The Taos News from Taos, New Mexico • 25

allley Vasira -St y'-O-'W: The Taos News 3()c Red River and the Moreno VaUey Thursday, Sept. 29, 1988 1 UwM fclnainice for school Many parents accuse the district of having low educational standards. One complaint they have Is what Mayor John Sillier terms "Intellectual Inbreeding." 4 He refers to the school district's policy Questa schools; all are now attending college. Questa Elementary School principal Dee Lovato said about 80 percent of the teachers at his school grew up In the area. Although the district does not fl By JOHN HANRON RED RIVER Little Billy (not his real name) wakes ftp at 48 a.m.

After doing the things 13-year-old boys do hi the morning, he rushes out to catch his carpool, which picks him up at 7 a.m. The car, carrying four other school children, makes its way. over Bobcat Pass to Eagle Neit There the youths board a bus, which leaves at a.m. The trip Billy and friends through Cimarron Canyon. Finally the bus reaches Cimarron High School, in time for the 8:30 a.m.

bell, When school gets out at 4:10 p.m., Billy gets back on the bus and stares at the setting winter sun on the way back to Red River. He gets home about 5 30. BILLY'S PARENTS want a school In Red River. They believe the long hours the children spend travelling to Cimarron or private schools are not good for them. But Red River belongs to the Questa Independent School District, and Questa is only about 12 miles away.

Of the 80 school-aged children living in Red River, only 12 go to Questa schools including two who attend Questa High. Red River sends 82 students to Taos Christian Academy in Taos while 22 attend Eagle Nest Elementary and 10 go to high school in Cimarron, which starts at seventh grade. Four children are taking correspondence courses. WHY DO so few Red River parents send their children to Questa schools? newcomers, and he believes they are circulated by two or three people who have had bad experiences in Questa schools. "Anybody who knows children knows eventually they will get Involved in a scuffle, no matter where go to school," he said.

He said parents wishing to find out facts about the Questa school system should visit the principals and the superintendent. "Most of the people in Red River would be amazed at the part they can play in the Questa school system if they would only come down and get involved," Murry said. HE DOES NOT foresee a school In Red River unless more Red River children start attending Questa schools. "We'd be better able to provide for their needs If they were In the system," he said. The decision is made in Santa Fe, not Questa, he said, and more Red River students would give the board a better argument to expand their system.

If it were up to the Questa board, Red River would have a school now, Murry said, adding that the district would receive additional money for outlying area development. "If the tide ever started it would probably take only one year to remedy Itself," Murry said. "It just needs to get started." A meeting is planned Involving the Red River Town Council and the Questa school board on "neutral grounds." qualified. He said area residents tend to be more dedicated. Teachers at Questa schools are all state certified.

Those teaching grades above the sixth are endorsed in their specific subject areas. Questa kindergarten teachers are certified In early childhood education. Red River parents also complain Questa schools are not accredited. Although Questa High School is not accredited by the North Central Accreditation association, an independent firm, both it and Questa Elementary are accredited by the state Department of Education. Garfield Gutierrez, a consultant with the state accreditation office, said the North Central accreditation is mainly a matter of prestige and that its requirements are no more stringent than the state's.

The lack of North Central accreditation should not hurt a student's chance of getting into a good college, Gutierrez said. SOME RED RIVER parents believe' the question of quality is an excuse. "I don't think quality is a problem," said a father of a preschooler. "A kid can learn as much as he wants to learn. think the biggest Issue is prejudice.

It's sad but true." Murry, however, said he doesn't believe there is a racial problem But by not integrating children, he said, they often miss the "full educational experience. Murry said stories tend to scare off of hiring local residents, which Miller believes limits the depth of knowledge and experience teachers can offer students. "It's only natural they should try to help the locals," he said. Miller has sent three of his children all the way through favor local teacher applicants, locals do have a tendency to stay at the job longer, he said. The majority of teachers at Questa High School grew up locally as well.

Questa school board member Jerry Murry of Red River sees nothing wrong with hiring locals, providing they are Asbencade celebrations set ad exculesxb ceTebf ate Close to 40 artists will display their wares at the Angel Fire Country Club this weekend starting at 9 a.m. A guided Aspencade driving tour will leave the Country Club at 3 p.m. Saturday to observe the changing vegetation in the surrounding area. The restaurant at the Country Club is planning a German dinner Saturday night starting at 6:30. Music will abound during the weekend.

A roving accordion player will entertain visitors throughout the Celebration, and Red River's Bill and Bonnie Hearne will appear at the Country Club Friday and Saturday nights. A free wine and cheese tasting gathering is slated for Sunday at 2 p.m. These autumn celebrations are the last of the festive events in the area before ski season starts. munity House. It is open to any jgfomanat least 60 years old.

Residents or visitors may enter. The juried arts and crafts fair will be at the ballfleld both weekends starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday. There are 67 artists registered to display their works Round and square dancing will be going on at the Community House Saturday, with workshops at 2 p.m.

and dancing starting at 7 p.m. The University of New Mexico folk dancers will entertain on the ballfleld at noon and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday of the first weekend. ANGEL FIRE is also planning an Oktober-fest festival to correspond with the changing of the seasons. The chilly nights and the brightening yellows of the surrounding forests are a good enough excuse, and for the next two weekends (Oct 1-2 and 8-9) Red River will celebrate Aspencade.

