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Raton Board approves activity vehicle, Ag Shop roof and $500,000 Tiger Stadium capital request
Summary
At its Nov. 18 meeting, the Raton Board of Education unanimously approved multiple capital expenditures and requests, including a $62,011 activity vehicle purchase, an Ag Shop roof replacement largely covered by insurance and a $500,000 Tiger Stadium special capital outlay request.
The Raton Board of Education voted unanimously Nov. 18 to approve a series of capital purchases and funding requests intended to address aging vehicles, facility repairs and larger stadium improvements.
The actions included approval of a requisition to Phil Long Ford for an activity vehicle at a net cost of $62,011.25, authorization of an Ag Shop roof replacement largely covered by insurance with a $5,000 district share, and the board’s formal approval of Special Capital Outlay Requests that included a $500,000 Tiger Stadium infrastructure request and a $350,000 bus barn renovation request.
Why it matters: The decisions move forward replacements and repairs the district says are needed for student transport, facility safety and athletic infrastructure at Raton High School. Board motions also authorized use of a COPS grant for additional staff radios and set the graduation location for spring 2025.
The board approved the financial and budget materials that underpinned the decisions. Board member Ted Kamp moved to approve the financial report, budget adjustments/transfers and the first-quarter cash report; Brenda Ferri seconded and the motion passed 5-0. The board separately approved permanent cash transfers by the same margin.
Vehicle and equipment purchases Brenda Ferri moved and Ryan Boone seconded approval of a requisition to Phil Long Ford to replace an aging Ford Expedition used for student transport. The requisition listed a base price of $65,275.00 with a contract discount of $3,263.75, yielding a total of $62,011.25. The board approved the purchase 5-0.
Facility repairs and capital requests The board approved a requisition to CES for J3 Systems to complete a full replacement of the Ag Shop roof at a total cost of $235,667.66; the district will pay $5,000 of that amount and the remainder is expected to be covered by insurance. The motion was made by Brenda Ferri and seconded by Ted Kamp and passed unanimously.
On larger capital priorities, the board approved Special Capital Outlay Requests in the order presented by staff: (1) Tiger Stadium infrastructure — a $500,000 request to address press box maintenance, installation of a sprinkler system, track repairs, paving adjacent to the stadium and restroom upgrades; (2) an activity vehicle request for $70,000 (the board recommended a Ford Expedition Max); and (3) bus barn renovations estimated at $350,000 for a replacement office portable classroom, utility and security upgrades, fencing and other property improvements. The motion to approve the capital outlay requests was made by Ted Kamp, seconded by Dustin Walton and adopted 5-0.
Other actions The board approved using COPS grant funds to purchase additional portable radios for staff; the grant is noted to expire in roughly one year. The board also set the 2025 graduation, if weather allows, for Friday, May 16, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. outdoors at Tiger Stadium, with a gym contingency.
No executive session was held. President Jason Phillips noted an executive-session authority under the State Open Meetings Act Section 10-15-1(H)(2) for limited personnel matters but said there was no business to discuss.
What’s next: The approved capital outlay requests and requisitions move the district into procurement and project phases; staff and contractors will carry out the work and report back to the board as required.
