Case made for San Jon new school

SAN JON - About 50 residents attended a public forum last week to discuss a proposed bond issue that would lead to a $22 million state grant to build a new school and replace a deteriorating facility.

San Jon Municipal Schools seeks an additional $250,000 in general-obligation bond debt in the Nov. 7 election. If voters approve it, the district would qualify for a match waiver and a $22 million grant from the New Mexico Public School Facilities Authority to build a new school.

After a free lasagna dinner in the school's cafeteria, San Jon officials for 90 minutes laid out their case for a new school and fielded questions about it.

School and state officials favor a new school because repairing current problems - leaky roofs, poor drainage, an obsolete boiler system and below-average energy efficiency - would cost well over $10 million and be resolved only temporarily.

Some facts about the new school were revealed by superintendent Alan Umholtz and project manager Ian Harmon:

- The new facility would take up about 33,000 square feet designed for a maximum of 150 students. The current San Jon campus takes up 83,000 square feet, much of it built when its enrollment was larger.

- The bond issue would raise property tax levels to 10 mills for four years, then decline to 7.5 mills. The bond issue in the November ballot would raise annual taxes by about $100 for a $100,000 home.

- State officials originally wanted to give $30 million to the San Jon district, with the assumption that students would be taught in portable classrooms during teardown and construction. Umholtz said he reduced that to $22 million by keeping students in the current facility while the new school is built on adjacent land.

- Harmon estimated the cost to fix all of San Jon Municipal Schools' problems would be $11.3 million. That would be 60% of the total of an estimated construction cost of $500 per square foot - or $17.2 million, minus architect fees - of a new building for 150 students.

Harmon, who was hired to direct repairs after two previous voter-approved bond issues and a state grant of about $2.3 million, said he realized the gravity of the situation after inspecting the facilities.

"You don't have enough money. That's a fact," he recalled telling school officials.

Harmon said the Public School Facilities Authority, flush with cash from gas and oil revenue, has shown more willingness in recent years to spend money on school facilities in eastern New Mexico.

That's where school districts in Maxwell, Mosquero and Des Moines recently received funds to build new schools.

"There's a lot of money in New Mexico, and they'll give it to the schools in need," Umholtz said.

Umholtz showed photographs of the district's deteriorating infrastructure, including pipes that are nearly clogged due to corrosion and mineral deposits.

Umholtz said each time flat roofs of buildings are repaired, it moves water to another part of the roof that eventually leaks. He said the district spent about $160,000 in each of the last two years on roof repairs.

Poor drainage often leads to water infiltration through doors after rainfall.

Umholtz said the electrical system probably is outdated, as teachers often unplug varying devices to keep from tripping a circuit breaker.

Citing steep cost estimates for repairs at San Jon, Harmon advocated a new school.

"At this point, you've got to consider not fixing the car and buying a new car," he said.

Umholtz said San Jon needs to take advantage of the state money being offered now. He said in 18 months, that money might be gone.

He also cautioned that as the campus' decay accelerates, state officials might close the school because it no longer would meet health codes, especially regarding mold.

"It's costing us a lot to keep this going," he said of the current facilities. "We've got to do something."

Umholtz said an informational flyer about the bond issue has been mailed to nearly 200 households in the district.

The presentation was met with some skepticism or questioning from residents.

When asked whether $22 million would be enough for a new school, Umholtz said the district "would have to cut down some things" if funds ran short. Harmon expressed confidence it would be enough money.

When Umholtz said about 80% of San Jon's student body comes from Tucumcari, one resident asked: "Why do we pay for kids from Tucumcari?"

School board member Jeremy Wade Allen replied: "We need them to keep the doors open."

One resident voiced support for the bond issue. He said if the November's bond issue fails, the district would have to request another bonds issue to address ongoing repairs.

"You'll have to pay no matter what," he said.

Addressing an apparent error between the school board's $250,000 bond request and ballot language that states $350,000, Umholtz said the district would be barred from taking on more than $250,000 in bonds. He said the district cannot hold debt more than 6% of its assessed property value.

Much of San Jon's campus sits on the footprint of a 1938 building, which still stands but has been extensively remodeled. Buildings were added during the 1960s, '70s and up to the early 2000s.

Umholtz on a smartboard displayed photographs of San Jon schools in their various iterations, including a one-room schoolhouse that opened in 1908.

Arguing that San Jon is effective because of its small size, he said the district would cap future enrollment at 150. Enrollment current is about 131.

"The best education in America was in a little red schoolhouse," he said. "We're that little red schoolhouse."

Asked after the meeting how he thought the forum went, Umholtz said, "I think it went all right."

He expressed confidence he could win over a few of the skeptics.

"If we get them more information, we'll get them to vote 'yes,'" he said.

An older woman who talked to Umholtz afterward told him the bond issue and new school was needed for San Jon's survival.

"If the school shuts down, this community dies," she was overheard saying.