<center>Letters to the Editor</center>

Editor:

As many people are aware, Second Mesa Day School buildings were demolished in 1991 due to the structurally unsound condition of the foundation. Since then, there has been meeting after meeting among the elected tribal officials; school boards and parent teacher organizations; tribal, state and federal educators and administrators; parents and youth, and other affected community members to construct a new Second Mesa Day School. All of the participants in these planning sessions strongly believe education is the top priority for the Hopi people; recognize and acknowledge that our Hopi children are the most precious of resources for our future; and agree that to become and remain competitive in the global world and marketplace, we must build and maintain a high quality education system on Hopi for the Hopi people.

Therefore, the Governing Board of SMDS respectfully requests that the Office of the Chairman carry out the requirements of the construction of a new day school at Second Mesa contingent on a land assignment from the Village of Sipaulovi to the Hopi Tribe and a subsequent lease of the land from the Village of Sipaulovi to the Hopi Tribe and a subsequent lease of the land from the Tribe to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.” The US Federal Government has made appropriation of $19.5 million for construction of SMDS and the land assignment has been in place for some time. The enacting clause of the resolution states..... “that it hereby authorizes the Hopi Tribal Chairman or his designee to enter into the attached Land Use Assignment with the Village of Sipaulovi, said Land Use Assignment shall be used for the exclusive purposes of establishing an educational reserve for the construction, operation and maintenance of the educational facilities. Chairman Taylor signed that Land Use Assignment on March 20, 2000. Finally, the resolution enacting clause states the Hopi Tribal Chairman or his designee is authorized to negotiate and enter into agreements with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, including a lease agreement, as necessary to facilitate construction of the school facilities at Second Mesa.”

Hopi Tribal Council Resolution H-043-2000 provided the necessary components to proceed positively with the action of bringing about a new Second Mesa Day School at the Highway 87 Site. In the case of any disagreements on the process, the federal government is charged with the responsibility to reconcile and determine the outcome, again representing the majority decision of the Hopi people. The opportunity is now for our dream school to become a reality. Taylor’s signature, or that of his designee, on the lease will have far reaching benefits for generations of Hopi people.

Kwakha,

Alph H. Secakuku

President, Governing Board, Second Mesa Day School

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