Classrooms open without state OK

THOREAU, NM (KRQE) - Students are finally in class and learning, but the state and the Gallup McKinley County School District are at odds because some classrooms being used aren’t certified to have people in them.

The Thoreau Middle School is being rebuilt, with a price tag of 15 million dollars.

The Director of Maintenance says the school doesn’t need a Certificate of Occupancy because the building being used right now is remodeled, and not a brand new building. The Regulation and Licensing Department which oversees the Construction Industries Division says the school needs a certificate no matter what.

“We’re doing everything we can and we are complying with state code, fire ordinance, so there is some construction going on but we’re doing everything to make it safe,” Gallup McKinley County Schools Superintendent Ray Arsenault said.

“It looks like it’s too chaotic, it looks like a mess right now,” said Jacob Gonzales who has two boys attending the school.

Most students are in portable buildings, but eight classrooms including the library and computer lab are in the remodeled building. Classes started eight days late because of the construction, and the building still doesn’t have windows or heating and air conditioning. The windows are expected to start getting installed this week; the HVAC issue won’t be resolved until the middle of September.

The school has passed numerous inspections, but still doesn’t have the state-issued Certificate of Occupancy. Construction Industries Division inspectors will be at the school Wednesday. A state spokeswoman says they’ll either certify the building; or red tag it, kicking out the students and teachers.