By Danna Lopez

The Silver School Board met on Tuesday, July 18 with President Mike McMillan calling the special meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. All members were in attendance in the Administration Building board room: McMillan, Silver Consolidated Schools Superintendent Audie Brown, Board Members Frances Vasquez, Ashley Montenegro, Patrick Cohn, and Justin Wecks.

Only a few items were on the agenda with the first being an update from Brown. He stated that the Silver High principal's salary will be increased to $80,000 per state statute. The principal's salary has been $73,000 with the caveat that the state statute had not been circumvented when this was set but rather accommodated the once dual-purpose position of principal and counselor. However, that has since been altered and the salary will be adjusted to reflect the staffing changes. Board member Ms. Vasquez did add that the salary schedules had already been approved and any future changes should go before the board for approval.

The next item addressed consideration and approval for bids and proposals. The only bids currently on the table are for Cafeteria Food and Supplies and Milk. Specific amounts are not available as they do not know how much they will order for the year. Also noted was that bids for these items will now be reviewed by the new Director of Student Nutrition, Rhonda Torrez. Bids were unanimously accepted and approved as submitted.

Next, Michelle McCain reported that $5,000,000 from the school bond was deposited into the district's bank account on June 30 and she now requires authority from the board to start spending the funds. Board members approved unanimously. Frances Vasquez questioned why the deposited amount was not the $5,101,266 as awarded but Ms. McCain explained that the bank in Albuquerque handling the funds retained the balance for costs associated with the bond.

Director of Student Nutrition Rhonda Torrez requested approval for a lunch price increase for the 2017-2018 school year. She is asking for a $0.10 increase for lunches, which would bring the cost up to $2.40. Torrez stated that the increase is necessary to "keep up with food and labor increases" and also reminded everyone that lunch and breakfast will remain free-of-charge at the elementary and middle schools. Wecks moved to approve the increase as presented, Mr. Cohn seconded the motion; the proposal passed unanimously.

The last item discussed was for approval to establish written procedure per section 148 of the federal tax code. McCain explained that the law firm, which oversees facilitation of the bond, indicated that this procedure is part of the bond package and is directly linked to the closing of the bond. It is "an assurance that the district will comply" with the terms of the bond according to Candy Milan. Per Vasquez's inquiry, McCain assured board members that both she and the law firm keep copies. Cohn moved to approve and Wecks seconded with no opposing votes.

Before adjourning, McMillan asked Brown if there were any items that would require members to go into Executive Session. There were none.

McMillan adjourned the meeting at 5:51 p.m.