Board approves 5-year plan

The Tucumcari school board on Feb. 18 unanimously approved a five-year facilities master plan that will enable the district to more easily receive future state funding for improvements.

Schools Superintendent Aaron McKinney told the board the state likely will match 69 percent the cost of $20.3 million in improvement projects listed in the plan. Officials don’t necessarily foresee the entire “wish list” being fulfilled, hence it being ranked by priority.

The board previously went over the plan in more detail during its November meeting.

Among the projects for the district, the highest in priority were:

• At Tucumcari Elementary School, creating two Central School entries, assess and address building settlement, install ramp on south playground and complete perimeter fencing, $603,500

• At Tucumcari Middle School, create secure entry by redesigning entry into office area, upgrade fire alarm, upgrade intercom, install additional lighting in west parking lot and complete perimeter fencing, $1.09 million

• At Tucumcari High School, create secure entry and install handicap ramp to practice field, $151,250

Listed as Priority 2 were these projects:

• Middle school: replace exterior doors and frames on 1970 and 1996 buildings, upgrade air conditioning in gym and cafeteria, upgrade or install irrigation sprinkler system in northwest field, replace carpet and flooring on 1970 and 1996 building and repave west parking lot, $5.29 million

• Elementary school: air conditioning improvements and replacing exterior doors and frames, $4.93 million

• High-school improvements at auditorium include replacing two flat roofs, update stage lights and electrical system, replace stage curtain and install presentation system, $1.49 million

• Mountain View Elementary School roof replacement, $338,000

Listed as Priority 3 were these projects:

• New baseball and softball complex, $4.87 million (cost may decrease if city partners on the project)

• Demolish old maintenance building across from middle school and build parking lot, $369,200

• Demolish part of Mountain View School and re-roof remaining building, $521,950

• Install turf at south elementary school playground, $130,000

• Renovate home-economics lab at middle school, $377,000

• Install canopies at high school s track and field, $130,000

• Renovate Rattler Field concessions, $24,375

• Create vocational agriculture building storefront so customers can buy student-grown vegetables, $19,500

In other business, the board:

• Appointed board member Leif Gray to the calendar committee.

• Scheduled three dates — at 5:30 p.m. March 18, April 8 and April 15 — for budget work sessions. The school district’s budget is due April 18.