Parents camp out for kids' sign-up

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - It was going to be a long night for Albuquerque parents camped out at Chaparral Elementary School determined to snag spots for their kids in city-sponsored programs.

They were waiting for Wednesday's registration for the before- and after-school programs and hoping their spots in line will be good enough.

In a few weeks soon-to-be kindergartener Frankie Nuñez will start school and most likely will join his older brother Zachary in Chaparral's extra programs.

It starts each morning at 7, runs until the bell rings for the first class and then it picks up after the last bell continuing until 6 p.m.

Frankie and Zach know why they will be there every day. "Because our parents aren't home," Zachary said.

It's a godsend for their working mom, Denise Nieto.

"It's very important," she told KRQE News 13. "Otherwise you are trying to figure out how you are going to take care of your kids after school and before school."

She showed up at 9 a.m. Tuesday 24 hours ahead of registration. And that only put her right up near the front of the line.

"If you don't get out here the day before you don't get a spot," she said.

That's because there programs can only accommodate 125 kids.

Another early arrival was Elizabeth Pate.

"It's so difficult," she said. "I took two days off of work to just come in and hang out and hopefully get a spot."

Parent Ray Lueras also is no stranger to the process.

“This is my third year here," he said. "In past years I have been here as early as 4:30 in the morning."

Thirty schools are taking part in the programs run by the city of Albuquerque. Registration dates vary, began on July 16 and end on Aug. 20.

For a list of schools, registration dates and fees, click here .