Board authorizes legal counsel and superintendent to pursue strategy, including possible settlement, in special-education complaint

After a closed executive session on June 24, the Taos Municipal Schools board returned to public session and approved a motion authorizing legal counsel and the superintendent (or a designated representative) to proceed with legal strategy in a pending special-education due-process complaint styled Student v. Taos Municipal Schools (DPH 2526), including the option to negotiate a settlement.

The executive session had been noticed under the New Mexico Open Meetings Act citing NMSA 1978 10-15-1(H)(4) and related subsections for discussions of pending litigation and limited personnel matters. The public recap stated that the board discussed the announced categories and that no action was taken in executive session on items 11.1–11.3; the authorization voted under new business (agenda item 12.1) directed counsel and the superintendent to pursue strategy and potential settlement in that matter.

A motion to authorize counsel and the superintendent to proceed was moved and seconded and passed on a recorded vote with Board member Koncha, Board member King and Vice President Spray recorded as voting in the affirmative. The board did not disclose settlement terms in public session. The motion includes staff direction to work with counsel and to return to the board with recommended steps as permitted under law.