Las Cruces students get to rest in ‘sleep pods’

High school students in southern New Mexico are resting up between class in “sleep pods.”

The pods are at Las Cruces High School, Chaparral High School and Onate High School.

They were purchased in 2010/2011, with tax-payer dollars. Linda Summers, associate professor at New Mexico State University, wrote the federal grant while working for the Adolescent Services department at New Mexico State University. At the time, they cost $14,000 each.

The grant awarded them $128,000 for supplies for school based health care center’s around Las Cruces. Summers said in the grant, she asked for the sleep pods. When they received them, they donated them to the high schools.

The pods allow students to lay down on a recliner chair, while listening to music, as colorful lights shine inside.

Summers says the sleep pods serve a different purpose, not just allowing students to take a nap.

“What we found in the high school was agitated adolescents responded to it,” Summers said. “So they could be having an argument with someone, or they could break up with their boyfriend, and they would then go in there for 20 minutes and be able to return to class because our whole premises was how do we get these kids back to class really fast and in better condition?”

Although the money comes from the federal government, Summers said taxpayer dollars are being put to good use.

“This is actually has been used, what other equipment do you know that’s being used so quietly in a school? Because it’s effective,” she said.

Summers said if the right grant comes around, its possible they could apply once again for additional sleep pods. Gadsden Middle School also has a sleep pod for students, that was paid for by a separate grant back in 2008.