Photo By Airman 1st Class Angel Diaz | An educational pavement graphic is displayed outside the new playground at Sandia Base Elementary School on Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, July 31, 2026. The upgraded playground reflects Team Kirtland’s investment in quality-of-life initiatives that support military families by creating safe, engaging spaces for children to learn and play. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Angel Diaz) see less
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New Sandia Base Elementary School Strengthens Education, Quality of Life for Kirtland Families
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. — The sounds of recess are back and better than ever. With the final pieces of a brand-new playground snapping into place just in time for the new school year, the years-long effort to transform Sandia Base Elementary School into a state-of-the-art educational hub is officially complete.
The playground completes the school's $53.5 million modernization project, delivering a new two-story facility that opened Oct. 30.
Operated by Albuquerque Public Schools, Sandia Base Elementary serves both military-connected students and neighborhood children. For military families facing a Permanent Change of Station (PCS), uprooting their lives can be stressful. This new campus helps eliminate one of their biggest worries: finding a high-quality school in their new home.
“This facility is the direct result of a shared vision between our base community, local education partners, and dedicated construction teams who brought it to life," said Col. Justin Secrest, 377th Air Base Wing and installation commander. “This modern campus stands as proof that we value our military families, prioritize our children, and are fully committed to helping them thrive."
The transition was a masterclass in logistics. Phased construction, which began with a groundbreaking in 2023, allowed students to continue learning safely in the old building while the new facility was constructed right next door. Once the new school was ready, the old one was demolished to make room for the new playground.
For over 70 years, the original 1950-era building educated generations of Kirtland families. Today, it has been replaced by an 88,645-square-foot, two-story campus that officially opened its doors on October 30.
The new facility nearly doubles student capacity from 350 to 575.
The modern campus boasts major upgrades, including dedicated art and music rooms, a cutting-edge library, and flexible, collaborative learning space, updated, advanced technology integrated throughout the building, a brand-new gymnasium and the newly completed outdoor playground. It also boasts a redesigned bus access loop off Wyoming Boulevard that drastically improves traffic flow and student safety during drop-offs and dismissals.
As the steel went up, students got the chance to leave their own legacy. During a special column-signing ceremony on Oct. 17, 2024, students, teachers, and community members wrote their names and messages on the structural beams before the walls were closed up.
"It's so exciting!" first grader Grace Eiffert said. "My name is there forever!"
This campus represents a shared investment by federal, state, and local partners, heavily backed by the DoD’s Public Schools on Military Installations grant program and $10.6 million in state funding.
"Bringing a new playground to Sandia Base Elementary is a commitment to our students' safety, joy, and growth," said Principal Mary Salazar. "This new space allows our students to play, explore, and learn right here on campus, where they belong."
The ripple effects extended far beyond the classroom. The massive construction project provided a major boost to New Mexico's economy by employing local skilled tradesmen, supporting small businesses, pumping more than $2.5 million in gross receipts tax revenue into the local economy, and generating approximately $6 million in wages.
"It will be so exciting for families coming into Kirtland to come to a brand new, technologically advanced school," Salazar noted.
With the playground now open and construction firmly in the rearview mirror, Sandia Base Elementary stands ready to welcome its students, ensuring that from their very first day, they have access to an environment built for their success.
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