By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The Raton School board met on Monday May 19, 2025 for their regular meeting and dealt with the budget items in preparation for the upcoming school year.
Discussion of federal programs still leaves the district waiting to see what will and won’t be funded.
The district has asked that all purchasing be halted for the month to complete budget items.
Board members approved the financial report along with the budget transfers and adjustments.
The district will keep their current auditor for the upcoming year noting that there was only one respondent to the RFP.
The FY26 interim budget is pending any NMPED changes. The district calendar has been submitted but the district hasn’t seen approval, Baird figured they were waiting for the budget to be submitted to give final approval on the calendar. The district will see a 9.95% increase in health insurance premiums and 4% on dental premiums. The governor veto HB2 which included a 4% teacher pay increase.
The district is expecting about 755 students which will give the district over $6,754,441 for the school year. The district will see an expense of $10,809,893 for salaries and benefits. Operating expenses are estimated at $4,587, 409. The operational budget for this year will be over $15 million for the upcoming school year. The board approved the budget to be submitted to NMPED.
The board discussed a professional services contract with Castille Law, LLC. The firm will provide as needed services as the district’s legal counsel and will not exceed $60,000.
The district will replace all the security doors for the gym which includes the outside doors and all the inside doors which will be accessed with a key card. The total cost will be $212,000 with 75% of the money coming out of the cops grant. The remaining 25% will come out of a capital fund.
A bid for $1000 was received for a 2008 school bus and accepted by the board.
The board also discussed some of the policies including the cell phone usage policy. Superintendent Medina noted that PED was working on something, but it is looking like each district will have to come up with their own policy for cell phone use during school hours. Below is a list of the policy advisories the board has looked at.
Policy Advisory No. 246 – GE – Return to Work – Second Read
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- Policy Advisory No. 247 – ADB/ADC – Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco/Nicotine-Free Schools (NEW) ADB/ADC-R-Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco/Nicotine-Free Schools – Second Read
- Policy Advisory No. 248 – EEA-R- Student Transportation – Second Read
- Policy Advisory No. 249 – GBEBB-EA – Staff Conduct with Students – Second Read
- Policy Advisory No. 250 – (DELETE) – GBED – Tobacco Use by Staff Members/Smoking – Second Read
- Policy Advisory No. 251 – GCQF – Discipline, Suspension, Termination and Discharge of Professional Staff Members – Second Read
- Policy Advisory No. 252 – GDQD – Discipline, Suspension, Termination and Discharge of Support Staff Members – Second Read
- Policy Advisory No. 253 – IJOC-E-School Volunteers – Second Read
- Policy Advisory No. 254 – JIC – Student Conduct – Second Read
- Policy Advisory No. 255 – (DELETE) JICG – Tobacco Use by Students/Smoking
- Policy Advisory No. 256 – JK-R- Student Discipline – Second Read JK-EB – Student Discipline – Second Read
- Policy Advisory No. 257 – JLCD – Administering Medicines to Students – Second Read
- Policy Advisory No. 258 – KF-EA – Community Use of School Facilities – Second Read
- Policy Advisory No. 259 – KFA – Public Conduct on School Property – Second Read
- Policy Advisory No. 260 – (DELETE) KFAA – Tobacco Use/Smoking on School Premises (DELETE) KFAA-R – Tobacco Use/Smoking on School Premises Second Reads
- Policy Advisory No. 261 – IIE – School Schedules and Course Loads – Second Read
- Policy Advisory No 262 – IKF – Graduation Requirements – Second Read
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