Friday, July 9, 2010 - Record Gazzette

Morongo opens its own elementary school

 

While she grew up on the Morongo Band of Mission Indians reservation, Christina Alaniz attended public schools in Banning. In her childhood, there were no educational resources on the reservation in Cabazon.

Eventually, she graduated from college - something that only about 15 percent of American Indians accomplish.

And now, she has returned to her roots to teach at a newly opened, tuition-free private school on the reservation, dedicated to instructing children and immediate descendants of Morongo tribe members, which had a grand opening July 1.

"To have our own school is such a great opportunity, especially since I'm from Morongo," Alaniz said as she sat inside her air-conditioned modular classroom at Morongo Elementary School. "I'm so proud to come back here, to teach our kids and be an example for them, and be an inspiration for them."

And her community seems just as excited for her.


"It's nice to have one of our own giving back," said Regan Martin, whose children, Joseph Waters, 8, Sophia Waters, 5, and Robert Waters, 3-months, will all attend Morongo Elementary School. "We all know her, and there's comfort in that. We know she'll treat our children well."


For Martin's family, the new school is a 10-minute walk from their

home.


"It's about time" they had their own school, she said. Morongo School, subsidized by the success of the reservation's casino, augments existing educational programs on the reservation for students in the early primary grades, but expands their offerings through sixth-grade, with the intention of expanding through 12th grade within the next few years.


There are four teachers and four aides working in the five modular classrooms, where curriculum will focus on reading, math and science, leadership, foreign and tribal languages, and incorporate tribal history and culture, according to Jerry Livesy, the tribe's academic coordinator.


For now, the school is using modular classrooms, but "Once the economy turns around, we will build a real, environmentally sustainable school," said Morongo Band of Mission Indians Vice Chairman Maurice Lyons. "And once they leave here, they will be ready for any school they want to go to. The academic standards at Morongo School will match the most prestigious private academic institution in our region. Our children must be prepared for a future that does not depend on gaming. They will leave this school prepared to attend the nation's top universities of their choice" - their tuition of which is paid for by the tribe. According to administrators, class sizes will not exceed 15 students per each full-time credentialed teacher. At the time of the school's inauguration, nearly 30 students had signed up for summer school, which began July 6. Livesy anticipates there will be approximately 50 students once the school starts in August. The academic year, for now, coincides with that of the Banning Unified School District. Ayaona Jackson, 8, will be a third-grader at Morongo School this fall, transferring from Brookside Elementary School in Beaumont. "I like it. I like the playground," said Ayaona, who said that one of her cousins will also be attending the school with her. "It will be easier to go here" because it's closer, she said. Suwet Waters-Jay, 5, will be a first-grader. "I like the teachers," she said, and seemed to appreciate the fact that it "has books."
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Set at the foot of the beautiful San Gorgonio and San Jacinto Mountains, the Morongo Indian Reservation spans more than 35,000 acres and overlooks the vistas of the Banning Pass. Resilient and resourceful, the Morongo tribe has had to overcome many adversities.

The Morongo Reservation was one of nine small reservations set aside by President Grant by executive order in 1865. In 1983, the path of Morongo's future changed when tribal members started a modest bingo hall. From this building evolved one of the oldest and most successful Indian gaming facilities in California. The present $250 million destination which opened in late 2004, the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa, is one of the largest tribal gaming facilities in the nation.

With its diversification into non-gaming businesses, the tribe has become the largest private sector employer in the Banning-Beaumont region and is a major contributor to the Coachella Valley economy. The tribe now employs more than 3,000 people. An independent study reported that the tribe's gaming and non-gaming businesses would generate more than $2.8 billion into the regional economy by 2008. The tribe pays payroll taxes, unemployment benefits, employee benefits and provides health programs. More than two thirds of the Morongo workforce is composed of residents from the Banning Pass and desert cities.

On both community outreach and social education fronts, Morongo has taken a leadership role. The tribe gives generously on an annual basis to hundreds of local community groups. Today, the region's governments, businesses, community leaders and groups regard Morongo as a friend and partner. The Morongo tribe's progress is a case history that illustrates how combining a pro-active tribal government with sound economic development can enable tribes to turn their lives and communities around and dramatically impact the surrounding economic region.

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians is actively working with government and community leaders to explore the best paths of future development and planning that will yield a better quality of life for this generation and for generations to come.

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