By Lynn Janes

The Silver City Consolidated Schools held a work session and regular meeting August 17, 2026. Ashley Montenegro, Michelle Diaz, Mike McMillan and Kimberly Klement attended. Superintendent William Hawkins also attended. Patrick Cohn did not attend due to work for his Grant County treasurer position.

Work session

Hawkins had a presentation of future bond projects specifically the athletic fields and Ben Altamirano Sports complex. They have been looking at how they can improve the athletic fields for the students and community. For the past five years he has been asked this question over and over. "What are we going to do about our fields. When are we going to do something to improve the fields?" Now with the GO bond passed they will have the funds necessary to make significant improvements district wide.

This brought the conversation to some of the land has not been owned by the district and they have leasing costs. At the end of the conversation, they decided not to turf Benny Altamirano but doing Silver High School and La Plata Middle School fields. He went through the whole process of how they came to that decision. It had a lot to do with long term investment in school property and a return investment of tax dollars.

The original lease for the Benny Altamirano complex had been done in 1997 with a fee of $5,000 per year leased from the state. They had gone into partnership with the town to make improvements in the total amount of $175,000 with both having use of the facility. In 1999 they refined the agreement with the town and divided up the responsibilities.

The state owns the land, and Silver Schools leases the land. The town just offsets some of the costs of water and utilities. The lease came up for renewal in 2022. At that time, they tried to work with the state on purchasing the land but had not been able to come to an appropriate resolution. When they began negotiating the lease amount the state asked $11,328 per year for 30-40 years and then raising to $35,876. Hawkins did not feel comfortable with that 126.6 percent increase on a long term lease and with declining enrollment he didn't want to do that.

Hawkins went back to the state and negotiated $11,003 increasing to $12,261annually for five years. They required the district to provide a comprehensive list of existing improvements which has been a sizable amount. The five year contract will be up soon.

Hawkins continued to go over the processes of the decisions after meeting with the coaches. They reviewed what needed to be done to all the fields the district owns and their uses by both the district and community. They also again looked into the possibility to purchase the land (Benny Altamirano Complex) from the land commission but could not. If they did sell it, they would have to put it up for public auction. The district might not win that bid or be able to bid a sufficient amount. An appraisal for the land had been done in 2022 that the district did and it appraised at $435,000 for the Benny Altamirano Complex.

A forty year lease would end up costing the district $724,000 in that time. They explored many options. For many reasons they came back to improving the fields owned by the district.

McMillan thanked Hawkins for exploring every option and looking for the best benefit for the district. He had an employee that day ask to leave early to pick up their child to take them to the Benny Altamirano field and this would make that not necessary in the future.

Artie Sanchez, athletic director, went over how this could work fine for the district and answered some of the board's questions.

Work session adjourned

Regular meeting started.

The board approved the minutes from the finance meeting July 16, 2026, work session and regular meeting July 22, 2026. They also approved the agenda.

Information and presentations.

Kiwanis student of the month will resume in September.

Lee Wilson and George Peru, NHD (national history day) sponsors and teachers, came to recognize the students that competed in the nationals. Wilson said they had taken ten projects to Washington DC, and they all did well and placed high. Allyson Terrazas had placed second in the nation. Her project had been on the Disney labor strike. He went over some of the other projects they had taken to the nationals. Lee also thanked the district for hiring Peru because he had helped tremendously. Peru said, "I am just a cog in the machine. All the students had worked hard and had been focused on their projects."

Antonio Andazola, transportation maintenance director, had an update on the completed required adherence of the asbestos re-inspection. It had been done by Havana Environmental and included the schools and administration building. All asbestos containing materials remain in fair condition and been safely managed through the districts existing operations and maintenance programs. They did have some corrective action and will work with them to have someone come and address those. He said all small things such as some missing tiles will need replacement in three locations.

Diane Carrico and Desire McGee, SCEA (Silver City Education Association) had attended to report on the new employee orientation. McGee said it gone well and had been a small group allowing for more conversation.

Information to the board

Hawkins presented an agreement and resolution between Silver Consolidated Schools and Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments (COG). He said he could talk a long time about how much GOG has supported them. Priscilla Lucero, director, has always helped them and currently has been administering the capital outlay funding. The funding used to come directly to the district but because of changes at the state level it has to go through a process.

Hawkins presented the transportation boundary agreement. It would remain the same and it covered the boundary agreement with Animas. Although some students live in Grant County, they live closer to Animas schools, so they transport them to those schools.

Keith Bausman, associate superintendent, had personnel report for the board. The district has 99 percent fully staffed. They do have three applicants for one of the full time positions. A diesel mechanic has also applied.

Cindy Barris, associate superintendent, said an enrollment update would not be accurate due to the many add and drops they have. September will be more consistent.

For the mental health grant they have been directed they may still spend but on a reimbursement basis. They have a lot of funding that goes through until December 2026.

Barris had an AP test update. Fourteen students had tested with a mean score of 3.57 and a passing rate of 85.7 percent and they not seen scores this high. After explaining the accomplishment of these students Hawkins further explained how the AP testing worked.

Finance sub committee

Clements said they had met the last Thursday and reviewed July finance reports. They reviewed the budget adjustment request that would be coming up, checks and deposits for that month.

Audit committee

They had not met due to the audit being done but would start meeting again in October or November.

Threat assessment committee

Bausman said they had not met.

Board president

Montenegro did the second reading for policy advisory concerning cell phones and electronic devices in the schools. Action will be taken later in the meeting. Everyone had been open to adjusting and making changes.

Board comments

Montenegro thanked the teachers, administrators and anyone involved in the consolidation because it had been a heavy lift. "It was a well-oiled machine."

Diaz thanked Hawkins for doing the homework when it came to fiscal responsibility and accountability. "You do your homework before you bring it to us." She continued to thank him for his research and bring them everything they need to know.

Diaz thanked Western New Mexico University for always collaborating with them on so many things. She wanted to encourage students to challenge themselves with taking the AP test.

She ended saying she had a freshman in high school and a daughter teaching this year.

McMillan welcomed everyone back to school. He spoke to the leadership they had and thanked Hawkins for his work. Although they would not be voting on the matter Hawkins had presented, they would be ready to vote.

Clements thanked Hawkins for his leadership as well as his administrative team. "It is truly an honor to be part of this and part of the machine." She welcomed back all the teachers and students and wished them a wonderful year.

Public comments none currently

Action items

Consent agenda

The board approved all requests made by Michelle McCain, finance director. She had checks totaling $436,375.09, and a couple of budget adjustments and explained all in depth. The consent agenda also included an award to Desert Dialogue LLC, speech language pathologist.

The board approved the resolution and agreement with Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments.

The board approved the transportation boundary agreement between Silver Schools and Animas Public Schools.

The board approved the second reading for the policy advisory concerning cell phones and electronic devices in schools.

Last month the board neglected to approve the changes in the graduation dates for Silver High School, May 22, 2026, and Cliff High School, May 21, 2026. The board approved the changes.

Public comments none currently.

The board discussed the continuing education they need to be on the board, and they did have an online option if needed. The state requires five hours a year.

Special meeting will be August 24, 2026
The next meeting for the finance committee will be September 17, 2026
The next work session and regular meeting will be September 28, 2026

Adjourned