President Ben Shelly signed four land lease renewals for Central Consolidated School District Friday.
“The schools provide education for you and these leases are very important because they help bring education to our children.” President Shelly said to a room of more than 50 students present to watch the signing of the land leases.
During the hour long signing ceremony at Tse’Bit’Ai Middle School, Naschitti Elementary School was the first lease to be signed with 10.90 acres of land to be developed, used or occupied for maintain or improving the school, playground, athletic field and employee housing. Newcomb land lease contains 45.78 acre for maintaining the K-12 public schools, teacher housing, administration and transportation support facility.
The Shiprock area of Central Consolidated School District has two land leases that focuses on transportation, teacher housing, and administration complex.
The 4.01acre land lease for the Shiprock transportation and teacher housing facility allows the lessee to develop, use and occupy the premises for operating and maintaining a public school transportation facilities, storage tanks for gasoline, diesel and motor oil along with maintaining housing.
Shiprock administration complex renewed the lease of 46.87 acres.
Each of the four release renewals signed by President Ben Shelly hold a term of 50 years.
“Our priority is our children. They are our future. We need to make sure the school districts are providing a good education. And we need to make sure the schools have their leases up to date.” President Shelly stated in regards to previous lease issues in which leases were lapsed.
Council Delegate Russell Begaye was also present during the signing of the land lease renewals.
President Shelly signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Central Consolidated School District on March 16 to “ensure that all students succeed and are provided the best educational opportunities.”
The MOA focuses on the Nation’s efforts through the Department of Diné Education in developing and implementing Navajo language, culture, history, character, and government standards as well as holding CCSD accountable of ineffective implementation.