By Lynn Janes
The Silver City Consolidated Schools held a work session and regular meeting, on July 15, 2024, at the Grant County Veterans Memorial Business and Conference Center. Members in attendance Ashley Montenegro, Patrick Cohn, Mike McMillan and Kimberly Klement. Superintendent William Hawkins also attended. Michelle Diaz didn’t attend.
Work session
Hawkins did a presentation on the GO (general obligation) bond. He provided slides of each point for the audience to see and expand on what he would be talking about.
The district started with a five-year master plan. The state requires each school district to submit this plan. When they finished the plan, they had identified $63 million in maintenance needs. To qualify for the state waiver, they would need to bring in $4.7 million from the GO bond.
Hawkins said many local community members had been involved in the process and conveyed what the community needs would be.
The plan looks at the age of the facilities and capacity of students for each one. Hawkins said the full plan can be viewed on the Silver Consolidated Schools website / https://www.silverschools.org/ . He said most of the facilities ranked high for needs by the state ranking. The plan takes enrollment into consideration. They consider capacity and the utilization of each facility and what the anticipated enrollment trends will be. Hawkins went over each school facility and provided a lot of data on each one. The data ranked the priorities of each of those facilities. In the presentation Hawkins had photos of roofs that needed repair, stucco, heating and cooling systems and exhaust fans.
The plan looks at the funding sources to arrive at the $63 million. Currently the district has a $23.6 million bond capacity that comes from property taxes. He pointed out the $63 million in needs.
In the past the state would match 6 percent of the cost of projects leaving the district to cover the 94 percent (derived from the bonds). Currently until the end of 2024 they have increased it to a 37 percent match and the district will cover 63 percent of the project. This changed because they had a considerable amount of money not being used for projects but may revert back to the 6 percent – 94 percent rate in 2025. The only way to access the 37 percent match will be to increase the property taxes.
Hawkins went over the ranking of the 788 schools in New Mexico by the state and the top 175 qualify. Silver Schools have three facilities that qualify for the waiver criteria.
The only criteria that the district will be eligible for will be to impose a 10 mill levy at least. The other criteria requires either rapid growth of student enrollment or 800 students or less in a high poverty area.
The existing current bond program has been supported by a 1.923 tax levy. Currently the district has been paying on four $5 million bonds of outstanding debt with an outstanding debt of $15 million. The current tax levy will not be sufficient to pay this debt. Hawkins said the state public education department will likely increase the levy in August 2024 to make that debt payable.
The bond capacity for the district is $39.9 million and currently the district has $25 million available. The special election would increase the property taxes by 4.1 mills to allow for a $6 million reoccurring every year for the next ten years. Hawkins said the district has 5.47 mills imposed currently.
Hawkins provided a graph of the other school districts, and their mill levy rates. It showed that Reserve, Quemado and Animas rates are lower and Gadsden jumped to a 16.285 mill levy. Many ranged 7-9 mill levy rate. Out of 84 districts this district ranks at number sixteen. Some of those lower have no levy because of oil and gas revenues.
He had many other graphs that compared Silver Consolidated Schools to other districts in the state. They covered per capita income, and poverty percentages. Hawkins said the push to do this now had a lot to do with the 37 percent match offered until the end of 2024. At that time, it will revert back to the 6 percent unless the state extends the higher percent. The next regular election would not be until 2025. They only allow GO bond elections on odd years without a cost to the district.
Hawkins went over the cost of the increased levy to the homeowner’s property tax. He went over the full value and assessed value of a property. The assessed value is only one-third of the full value and it would be what people will be taxed on. His graph showed a house with an assessed value of $50,000 currently has a tax of $293.30 and with the increased levy it will only be an extra $68.33 making a total property tax of $361.54 a year. A home with the assessed value of $100,000 the current property tax is $586.43; with the increased levy it will add $137.67 making a total tax of $723.09
As part of the master plan, they had recommended the consolidation of 6th Street Elementary and Jose Barrios Elementary. Hawkins said this will be a 5-year plan. They will start with a task force that will make the decision to make the consolidation or not.
