On Feb. 1, 2011, residents overwhelmingly voted in favor of authorizing the Española School District to issue up to $28 million of general obligation bonds.
As stated on the ballot, the money would be used to, “erect, remodel, make additions to and furnish school buildings within the district, to purchase or improve school grounds, to purchase computer software and hardware for student use in public schools and to provide matching funds for capital outlay projects.”
After the $28 million general obligation was issued, new Board members came in and a new superintendent took the helm of the school District.
During a May 31, 2011 construction committee meeting, the Board and then-superintendent Evelyn Maruska, discussed the top bond projects at the time: construction of a new Alcalde Elementary School, District-wide fencing, Chimayó Elementary School ice melt system, Española Middle School athletic fields, a ramp for the playground at Mountain View Elementary, construction of a new Fairview Elementary School, tennis courts at Española Valley High School and Dixon Elementary School, update final Española Valley High School track and field repairs, a handicap pad for Española Valley High School clinic, San Juan Elementary School cafeteria, repaired waste water systems for Hernandez Elementary School and Velarde Elementary School and dry erase boards for Sombrillo Elementary School.
Out of those projects, only a few have been accomplished in the two-and-a-half years since that construction meeting.
The projects, which have been completed are the construction of a new Alcalde Elementary School; repaired tennis courts at Dixon Elementary School and Española Valley High School; the San Juan Elementary School cafeteria; repaired waste water systems for Hernandez and Velarde Elementary schools; high school track and field repairs; and the purchase of dry erase boards for Sombrillo Elementary School.
The Española Middle School athletic fields have been built, however, all the details of the project have not been met and the contractor, FBT Architects, has yet to receive final payment.
The athletic fields have been used, but not for the football season. Fairview Elementary School construction has not started, but an architect has designed the plans for the new school.
District Superintendent Danny Trujillo said at a Dec. 11 construction work session, the next big item on the capital projects list at the moment, is a bus barn.
In addition, the District has spent money on projects not anticipated back in 2011, to include $76,672.41 on purchasing and installing marquee signs at a handful of schools across the District. The District has spent $215,431.30 updating its technology and purchasing software. During the Dec. 11 work session, the Board received updates on the ongoing or slated capital projects, all of which will be paid using bond money: playground equipment for Alcalde Elementary School, Sombrillo Elementary School and Española Elementary School, painting the Española Valley High School gym, doing a marketplace redesign for Española Valley High School, the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at Española Middle School, landscaping and redoing the special needs courtyard at Española Valley High School and paving the north parking lot at Española Valley High School.