Duncan Unified board approves 2026–27 calendar, personnel contracts and calls 10% override election

The Duncan Unified District Governing Board voted March 9 to adopt the 2026–27 school calendar, approve staff contracts and to call a special maintenance and operation budget override election.

In a series of roll-call votes, the board approved the calendar (Motion No. 97), certified-employee contract offers for 2026–27 (Motion No. 98), hiring substitute teacher Jade Savant (Motion No. 99), a one-year additional sole-source contract with Better IT Service (Motion No. 100), the district's planned GIFT classes for 2026–27 (Motion No. 101) and two volunteer coaches (Kane Dunagan, high school softball; Mia Shaw, junior-high softball) (Motion No. 102). Each of those motions passed on unanimous roll-call votes of the five-member board.

The board also adopted a resolution (Motion No. 103) to order and call a special budget override election to continue a 10% maintenance and operation override. Board President Mike Sweetser said the measure is a renewal, not a new tax, and the district will use legal counsel and state assistance to run the election. The board set the deadline for submitting "For" and "Against" arguments to the Greenlee County School Superintendent as Aug. 7, 2026, at 5 p.m. Superintendent D. Eldon Merrell noted New Mexico residents who attend the district cannot vote on the override.

Votes at a glance

- Motion No. 96: Accept consent agenda (minutes, payroll, expense vouchers, auxiliary and activities financial statements). Roll-call vote: Sweetser Yes; McCluskey Yes; Harrington Yes; Hughes Yes; Wagley Yes. Outcome: approved. - Motion No. 97: Approve 2026'27 school calendar as presented. Roll-call: Sweetser Yes; McCluskey Yes; Harrington Yes; Hughes Yes; Wagley Yes. Outcome: approved. - Motion No. 98: Approve offering contracts to certified employees listed for 2026'27. Roll-call: unanimous Yes. Outcome: approved. - Motion No. 99: Approve hiring Jade Savant as substitute teacher. Roll-call: unanimous Yes. Outcome: approved. - Motion No. 100: Approve additional sole-source contract with Better IT Service. Roll-call: unanimous Yes. Outcome: approved. - Motion No. 101: Approve GIFT classes for 2026'27. Roll-call: unanimous Yes. Outcome: approved. - Motion No. 102: Approve additional volunteer coaches (K. Dunagan, M. Shaw). Roll-call: unanimous Yes. Outcome: approved. - Motion No. 103: Adopt resolution to call special 10% maintenance and operation override election; set arguments deadline Aug. 7, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Roll-call: unanimous Yes. Outcome: approved.

Context and implications

Superintendent Merrell said the override would fund salaries and benefits and described it as the fourth renewal of an existing levy that began in 2007. He cautioned that New Mexico-based students and parents cannot vote in the Greenlee County-run election, a factor the board will consider in outreach and legal review.

On operational contracts, Business Manager Joann Boyd explained the district previously relied on one in-house technician who left for higher pay; Better IT Service will provide an on-site technician four days per week and a remote support team under a one-year arrangement, which the board framed as a way to ensure continuity while retaining the option to re-bid later.

What happens next

The board approved the resolution to call the special election and set the argument deadline. The district will work with counsel and the county superintendent's office on election logistics and public information. Special education was placed on a future agenda for further discussion.