The plan also recommends the rebuilding of Cliff pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. It will not include the new gym or rock building. He had a slide showing they would demolish all other buildings and put one big building in to replace it.
The other recommendations in the plan include safety and security updates, upgrades to the Ben Altamirano Complex for drainage issues and $22 million for priority repairs on all schools.
Hawkins had a graph showing enrollment trends. It had birth rates reaching back to 2008. It has decreased 30 percent approximately in the area and state. According to one graph showing a decrease in enrollment back to 2002. In 2002 the district had approximately 3,400 students enrolled and in 2023 only a little over 2,100. By 2029 it has been projected to be 1,938. The facilities have a full capacity of a little over 4,000. He had some graphs of each facility in the district and what their capacity for students is and what the enrollment had been in 2023. Silver Scholars has a capacity of 137 but only had 39 in 2023. Sixth Street Elementary has a capacity of 285 but only had an enrollment of 136. Cliff High School has a capacity of 144 but only had an enrollment of 100. Stout Intermediate has a capacity of 588 but only had an enrollment of 313. Harrison Schmidt Elementary has a capacity of 502 but only had an enrollment of 334. Jose Barrios Elementary has a capacity of 314 but only had an enrollment of 213. All projected to continue to decrease. Hawkins skipped the others and combined them all by showing prekindergarten capacity is 472 but only 175 had been enrolled in 2023. Elementary has a capacity of 1,518 with the enrollment of 960 in 2023 and the middle schools and high schools have a capacity of 2,374 and had an enrollment of 1,037 in 2023. All facilities have a full capacity of 4,314 and the current enrollment for 2023 had been 2,172. Almost 50 percent building capacity has not been used and by 2029 it will be 55 percent.
He said if 85 percent of the space would be utilized versus current, they could save almost $1.5 million a year. He spoke about some possibilities that have been discussed with Aldo Leopold Charter School and Western New Mexico University.
A person attending asked why they needed the extra money when they don’t even need all the facilities. Hawkins replied that they still needed to do maintenance on all the aging facilities.
Hawkins said, “It is our responsibility as a community to provide a good quality facility to learn in.”
A person attending said the sales pitch needed to be to invest in the kids. It would increase taxes but would give the kids a better chance at life. He said not to sell the community short and provide a substandard education to the kids.
Jarrod Mason started to comment on a meeting he had with Hawkins and Michelle McCain, finance director, about misleading the public concerning the tax implications. At that time Montenegro reprimanded him and said he could only ask questions. He asked when and why had they not come out about the misrepresentation to the public that they admitted the district had been wrong about. Hawkins said they had corrected it.
Mason said they had not and showed the press and a copy of a Facebook post. Hawkins said this time would only be for questions. The disagreements continued. Montenegro said: “This is not a cross examination.” Mason asked the people attending if they had been aware that for the past three months the information presented by Hawkins had been incorrect and everyone said no. Mason said no one knows and went back to a recent Facebook post and the newspaper. “You know it was wrong and have not addressed it with the public. You have misled the public.”
Hawkins said his graphics had been correct. Hawkins continued by saying he had been civil to Mason’s comments. He followed by asking Mason if he had a question. Mason wanted to know if he would publicly admit he had misled the community. Mason spoke about pointing out the misleading information to a board member. “You have gone from saying you made an honest mistake but have not said anything to the community. How can they trust you on anything since you made such a massive mistake?” Hawkins said he did not think it had been a massive mistake.
Montenegro told him his time was up. Mason told the people in attendance, “I am a retired CPA and if they had any questions on how the tax would affect them, he would tell them exactly how much. Hawkins continued the rebuttal with Mason to make his point that the changes had been made. Mason referred to Facebook posts and the newspaper that had not been changed. Montenegro asked Mason to leave the meeting and called Louis Alvarez, associate superintendent, to remove Mason.
Mason said, “You know I am right, you made mistakes.” Another person attending had agreed with Mason, and Alvarez also asked her to leave also.
