Jemez Valley Public Schools board approves 2026–27 budget, 1% salary increase and fine arts grant

The Jemez Valley Public Schools board approved the districtudget for fiscal year 2026
nd 2027 at a special meeting, preserving student services while absorbing higher insurance costs and adopting a 1% average salary increase for staff.

The budget presentation by chief operational finance officer Randy Cordova explained that the Public Education Department unit value for 202627 is $7,117.10 and that formula changes under House Bill 63—most notably making English learners a standalone component and raising the secondary multiplier from 1.25 to 1.3—added roughly $177,000 to the districtormula allocation. "The unit value for 2627 is $7,117.10," Cordova said. She told the board the district built its budget on an average enrollment figure near 295
nd estimated the districtormula (SCG) revenue at about $6.8 million.

Board members pressed for clarity on how per-pupil funding is calculated. Board member Peter asked about the "unit price per child," and Cordova explained grade-level factors and that the enrollment portion of the formula generated approximately $2.6 million for the district. Cordova also said the district absorbed increases in NMSIA insurance rates and an approximately 14% rise in risk premiums while protecting classroom and instructional programs.

Superintendent/administrator Dr. Kamada told the board the district is not cutting services and said administrators might decline to pursue a third year of a CLSB grant because operational funds can maintain the program with greater flexibility; he emphasized the district would continue supporting the services regardless of grant decisions.

Before voting, Cordova requested board approval with authority to make technical revisions required by PED guidance or as new applications open. "I will be asking of the board today is for your approval of our fiscal year 2627 budget, with the allowability to make changes as a PED request that we update certain items," she said. The board moved and seconded the motion and recorded verbal approval from the membership; the chair noted the motion passed.

Votes at a glance

- 202627 budget: motion moved, seconded, approved (verbal yays recorded by board members).
- 202627 salary schedules (1% raise): motion moved, seconded, approved (verbal yays recorded).
- K Fine Arts Education grant assurances: motion moved, seconded, approved (verbal yays recorded).

The board requested staff circulate the budget materials (Cordova said she would send the PowerPoint to the clerk for distribution) and scheduled a follow-up workshop after submission to PED to show a detailed line-item breakdown of planned expenditures. The special meeting adjourned at approximately 04:27.