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Taos, county approve joint powers agreement to form Taos County Community Schools Coalition
Summary
The Town of Taos approved a joint powers agreement to establish a countywide Community Schools Coalition to support community schools across districts and pueblos; the JPA includes initial funding from the town's cannabis fund and plans to hire an executive director to pursue long-term grant funding.
The Taos Town Council on Dec. 10 approved a joint powers agreement with Taos County to establish the Taos County Community Schools Coalition and name the county as the fiscal agent for initial funding.
Penny, a volunteer lead for the community schools initiative, described the JPA as a countywide effort that includes Taos Pueblo and Penasco Independent School District and opens membership to charter schools. The JPA supports existing community schools and seeks to expand the model; Penny said the Taos Municipal Schools federal grant that enabled some schools to become community schools runs for five years and coalition partners want a sustainability plan beyond the grant period.
Councilors discussed the planned executive director position to coordinate grants and services across schools, streamline partnerships with organizations such as New Mexico Food Depot and TELUS Behavioral Health, and reduce duplication of effort at individual schools. Staff explained the JPA includes a two-year funding commitment with initial dollars identified from the town’s cannabis fund (the mayor noted $50,000 was set aside) and that the county would likely be named fiscal agent pending Department of Finance Administration approval.
Council voted to approve the JPA by roll call. Staff said a funding agreement will follow once the JPA receives DFA approval and the county becomes fiscal agent.
What happens next: Once the JPA is fully executed and approved by DFA, the council expects the county to act as fiscal agent and staff will return with a funding agreement and implementation details for the executive director position and coalition activities.
