Despite two recent failed attempts to pass a bond to finance school improvement projects, Roy Herrera, superintendent of the Pecos Independent School District, is hopeful that voters on March 30 will approve a $5.1 million bond for maintenance and property upgrades.

Pecos voters narrowly defeated the two previous bonds, mostly because of resistance to property-tax increases. In March 2008, a $4.7 million bond was voted down by 34 votes; and in February 2009, a $3.5 million bond was struck down by 37 votes.

This year, the district is working with Hutchison, Shockey, Erley & Co., a Phoenix-based bond consulting firm that has helped districts in Taos and Questa pass bonds in the past.

"Money is really tight," Herrera acknowledged. "I know it's tight for community members and it's tight for our school. There are a lot of needs our district has that can only be paid by bond monies. Things aren't getting cheaper and the cost of materials is higher."

Herrera said although many of the projects that the district was planning to use bond money for are the same as they were during the last election, "we're not getting as much for our money."

The bond will be used for building and improving sidewalks, lighting for the school's track, paving roads and parking lots and building a parking area for the gymnasium, among other things.

"There is no parking" for basketball and volleyball games, Herrera pointed out. "When (visitors) do park right next to the gym, it's real dangerous for pedestrians and people coming out of the gym."

The district plans to build a parking lot near the baseball field and a walkway to the gym to make access safer.

Herrera said if voters approve the bond, Hutchison, Shockey, Erley & Co. would sell the bonds. The company would not be paid if the bond fails.

Information on the bonds will be available at previously scheduled events, as well as at several information sessions, Herrera said.

"What we had done before is, we'd have bond information nights and we'd have four or five people come," he said. This year, information on the bond will be distributed at Pecos Elementary School Night and Pecos Middle School Night, "so the message is getting out to more people."

Representatives from the company have also been working with the district on an early voting system they hope will boost turnout. Voters will be able to cast ballots at the Pecos High School Auditorium for a full two weeks before election day — including Saturdays.

In February 2009, only 577 out of a possible 3,060 eligible voters participated. According to Paul Maez, Bureau of Elections supervisor for San Miguel County, there are approximately 3,066 voters who are eligible to vote in the bond election. Even if only one parent or guardian of each Pecos student voted, that would be at least 790 votes, Herrera said.

"In the past, we've lost by 34 votes and 37 votes," Herrera said. "The number of people voting is really low. My feeling is the community needs to support their schools. The administration and the boards come and go, but the buildings remain. This is what (the election is) all about. This is about repairing and keeping up the property."

Both the Pecos Federation of School Employees and the Pecos Panther PTA are supporting the bond.

Cheryl Jurewich, a second-grade teacher and the federation president, said, "If we don't get the bond passed, it looks pretty dismal for next year." She noted that one-time funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will expire in July and the district will be left to figure out how to replace that money.

"This is for the kids and things that the school needs," Jurewich said. If it doesn't pass, "repairs will have to come out of the district operating budget, which is being cut by the Legislature right now."

If the bond passes, the tax on a property with a market value of $100,000 would increase from $117 to $133. The tax increase would not take effect until 2014, after the district has paid off the $1.1 million it already owes, said Leo Valdez, the senior vice-president and manager of the consulting firm.

Voters also are welcome to visit the district's facilities, Herrera said, adding, "They can come and see these things and make an educated choice on what we need."

Contact Ana Maria Trujillo at 986-3084 or atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com.



IF YOU GO

What: Pecos bond election information session

When: 6 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Pecos Elementary School

Other information sessions:

u 6 p.m., March 6, Pecos Village Boardroom

u 6 p.m., March 8, Pecos High School auditorium