San Jon school board OKs budget

The San Jon Municipal Schools board of trustees last week approved a 2023-2024 budget that reflects state-mandated 6% raises for its teachers and staff.

The district’s operating budget in the next fiscal year will be about $2.77 million.

Superintendent Alan Umholtz said in addition to raises, the budget total rose because of higher health insurance costs.

Umholtz said the district’s projected cash balance at the end of the fiscal year will be about $300,000, which he described as “very good.”

In other business from the meeting:

— The board approved a revised 2023-2024 school calendar that adds one instruction day. That change was made to conform to the state’s mandate of additional instruction time.

— The board approved its annual bus contract with BRATS of San Jon. The firm has been the district’s transportation provider during the past few years.

— Umholtz said the seats of two current school board members, Brian Watson and Dale Bone, are up for election this year. Their seats are four-year terms. Umholtz said Watson and Bone have indicated they would file for re-election.

— The Slutz family received the annual Student Achievement Award from the New Mexico School Boards Association for their longstanding support for the district, including providing beef for the cafeteria.