Waiver saves $1.2 million for San Jon school project

SAN JON — The superintendent of San Jon Municipal Schools said he recently learned the state waived a local match requirement to design a new school, saving the district more than $1.2 million.

Superintendent Alan Umholtz said during the school board’s meeting last Wednesday the New Mexico Public Schools Capital Outlay Council board approved an award of $4.14 million to pay for a design for a new school at San Jon.

The action included the waiver of a 31% local match, or more than $1.28 million, from the district.

Umholtz said he anticipated a match waiver, but it wasn’t guaranteed.

“That is the best feeling,” he said, adding that overall support from the community, including passage by district voters of a $250,000 bond issue in November, was key to obtaining the waiver.

After the design is completed, the district can return to the council for construction funding.

Umholtz called for a short special meeting Monday to hire a project manager for the new school — Ian Harmon of Northstar NM, a manager for previous projects at the district and who recently shepherded a five-year facilities master plan.

Umholtz said he wants a design for the school within six months. He repeatedly has expressed his desire to have the building completed within two years after breaking ground.

Harmon in December estimated the new school would cost just under $40 million.

District officials decided to build a new school after determining that repairs to the current facility would cost more than $11 million. Fixes would have included new roofs, replacing a deteriorated boiler system, drainage improvements and installing an HVAC system.

“It was evident the systems are well beyond useful lifespan and would fix only part of the school’s problems,” an outlay council document stated. “The age of the facilities paired with larger-than-needed square footage prompted the school district to consider replacement of the facility rather than repairing the selected systems.”

In other business:

— The board unanimously approved a one-year contract extension for Umholtz after a 20-minute closed executive session.

Umholtz’s contact now will expire in June 2026. It was the second contract extension he has received in five months.

Asked about the pact, Umholtz said, “I’m glad,” and indicated he wanted to be around until at least until the new school is built.

“I want to see this completed,” he said.

Umholtz is paid about $123,000 a year.

— Athletic director Bobby Kandel said a committee came to a consensus and chose sixth-grade student Maliyah Sanchez’s design for a new Coyotes logo for the school’s athletic teams.

Kandel showed rough drafts of the logo, which features a circle and a profile of a howling coyote. The design includes coyote paw prints as accents.

Kandel said a designer will refine the draft, and a final version will be presented at the board’s March meeting. “San Jon” or “SJ” will be incorporated into the design.

He said the design is unique compared to other schools that use Coyotes as their mascot.

“There’s no way to misconstrue our Coyote with anyone else,” Kandel said.

— Kandel said the district received a $1,200 grant from the New Mexico Activities Association Foundation to obtain track equipment. He said Albuquerque Academy also donated 40 hurdles — a $12,000 value — to the program.

— Kandel, who also is food services manager, said the district recently received a $93,000 School Kitchen Infrastructure Improvement grant.

— During public comments, Quay County commissioner Brian Fortner said county road workers can proceed with demolishing the rest of a flood-ruined bridge on Old Route 66 east of San Jon and use the material to build a temporary road through the creek bed.

Fortner said the county’s lawsuit against the architect, builder and state insurance authority over the lack of insurance coverage on the bridge was proceeding.

Flash flooding in late May destroyed the bridge just days from completion. A nearby 1930s bridge remained standing after the deluge, but the state has deemed it unsafe for travel.

— Madlean Clark complained about three San Jon girls bullying a relative at the school.

She said bullying has been ongoing for two years, and she asked to what extent the victim can defend herself. She said a video has been posted on TikTok and Facebook of them beating up the girl.

Board President Frank Gibson said the board was forbidden from discussing the situation in a public meeting, but it can hold a private meeting with parents and the victim.

Umholtz said he had solutions in mind for the situation, but those could not be discussed in an open meeting.