Taos bond committee prioritizes fire-panel and intercom upgrades, approves RFP review process

The Taos Municipal Schools Bond Implementation & Oversight Committee on June 11 approved using $5.5 million from the first phase of the district's general-obligation bond sale to begin immediate projects and voted to prioritize fire-panel and intercom upgrades as its first work this summer.

Nick Kaine, the district's bond representative, told the committee the first phase of the sale is complete and that the district has $5.5 million available for projects. "The first phase of the general obligation bond sale is now complete. The district has $5.5 million set aside for projects," Kaine said.

The committee moved and passed a motion to make fire panels and intercom systems the top priority for that funding, with staff directed to develop procurement documents and cost estimates. Vice President Cindy Spray made the motion; the motion was seconded and carried by a show of hands.

Why it matters: committee members described the upgrades as life-safety priorities that should precede other work. "Anything to do with life safety, like alarm systems, fire panels, visitor pedestrian safety and ADA compliance," a committee member said, "should be number one." Maintenance staff and the associate superintendent were asked to return cost estimates and proposed scopes for the next committee meeting so the district can post RFPs and begin work this summer.

The committee also voted that this oversight committee will review all RFPs related to bond spending rather than delegating procurement solely to the finance or procurement office. That motion passed unanimously.

Planning and PSFA process: Kaine and committee members also discussed the Public School Capital Outlay Council's (PSFA/PSC) new three-phase approval process for school construction. Kaine said PSFA approved the middle-school project for the planning and assessment phase. "Planning and assessment has been approved for the middle school project," Kaine said.

Associate Superintendent provided funding details for that phase: the PSFA-approved share is $91,575 and the local match is $155,925, for a total of $247,500 for planning and assessment. Committee members stressed this is only the initial phase: design and construction approvals will require additional PSFA approvals and separate funding decisions.

Committee discussion and next steps: members pressed for localized cost estimates and comparables for school construction, noting prior estimates from other northern districts varied widely. Kaine offered a broad range of $600'$800 per square foot and said the middle school has been authorized for roughly 104,000 square feet; the committee agreed architects and design professionals should refine those numbers during planning.

Other priorities raised included roofing needs at several sites (the Enos early-childhood facility and the middle school were singled out) and restroom facilities for athletic fields. Committee members cautioned against committing significant sums for multiple projects before receiving precise cost estimates. Staff were asked to return with itemized estimates and procurement timelines for the next meeting.

Procedural notes: earlier in the meeting the committee amended the agenda to add a chair-selection item and then appointed Board member Nick King as chair. The committee approved the May 1, 2025 minutes and set a tentative July meeting date to review RFPs and returned cost estimates.

The committee adjourned after the votes. The oversight committee will reconvene to review submitted bids, finalized scopes, and updated cost estimates before further spending decisions are made.