Silver Consolidated Schools previews possible sales of Sixth Street and Jose Barrios campuses as buyers emerge

The Silver Consolidated Schools Board of Education received an update March 9 on plans to potentially dispose of two underused elementary campuses after the district's facilities master plan and a 2025 feasibility study recommended consolidation.

Superintendent William Hawkins told the board that the district is exploring options for Sixth Street and Jose Barrios elementary schools because overall district elementary utilization is roughly 60 percent and enrollment has been declining on average about 2.4% per year. The feasibility study projected a decline of roughly 234 students over five years, Hawkins said, and the district is aligning facilities with those enrollment realities.

Hawkins said both campuses were appraised in August; he reported an "as is" market value for Sixth Street of $1,400,000 and for Jose Barrios of $2,000,000. He said the district has received notice of interest from Western New Mexico University for Sixth Street and that the university is focused on an offer near the previously reported appraisal. "We are currently working on a new appraisal," Hawkins said, explaining that a buyer-side appraisal is needed for the process to move forward.

For Sixth Street, Chris Maples, professor at Western New Mexico University, said his board has authorized him to begin investigations and that the university needs a buyer-side appraisal required by state procedures. "That appraisal is supposed to be in our hands by the thirteenth of this month," Maples said, and he added that his board of regents is expected to meet March 17 and could consider the matter. Maples described the intended use as housing the university's college of education and an early childhood education center in the building.

On Jose Barrios, Hawkins said the district received a letter of intent from Aldo Leopold charter and a proposed offer. Aldo is pursuing financing through the New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA), Hawkins said; NMFA representatives recently toured Jose Barrios and provided a positive assessment but still must complete internal review steps. Hawkins said Aldo intends to keep the "Jose Barrios" name on the school.

Hawkins told the board the NMFA process is "arduous" and that even if review goes quickly there are multiple hurdles before final approval; he estimated that, if approvals come on a fast timeline, closings could occur in late June or July. He warned the public that demolition remains the district's contingency plan ("Plan Z") only if reuse or sale options fail.

Hawkins also outlined procedural steps the district must follow before any sale: district approval of a purchase agreement, any required NMFA or PSFA (Public School Facilities Authority) reviews, compliance with New Mexico public property disposition statutes and district policy, and a final board resolution declaring property surplus after closure. He said the board might go into closed session at a future meeting to discuss offers and possible counteroffers.

No formal action was taken on either potential sale at the March 9 special meeting. The board did approve the meeting agenda at the start of the session (motion by Mrs. Clement; second by Mr. McMillan; voice vote recorded as "aye" and announced as passed) and later adjourned (motion by Miss Montenegro; second by Miss Clement; final roll call at adjournment recorded affirmative responses from Mister Khan, Miss Clement and Miss Montenegro).

Next procedural steps identified on the record include the buyer-side appraisal for Western anticipated by March 13, Western's regents meeting March 17, and the district's next regular board meeting later in March where the board could consider closed-session discussions and, if appropriate, a resolution to begin disposition steps.

District officials emphasized they are aiming to avoid long-term vacancy and demolition by pursuing reuse options. "We are still in this process," Hawkins said. "We are still looking at the potential for disposition of 2 campuses, and we may be shifting into a different mode here in the next couple of months."