Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
SAN JON — The business manager for San Jon Municipal Schools said during a board work session Thursday she anticipated “a very, very tight budget” for the 2024-2025 school year.
Superintendent Alan Umholtz agreed with the assessment from Stormi Sena.
He said the state government is slated to provide additional money only for mandated 3% raises for teachers.
But Umholtz also said the district is fiscally hampered by a 31% increase in risk insurance and a 15% increase in medical insurance. He attributed the risk insurance hikes to more injury and weather-related claims.
Umholtz said if San Jon is required to go from four to five days a week in its instruction schedule, he’s unsure how it would cover the costs for transportation and cafeteria meals for 27 additional instructional days.
He said other New Mexico school districts also are grappling with tight budgets for the next school year, including cutting personnel or programs.
He said the New Mexico Legislature, despite large cash balances, didn’t allocate as much money to public education as anticipated. Umholtz said schools will see less grant money, as well.
Umholtz said he also is dealing with maintenance costs for San Jon’s aging buildings. He said the district spent about $168,000 in each of the last two fiscal years and about $100,000 this year on roof repairs.
“I’m just hoping this roof will hold up for three years” until the district gets a new school building, he said.
Sena said the teachers and staff have requested shade structures with the outdoor picnic tables, wireless computer mouses and headphones, new laptops to replacing aging ones and new playground equipment.
In other business:
— The board approved Sam Fisher of Fisher Tracks in Iowa to submit a proposal to build a new track and field facility at the district.
Fisher, who has more than 40 years of experience, has built tracks in 32 sites in New Mexico. Fisher explained by videoconference his construction methods and recommendations to the board.
Fisher said a new track can be built in a few months but admitted construction is highly dependent on weather. He said temperatures must be a minimum of 55 degrees during the daytime and no colder than 50 degrees at night.
Umholtz said Fisher’s preliminary cost is between $450,000 and $500,000. Texas-based Hellas Construction submitted a bid of nearly $800,000.
Athletic director Bobby Kandel said once the track is completed, he was hopeful San Jon eventually could host a district track meet.
— The board approved a 2024-2025 school calendar that reflects a 157-day instructional schedule that is mostly similar to this year’s calendar.
Classes would start on Aug. 12, with graduation on May 23, 2025.
Umholtz said the PED wants two different calendars, including one that reflects a five-day schedule.
“They want two, but I’m not turning in two,” he said. “I’m sticking to my guns. We’re going to do what’s best for our kids. We’re not playing their game.”
— Principal Sharla Rusk said remedial math instruction has been placed “on the back burner” to improve students’ reading proficiency.
Rusk and Umholtz said they were optimistic the district could raise reading proficiency levels enough to qualify for an waiver from a five-day schedule. Student testing is scheduled for later this month.
— Umholtz said the five-day school week by PED is drawing opposition not only from rural schools that use a four-day week, but charter schools and farmer organizations.
He said he anticipated the New Mexico School Superintendents Association would file a lawsuit this week to block the PED’s rule.
— Umholtz said eight architectural firms are bidding to be the designer for San Jon’s new school, which was more than he anticipated.
He also said the district also might need a new gymnasium to replace the current one because of roof problems.
— The board approved salary schedules and extracurricular pay levels for the 2024-2025 year. Umholtz said extracurricular pay now would be more “in the middle” compared to other districts in the region.