Bond votes on tap for four schools

All four public schools in Quay County have bond questions for voters on the Nov. 7 election ballot, including what could be a highly consequential one for San Jon.

For voters in the district for San Jon Municipal Schools, the ballot states the proposed bond issue would be for up to $350,000, though its superintendent has said the district would need only $200,000 to $250,000. (More on that later.)

An approval of the measure could lead to a lot more.

If voters approve the bonds, the district likely will be in line for a grant of up to $30 million from the New Mexico Public School Facilities Authority to build a new school.

One of the requirements for the grant is a higher debt load for the district, which the bonds would provide. With that, the district would not require a local match for the grant.

San Jon superintendent Alan Umholtz said in a phone interview Sunday that the bonds, if approved, will be used for student technology needs in the new school, including smartboards.

Umholtz said the bond issue would raise property taxes, “but not as much as we thought,” noting this year’s rates recently set by the state fell slightly.

He said the proposed property tax increase originally was thought to be $100 for a $100,000 home. He now thinks it would be about $80 for a similarly valued house.

Umholtz also has said San Jon won’t need $30 million for a new school, but instead $22 million.

He said the bond vote “has got a good chance” of passing.

“I don’t think we’ll get another chance to get $22 million from the state for not a lot of money on our part,” Umholtz said.

State education officials, noting leaky roofs and an aging boiler system at San Jon, previously have noted it might be better to build a new school than spending more than $10 million to make repairs to current buildings.

The new school would be built on adjacent land the district owns.

The San Jon board scheduled a special meeting and community forum Monday night with its project manager to discuss needs for the district’s deteriorating infrastructure. (The meeting was after the Quay County Sun’s deadline; a report will be in the Oct. 18 edition.)

One complication is an apparent error discovered Monday morning between the bond resolution the San Jon school board approved and the ballot’s language.

The board months ago passed a resolution for a $250,000 bond issue. The board’s attorney, the Cuddy and McCarthy law firm, submitted ballot language to the Quay County Clerk’s Office that states a $350,000 bond issue.

The ballot, despite the error, cannot be changed at this late stage, County Clerk Ellen White said. Early voting was scheduled to begin this week.

Umholtz could not be immediately reached for comment Monday.

Tucumcari

Voters in the Tucumcari Public Schools district will decide on a $3 million bond issue.

Superintendent Aaron McKinney said in a phone interview the top priorities for that money, if approved, will be resurfacing the track at Rattler Stadium and installing new climate-control systems at Tucumcari Middle School.

Lower on the priority list is retrofitting new lights on the remaining two softball fields. Those fields were not included in the ballpark redevelopment project scheduled to mostly be finished this month.

McKinney said if cost estimates for softball lighting are too high, he’ll delay that project.

McKinney said if the bond issue is approved by voters, there will be no property tax increase.

Tucumcari’s last bond vote was in 2019, which voters approved by a more than 2-to-1 margin.

“We’ve had good luck in the last 20 years with (bond votes),” McKinney said. “I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

Tucumcari school district voters also will decide whether to renew a two-mill property tax.

McKinney said that tax is used for general maintenance of the district’s grounds. It also would result in no property tax increase if voters approve it.

Logan

In the Logan Municipal Schools district, voters will decide on a bond issue of up to $1.1 million.

Superintendent Dennis Roch said current priorities are to improve campus security with new fencing around the elementary and preschool playground areas, replace aging doors and locks, secure the main entrance by adding a vestibule to control the flow of visitors, and enclose three classrooms accessible only from the outside.

The money also would be used to repair or replace unsafe sidewalks, curbs and gutters, plus improve the playing surface of the football field.

Roch said future priorities are to modernize the science lab, renovate the Family & Consumer Science classroom and design and equip a new STEM technology lab.

Roch stated in an email the bond issue, if approved, will maintain current property tax rates and not result in an increase.

He also said Logan voters have “a long history” of supporting the students, staff and school.

“I am confident they will continue that support by voting in favor of this new bond question,” he wrote.

House

In the House Municipal Schools district, voters will decide on a $400,000 bond issue.

Coby Norman, who became the district’s superintendent earlier this year, said his top priority for the bonds, if approved, is to buy security fencing around the campus and acquire some sort of teacher housing with the additional help of state grants.

The Village of House is in a remote area and has few housing options for new teachers. Norman said with more housing options, House can attract more qualified teachers.

Norman said Friday he was checking with the district’s bond consultant, but added that “we anticipate no change in the tax rates” if the issue is approved.

Voters in the district have passed only one bond issue in its history, he said, though that was just a few years ago. Norman expressed hope this one would pass, as well.

“Our community is extremely supportive of their schools. We hope they show that support with the bond issue,” he said.

Early voting for the election began last Tuesday and will continue this month on Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Quay County Clerk’s Office and on the Friday and Saturday before Election Day.