new mexico school security projects secure state funding

Partly in response to a series of school shooting incidents across the country, members of the New Mexico State Legislature earlier this year approved capital outlay funding for a wide variety of school security upgrades.

Now, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has issued a statement vetoing just over 140 of those projects, while giving her approval to another 119.

Security upgrade projects approved in Albuquerque include $75,000 for the Mission and Achievement Success Charter School; $130,000 for the Apache Elementary School; $150,000 for the Arroyo Del Oso Elementary School; and $130,000 for the Collet Park Elementary School.

Additional funded Albuquerque projects will see $200,000 for the Grand Middle School; $150,000 for the Humbert H. Humphrey Elementary School; and $208,000 for the Whittier Elementary School.

The Governor also approved $441,000 in capital outlay funds for facility security upgrades across the Rio Rancho Public School district; as well as $280,000 for facilities in the Santa Fe Public Schools system.

Altogether, the Governor approved $24 million for a variety of school facility projects across the state.
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Lujan Grisham said she vetoed around $100 million in general fund projects, noting that such projects lacked “proper planning or are not ready to proceed.”

​By Garry Boulard

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