LCPS begins transition to ‘community schools district’

When the bell rings, many students leave school after an eight-hour day and don’t return until the next morning. Sometimes, those students don’t have the motivation to pursue extra curricular activities, while others don’t have anyone to help them with homework. The nonprofit, “Ngage New Mexico” is working to change that.

In April, the Las Cruces Public Schools district approved a resolution to transition into a “community schools district.”

Ngage eventually wants all schools in Doa Ana County to have resources made available to students at the end of the school day. But right now, Lynn Middle School is their pilot project.

“You can have things like after school programs, recreation, you can even have work shops or class’s for parents,” said Frank Lopez, Ngage’s executive director. “Or maybe there’s some specific things teachers might want. So it’s open ended to the community.”

Lopez said the organization received a federal grant that allows them about $60,000 every year for the next four years. He said that money will go toward hiring a community schools coordinator and some activities. But more money will be needed. Ngage hopes to partner with other nonprofits and universities like NMSU to potentially provide additional resources.

Art Narvaez, an eighth-grade U.S. history teacher at Lynn Middle School said he’s excited about the project.

“The idea is to come here and we have the avenue to help these students who may not have the access outside of school, so I’m excited as a teacher because it does give us that extra support that we need,” Narvaez said.

Ngage is hopeful the resources for students will start flooding in early next year.