Highlighting this year's celebration will be a four-wheel-drive rally, an arts and crafts fair, the first Aspen Queen contest and a lot of dancing. V. The 4x4 rally, slated for the first weekend, will Include several races and possibly a mud bog event, though that was not definite at press time. Registration for the 4x4 events will start at 8 a.m. at Enchanted Circle Tours on Main Street.

The Aspen Queen contest is scheduled for Saturday (Oct. 1) at 10 a.m. at the Com calendar Council accepts trash rate change Today29 Overeaten Anonymous, 377-2237, Angel Fire, Fire Department, Friday30 Arts and crafts fair, Angel Fire Country Club, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Arts and crafts fair, Red River ballfleld, 9 a.m. 4x4 poker run, Enchanted Circle Tours, 10 a.m.

University of New Mexico folk dancers, Red River ballfleld, noon and 3 p.m. Wine and cheese tasting, Angel Fire Country Club, 2-4 p.m. Games, Golden Lounge, Questa, 6-10 p.m. 1 4 Jb HALO, Conquistador Room, Angel Fire Country Club, 9 a.m. Free weight loss classes, CerroGym, Square and round dancing, Red River Community House, 7p.m.

lodges, condominium management companies, apartment complexes and townhouse management companies. The rate is the same $52.60 per month. Small-volume businesses includes any business enterprise that can adequately share a bin with one other business. The rate Is $26.25 each month. Offices will pay $11.36 per month.

The residence rate remains at $7.60 per month. The major change coming out of this revised structure Is the reclassification of certain habitats from individual residences to a single business. The town clerk will bill users according to water meters, not business licenses. RED RIVER The Town Council accepted the recommendations of an appointed committee and changed solid waste disposal rates. The committee was formed at a special Council meeting Sept.

20, after representatives of the Red River Condominium Association voiced strong opposition to the former rate structure. The condo group argued the rates were unfair because condominium units were charged as separate residences, even though they are operated the same as lodges. The new rate structure will redefine some terms of the solid waste ordinance. A large-volume business is any business enterprise that uses at least one trash bin. This may include restaurants, retail stores, Monday3 Saturday1 Overeaters Anonymous, 377-2402, Eagle Nest, First Baptist Church, 7 p.m.

Up and amy Tuesday4 When the tourists are away, the locals will play. Heath Corzette of Red River takes some air on his dirt bike. Corzette and his friend Craig Perryman were scooting around the dirt areas along the edge of town. in brief 4x4 rally, Enchanted Circle Tours, registration starts 8 a.m. Arts and crafts fair, Angel Fire Country Club, 9 a.m.

-4 p.m. Arts and crafts fair, Red River ballfleld, starts 9:30 a.m. Aspen Queen contest, Red River Community House, 10 a.m. University of New Mexico folk dancers, Red River ballfleld, noon and 3 p.m. Square and round dance workshops, Red River Community House, 2 p.m.

Aspencade driving tour, meets at Angel Fire Country Club, 3 p.m. Square and round dancing, Red River Community House, 7p.m. Bingo, Red River Inn, 7:30 p.m. Gymnastics classes, Questa Elementary School gym, Free weight loss classes, CerroGym, 6:30 p.m. Alcoholism education class, Costilla Catholic Church, 7 p.m.

Wednesday5 Youth Recreation, Costilla Gym, 4: 30-9 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Eagle Nest Community Center, these rights to the wells. The C-S has protested the transfer. Association eyed RED RIVER-Owners of eight lodges here met Sept. 21 to discuss forming a local lodgers' association.

Congregating at the Red River Inn, the owners heard testimony from Francis Durkin, vice president of the New Mexico Hotel-Motel Association, of the benefits of a lodging association. Durkin said the main reason for forming an association is to lobby. The majority of the lodge owners present at the meeting agreed to consider forming a local lodgers' association. but the ruling could slow commercial development, said Zane Hopper of Sun Valley Realty said. Owners of residential lots covering three-quarters of an acre or more will have no difficulty getting state permission to drill their own domestic wells, said another real estate agent.

Condominiums, which are on the domestic system, could have a problem. Angel Fire Corporation will transfer Its surface rights to the domestic system to serve home and business owners who now rely on the wells, said corporation president Chuck Home, which would help condo owners. Angel Fire owns the senior surface water rights on the Cimarron River. It has applied to the State Engineer to transfer Ruling discussed ANGEL FIRE Opinion varies whether a recent judgement prohibiting this corporation from using 12 wells will affect development. Angel Fire will appeal.

District Judge Leon Karelits two weeks ago enjoined Angel Fire Corporation from using the wells because he has found they tap water that belongs to the C-S Ranch and other Eagle Nest Lake users. The wells provide the, resort with1 domestic and snowmaklng water. Residential sales should be unaffected, Non-profit events are eligible for listing in the calendar. Contact John Hanron, 784-6160, or Steve Winston, Sunday2.