By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton Board of Education met Monday July 24, 2023 and heard about a new sports program for students at Raton High and approved the resolution for the new school bond issue.
Board members discussed and approved Resolution 2023-04 to move forward with the school bond issue to be voted on during the November 7, 2023 general election. The bond issue if passed will allow the school district to request a waiver from the New Mexico Public Education Department to cover 90% or close to $80 million of the cost of the new school facility. In order to qualify for the waiver the community of Raton must vote for and agree to the new mill levy. The board stipulated that all of the bond funds would be used for the new school campus as well as demolition of the old school buildings. The school administration will begin media campaign to educate the community on the bond issue as well as the plans and design for a new pre-k through 12 school.
Board members heard from Cody Ayon and Justin Mattorano about a new wrestling and power lifting program for the school. The wrestling program will run from November thru February and will be coached by Cody Ayon with the power lifting program running from January through March and will be coached by Justin Mattorano. The programs will be offered to both boys and girls and will be evaluated after the first year to determine how strong an interest there is for the programs.
The School board also approved the purchase of computers for a 7th grade high dosage tutoring program. The program is designed to tutor those students in math via an online tutor three days a week. The program will take place during the normal school day. Math scores for the school have fallen over the last couple of years beginning with the pandemic. The program will help students catch up with their math in order to graduate.
