T'siya Day School

T'siya Day School, previously spelled Zia Day School, is a Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-operated school in Zia Pueblo, New Mexico.^[1] It covers elementary school grades.^[2]

History

The school first opened in 1929. The original building had two rooms,^[3] and was made of adobe.^[4]

Evelyn Page, who lived in the pueblo, served as principal until her death, at 55 years of age, in 1964.^[5]

A gymnasium and another group of classrooms were installed in the 1970s.^[4]

In 1997 there were 58 students. By 1997 the school's condition had deteriorated, and four portable buildings had the majority of school activity.^[4] In 1998 there were 71 students. At that time community members asked for a new school; at that time 24 students in the area were attending standard public schools even though they could attend Zia Day School if they wanted to; according to Lawrence Wright, the principal, the poor condition of the Zia Day School buildings was the major factor.^[3] After he visited the school in 1998, Bruce Babbitt, the Secretary of the Interior, stated that he would advocate for a new school.^[6]

In 2001 the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) announced that circa 2002 a new school facility for Zia Day School will open. The building, with a capacity of 157, was to have 44,425 square feet (4,127.2 m²) of space and have a cost of $7,600,000. Its student capacity was to be over two times as large as that of the previous facility.^[7]

Curriculum

The curriculum included instruction in the Keres language.^[3]

References