Elementary Addition Construction Complete

By John Earp

The educational addition to Jal Elementary School is almost completed, with only a few “punch list” items remaining. The project has been under construction for the past several years and will greatly expand Jal Elementary’s facilities for its Special Education students. The Jal Junior High Addition project is also nearing completion and is expected to be open for students by January of 2027. The Junior High Addition will include a commons area as well as a state-of-the-art testing center. Other ongoing construction projects that are each in various stages of completion are the new bus barn, renovations to Panther Stadium including a brand-new track, the Baseball Field House, and the Indoor Athletic Facility.

The progress of the Indoor Athletic Facility has been in doubt since last Spring, when it was determined that the steel skeleton was not designed property to withstand the high winds that are typical for southeast New Mexico, with emergency supports being placed to prevent a possible collapse. Minutes from the June 2026 meeting of the Jal School Board indicated that there was a dispute as to whether the structural integrity of the building was sound or not. The new bus barn will include a bus lift, which will facilitate mechanical maintenance of the buses. The new track at Panther Stadium was necessary due to hail damage from several years ago which over time had resulted in increasing deterioration of the running surface with use. Also nearing completion is the new entrance to Panther Stadium, complete with a new ticket booth and walkway.