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Monday, November 23, 2009
State Budget Issues Put Space Center on Hold
By Elaine D. BriseÑO
Copyright © 2009 Albuquerque Journal
Journal Staff Writer
A few years ago, Susan and Al Unser Sr. came up with a plan to convert an old building into an education center where middle school children could learn about NASA and space.
After negotiations and lobbying, the couple were on their way to opening the Challenger Learning Center. Now they are in danger of losing $1.5 million the state had earmarked for the project because of a freeze on certain capital outlay projects.
The Unsers are using their own money — in excess of $2 million — to renovate and add 20,000 square feet to the building that will house the learning center. The money from the state would pay for the Challenger Center equipment and technology.
The center is behind their privately owned and operated Unser Racing Museum on Montaño NW. Crews are scheduled to finish the renovations by March.
The program simulates the operations of NASA, with a mission control and a space station. Students will be able to learn about space equipment and participate in a variety of space-themed activities, with a focus on math, science, technology and engineering.
Susan Unser said the program will meet state curriculum guidelines in those areas. Teachers will receive a curriculum to use in their classrooms a few weeks before visiting the museum for a "mission." The two-story center also will include an auditorium and museum with more cars, an art gallery and a racing library.
Gov. Bill Richardson in March 2008 redirected $1.5 million from other projects to help fund the education center. His actions raised eyebrows at the time because some of the money was taken from city of Albuquerque projects, including plans for a Downtown arena and the purchase of land near the Big I interchange.
Critics claimed the money was a reward for Unser family support of Richardson's run for the White House. The Unser family is famous for winning nine Indy 500 races.
Nicole Gillespie, spokeswoman for the state Department of Finance and Administration, said this week that the $1.5 million is among items frozen by the state on Oct. 30 because of a budget shortfall. The freeze affects projects that don't have contracts in place.
But she added that Los Ranchos can send information showing state officials a contract was in place before the freeze.
The money would actually go to Los Ranchos, because the Unsers deeded the learning center building to the village.
Los Ranchos Mayor Larry Abraham is confident.
"We are right in the middle of the project, so I think they may still give us the money," he said. "However, I will not be satisfied until I see that money."
Kelly Ward, village administrator, said Los Ranchos will use $580,000 of the state money to pay for the Challenger package, while the remainder of the $1.5 million would be used for other equipment in the center and drainage work around the building.
Unser said she is expecting 80,000 students to participate in the space program annually, and three teachers from local schools already have signed up to use the center in the spring. There are Challenger centers throughout the United States, but this will be the first in New Mexico.
She said if the state doesn't award the money, the renovated building will sit empty. "If it doesn't come in," Unser said, "we will have a building without a Challenger Center."
As for the racing museum, she said it had about 12,000 adult and 5,000 student visitors in 2008 and is on track to reach the same numbers for 2009.
The museum opened in 2005 and is operated as a nonprofit establishment. Although the museum at one time received state funding to open, neither it nor the learning center will receiving operational funds from the state. Susan Unser said they will pick up the tab for both facilities.
Unser said they use money from entry fees and a gift shop to pay for operations.
"We wanted to start the museum as a way to honor Al's family," she said. "But another component was education. We would not have invested millions in this renovation if we didn't believe in this program."
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