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Board accepts two donations, approves bond reallocation, calendar and E-rate wireless purchase
Summary
At its April 10 meeting the Santa Fe Public Schools board accepted donations totaling $23,000, reallocated $236,208 in bond funds for Ortiz Middle School, approved the 2025–26 school calendar, selected a vendor for district wireless upgrades under E-rate rules and approved other consent items.
The Santa Fe Public Schools Board of Education approved several operational and finance items at its April 10 meeting, voting to accept two corporate donations, reallocate remaining bond funds for a middle-school project, approve the district calendar for 2025–26 and authorize a wireless upgrade under the federal E-rate program.
Donations: The board unanimously accepted an $8,000 gift from Sunflower Bank (First National Bank) to support the district's "stay at home" fundraiser and a separate $15,000 donation from Newscenda Credit Union to fund the district's annual back-to-school school-supplies giveaway. Dolores Overton, Sunflower Bank’s Santa Fe market president, presented the check and described longstanding community partnerships. Board President Abeyta moved to accept the Sunflower donation; Vice President Noble seconded. "Motion carries," Abeyta said after members voted.
Bond reallocation: The board approved a proposed reallocation of $236,208 from the district's 2021 general-obligation (G.O.) bond to close out the Ortiz Middle School project. The Community Review Committee reported that portables were deployed late in the project to limit student disruption, generating the additional cost; the committee noted the amount is fixed and no further cost increases are expected.
Calendar: The board approved the 2025–26 school-year calendar, including required instructional hours and modest shifts in spring break and a pair of May long weekends to reduce the long April–May stretch between breaks.
E-rate wireless purchase: The board authorized the technology department to proceed with the purchase and installation of roughly 500 wireless access points through CDW-G. The project has an estimated total cost of approximately $492,000 with an expected E-rate reimbursement of roughly $393,000, leaving a net district cost of about $99,000.
Scholarship nomination and consent agenda: The board nominated Christina Montoya of Santa Fe High School as the district’s submission to the New Mexico School Boards Association scholarship program and approved the consent agenda—budget adjustments, contracts over $60,000 and March 13 meeting minutes—without items pulled for separate discussion.
All motions were adopted by voice vote with no nay votes recorded on the official floor during roll calls taken in public session.
Votes at a glance: - Accept donation: Sunflower Bank (First National Bank), $8,000 — Motion moved by Board Member Bose; seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Accept donation: Newscenda Credit Union, $15,000 — Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Reallocation: 2021 G.O. bond funds, $236,208 to Ortiz Middle School project — Motion moved; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Nomination: NMSBA student scholarship nominee, Christina Montoya (Santa Fe High School) — Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. - Calendar: 2025–26 school calendar — Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. - E-rate: Approve CDW-G contract for wireless access points (approx. $492,000; E-rate reimbursement approx. $393,000) — Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
The board also approved the consent agenda, including budget-adjustment requests and contracts over $60,000, and set an April 24 working session and follow-up steps tied to the district budget and superintendent search process.
