By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The Raton Public Schools will now have to look for another way to finance a new consolidated school building as Raton Public Schools District 11 voters defeated the bond issue to finance a new school building today.
The unofficial results of the Raton Public Schools bond election are as follows:
Longfellow School; total votes 153; 73 for, 80 against
Kearney School; total votes 493; 236 for, 257 against
Columbian School; total votes 432; 192 for, 240 against
Early Voting total votes 187; 70 for, 117 against
Total votes cast 1265; 571 for, 694 against
There are 5295 registered voters in Education District 11 for a 24% voter turnout in todays election.
In November 2009 Raton voters also defeated a $7.1 million bond issue that was intended to build a new consolidated elementary school.
Comments that this reporter heard included, “I don’t know what they will do with the old buildings I can’t get a straight answer there so I will vote against it”. “With a declining enrollment why do we need such a big school building.” But no doubt one of the big concerns was what would happen to the old buildings. At this point the district still had not made any decisions concerning the buildings. The district was still talking to the New Mexico Historical Preservation group about what would be required to either demolish or upgrade the buildings to be used by another entity.
What will the school district do next, Dr. Neal Turhune was unreachable at press time for comment.