Montenegro asked Hawkins to address what had just transpired with Mason. Hawkins said he had made the changes and communicated it out.
Hawkins asked if anyone had any questions. Montenegro clarified that the mistake had been made on a graph and it had been corrected.
Regular meeting
Information and presentations.
Hawkins announced the proposed dates for graduation next year. Silver High School will be May 23, 2025, and Cliff High School will be May 16, 2023. Montenegro said they had neglected to include it as an action item later in the meeting but would include it in the next meeting.
Superintendent report
Louis Alvarez, associate superintendent, gave the board a personnel report. Currently the district is staffed at 97.8 percent. He added that most of the vacancies have interviews taking place.
Cindy Barris, associate superintendent, had not been able to attend
Joyce Barela, mental health coordinator, said she had just returned after a very intense two-week training. She had learned many new things to help the wellness program. All the mental health positions had been filled. They have been purchasing furniture for the wellness rooms. Barela had brochures and posters to show the board for the program.
Board of education
Montenegro said the finance subcommittee had met and talked about the projects throughout the year. They looked at the art fund that still had $20,000 that had to be spent by September 2024 and to have it spent. They reviewed the financial report, and she addressed some of the payments. They had some funds left over in the operational account and that would be helpful with the coming year because of the shortage in funding. Montenegro said the state does not adequately fund the district.
Montenegro said the audit committee does not need to meet until early next spring.
McMillan did not have a threat assessment report.
Montenegro did a second reading of the new policy changes due to the past legislative session. They will be acting later in the meeting.
Policy Advisory No. 238 BBA – Board Powers and Responsibilities
1st Reading Policy Advisory No. 239 BE – School Board Meetings
1st Reading Policy Advisory No. 240 BEC-E – Executive Session/Open Meetings
1st Reading Policy Advisory No. 241 BEDA – Notification of Board Meetings
1st Reading Policy Advisory No. 242 BEDBA – Agenda Preparation and Dissemination
1st Reading Policy Advisory No. 243 BEDG –Minutes
1st Reading Policy Advisory No. 244 BEDH –Public Participation at Board Meetings
1st Reading Policy Advisory No. 245 CB –Superintendent
Board comments
Montenegro thanked the people for attending and learning what the process has been and what will be needed to give the students what they deserve. The board had a lot of questions, and she appreciated all the work Hawkins had done to help them and how the district can meet those needs.
“We realize some people will not see it the same way and we were prepared for some push back and understand. The beauty of our country is it is a democracy.” She apologized that the meeting had become heated earlier. She thanked Hawkins for his leadership and putting himself out there. “We are excited to be able to give this to our community.”
She thanked the board and McCain for the time they spent on the GO bond. She commented it had been a process. The ballots will be received in the mail July 24-26, 2024, and they must be back in by August 20, 2024. Montenegro said the covid dollars had really helped them the past three years. They had been able to do a lot of training and help the teachers.
Cohn hoped everyone had been having a great summer. He appreciated everything Hawkins had done to get the word out. He had great feedback in the treasurer’s office from community members. “It is hard to believe school starts next month.”
McMillan thanked Hawkins for his leadership and making presentations to the community to disseminate the information. He told everyone to enjoy the last few days before school starts.
Klement thanked Hawkins and noted it had been a time-consuming process to do all the forums he had done. It has been a lot of information to take in. She wanted to stress her opinion that the environment for the kids would be very important. “We need to invest in our kids.” She welcomed the new principal for Silver High School. Klement told everyone to enjoy the rest of the summer.
Public comment none currently
Action items
The board approved all requests made by Michelle McCain, finance director. She had checks totaling $9,503,803.59 and several budget adjustments .
Antonio Andazola, transportation director, did not have a report.
The board approved the policy advisories 238-245.
The next finance committee meeting will take place August 15, 2024.
The next regular work session and board meeting will take place August 19, 2024
The first day of school will be August 5, 2024
The board went into executive session
The board came back into open session and said no action had taken place.
Adjourned