The Santa Fe Public School Board of Education voted Aug. 14 to place a $150 million general obligation (G.O.) bond on the November ballot and to submit the district's updated facilities master plan to the Public School Facilities Authority. The board also allocated a prioritized $14 million for a 'Schools of Innovation' initiative and identified up to $7 million to $10 million in targeted work for EJ Martinez and Chaparral, including drop-off and pick-up improvements.

The actions matter because the bond would fund building renewals, sustainability upgrades and program-focused projects across Santa Fe Public Schools and charter schools in the county. Officials said the master plan and bond together are intended to address aging facilities, declining enrollment and the district's reimagining strategy for program choice.

In a presentation before the vote, Veronica Garcia, executive consultant on reimagining and facilities, summarized the plan's goals: health, safety and security; sustainability; renovating aging facilities; responding to demographic change; and aligning buildings with educational programs. Garcia said the district set aside $14 million specifically for schools of innovation, with EJ Martinez and Chaparral named first priorities for that process.

Superintendent Joe Griffin said the vote would also put House Bill 33 (HB 33) on the ballot; HB 33 is a separate mill levy that the district estimates would generate about $13 million per year for maintenance and operational needs. Garcia noted the board previously allocated $14 million for 'schools of innovation' and emphasized that the $150 million bond includes specific categories such as facility renewal ($28.7 million), sustainability ($12.2 million), athletics upgrades ($2.1 million) and specific projects (including a $6.4 million figure cited for the Toby Roybal Gym).

Several district staff and outside consultants laid out enrollment patterns and cost estimates. Garcia said an earlier estimate to 'right-size' or rebuild EJ had been in the $14 million to $16 million range but that CRC (Capital Review Committee) and updated analyses grew that figure to about $35 million after staff reviewed programming needs and current code requirements. Gene Bostwick, the district's director of construction, told the board the most recent estimate to bring the existing EJ building to code and repair core systems was about $22 million to $23 million; he added that new state code changes likely would increase renovation costs.

EJ Martinez's teachers, staff, parents and students addressed the board in public comment, urging clarity and asking the district to honor prior promises. Jennifer Schwartz, a longtime EJ paraprofessional, said staff had 'rallied together' after a hurried move to the Chaparral campus and that promises made to the community about a replacement had left families and staff anxious. Sixth-grade teacher Alex Van Camp asked the board not to 'table the conversation' and to give the community a clear timeline: 'Allow our community to see what the next steps are so that we may plan accordingly,' he said.

Board members acknowledged those concerns. Board Member Bose, who moved approval of the facilities master plan submission, described the proposal as an opportunity to use funds to serve students 'more quickly and meaningfully' rather than waiting years for a full rebuild. Vice President Noble, who moved approval of the general obligation bond ballot initiative, said the board would work with school communities on the reimagining process once the bond allocation is approved.

The board approved the bond ballot initiative and the master plan in separate motions. Vice President Noble moved approval of the G.O. bond ballot initiative; the motion passed with an abstention from Board Member Heffron, who later explained his abstention. Board Member Bose moved approval of the facilities master plan for submission to the Public School Facilities Authority; the motion passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

District officials outlined next steps for EJ and Chaparral: convene stakeholder teams (staff, families, students, community partners), identify programmatic needs, form a steering committee, hold a planning retreat and create a final report to the superintendent and board for approval. Garcia said some design and entrance/exit improvements could begin sooner using contingency funds rather than waiting the several years a full new-build schedule would require; she estimated a full replacement school timeline of roughly 2029'130 "at best" if a new building were pursued.

Garcia and staff stressed that the 'schools of innovation' process is intended to let faculty, families and students shape programming (for example, STEAM, environmental education or dual-language models) before finalizing building designs and budgets. The board also included funds in the bond for a new Educational Services Center at the Capshaw site, teacher housing ($4 million proposed), and targeted improvements at high-traffic sites including Santa Fe High and Capital High.

The board and staff repeatedly told the assembly they would begin stakeholder work in October and pledged to expand communication channels; community speakers urged a faster, clearer timeline. Garcia said the district would support both schools through renovations that could be phased (summer and holiday projects) so improvements could occur over time rather than waiting for a full new building.

What's next: If voters approve the G.O. bond in November, staff said planning and design work would move forward and the board would return to the community with timelines and specific project scopes; any decisions about building location, program structure or closures must follow the district's adopted policies and return to the board for formal approval.

Speakers quoted or paraphrased in this report include Veronica Garcia (executive consultant), Gene Bostwick (director of construction and real property), Superintendent Joe Griffin, Board President Abeyta, Vice President Noble and several EJ Martinez staff and parents (Jennifer Schwartz, Alex Van Camp, Jessica Lang).