Superintendent says bond advisory meetings will rotate to school sites as district refines priorities

Taos Municipal Schools on Aug. 20 reported to the board that a bond advisory committee met last week to review campus facility needs and community questions ahead of a proposed bond measure. Superintendent Dr. Layton said principals presented site needs and that the district had a representative from Stifel present to explain bond mechanics, including that bonds pay for facilities and capital items but not salaries. Community members asked for typical tax impacts (for example, on homes valued at $100,000 or $300,000) and the district plans to make that information available at future site meetings. The superintendent said the district will rotate future bond advisory meetings through school campuses so residents can review needs specific to each site; principals will submit ranked lists of needs to the superintendent’s office for compilation and prioritization. Board members emphasized distributing bond proceeds across school sites and preserving historically‑significant structures where appropriate. Board discussion noted the middle school currently ranks very high for replacement and that demolition funding for some high‑priority facilities may be available from the state. The board asked that charter schools participating in district activities be included in outreach and that agenda language for committee meetings name participating charter schools explicitly. What’s next: The district will hold additional site‑based bond advisory meetings, compile a prioritized list of projects, and present recommended uses and tax‑impact information to the board before any public campaign or vote.