Santa Fe Public Schools board approves $150 million facilities plan, sets $35M for innovation and $35M for administrative center

The Santa Fe Public Schools Board of Education on July 10 approved a facilities master plan and a $150 million bond proposal that sets aside $80 million for prioritized capital improvement projects and contingency, $35 million for a Schools of Innovation process to align programming and facilities, and $35 million for an educational services center (ESC) phase 1 or other administrative consolidation, with the board voting to adopt the Community Review Committee'recommended package.

The action followed a 90-minute presentation and discussion of the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) by Dr. Veronica Garcia, the district'hired consultant, and facilities staff led by Gabe Romero. Garcia summarized a multiyear process of assessments, community review and prioritization that produced a districtwide inventory of roughly $325 million in identified capital needs; the CRC and staff recommended a $150 million bond that would not raise the current tax rate and would prioritize urgent repairs and accessibility upgrades while reserving funding for two larger projects.

The nut of the board'level decision was the CRC'backed prioritization: $80 million to address districtwide facility renewal (roofs, HVAC,…