las Cruces Public Schools, Gadsden Independent School District, Hatch Valley Public Schools, The Bridge of Southern New Mexico, and regional business and industry partners.
Dona Ana County’s First Early College High School to Be Announced
On Thursday, August 20, 2009, Dona Ana County’s first Early College High School will be unveiled. The project is the result of a partnership between New Mexico State University (NMSU), Dona Ana Community College (DACC), Las Cruces Public Schools, Gadsden Independent School District and Hatch Valley Public Schools. The announcement will be held at the NMSU College of Education, O’Donnell Hall Atrium, 1220 Stewart Street, and beginning at 10:00 a.m. NMSU Interim President Dr. Manuel T. Pacheco, Las Cruces Public Schools Superintendent Stan Rounds, Governor Bill Richardson and NM Public Education Department Secretary Dr. Veronica C. Garcia will be among the speakers.
The facility will be built on land adjacent to the Arrowhead Research Park and will have a career-tech STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) focus along with introducing entrepreneurial skills. The dual credit program established between higher education institutions and the public schools will allow a student to enroll for a class at Dona Ana 
Community College (DACC) or New Mexico State University (NMSU) and receive both high school and college credit. This program will allow a student to not only complete a high school curriculum, but also permit that student to graduate with over 30 college credits and in some cases even qualify for an Associates degree from DACC. The project has been a focus of The Bridge of Southern New Mexico since its inception. The participating educational institutions are members of the Bridge.
Visitors may obtain an E-Permit for the event on-line: http://www.campusvisitor.com/.
Bridge of Southern New Mexico Seeks Director
The Bridge of Southern New Mexico is seeking a “Director” who will be responsible for planning, managing, and promoting The Bridge. The successful candidate will be accountable for the entity’s vision to become the premier resource for the integration of K-20 education, work force development, and business community in Dona Ana County.
EXPERIENCE AND MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
A degree in business administration, education, philanthropy, public administration or a related field is preferred. Must have knowledge of non-profit and foundation management. Proven track record in educational or work force development transformations linked to industrial and economic expansion a plus. Must have a documented history in establishing and obtaining key performance indicators that were tangible to the community stakeholders. . Must demonstrate effective communication and public relations skills. Experience in, or understanding of Southwestern region and culture is recommended. Proficiency in Spanish is a plus.
Overview:
Dona Ana County is committed to transforming education and work force development. Our vision is to ensure that all our students graduate and are prepared to compete in an international work force. For the past year, top leadership from education, industry, government, and economic development have joined together to create and enable this new vision for Southern New Mexico! Through the collaboration, commitment, and passion of this leadership team, an exciting new organization has been formed – The Bridge. The Bridge is an innovative collaboration targeted specifically at connecting students, employers, education, and economic development in a powerful new way. This partnership is evident by the cooperative funding among education, private sector, and government for this entity. The Bridge is actively seeking a devoted and dynamic leader of this new organization.
Request Information:
Individuals with questions regarding this position and/or The Bridge should send inquiries to:
