Take a hard look at decision to rebuild E.J.

The Santa Fe Public Schools Board of Education has voted to tear down and rebuild E.J. Martinez Elementary School at a cost of $14 million to $18 million.

That’s not the last word. The last word will belong to district voters, who would have to approve a bond issue to pay for construction. That is expected to go before voters in November 2025. The board earlier this month instructed the Community Review Committee to develop a plan to demolish and then rebuild the school.

Between now and then, we would like to see board members and district administrators make a stronger case for spending millions to rebuild a school with only about 180 students — less than 50% of the building’s functional capacity. Right now, the numbers don’t add up.

Consider that during the teardown and construction, students attending E.J. Martinez will be accommodated at Chaparral Elementary School, about 2.5 miles from E.J. That’s possible because Chaparral has a 342-student capacity but only 160 students. Do the math: The enrollment of both schools adds up to 340 students, still well under the accepted definition of a small school — one with fewer than 400 students.

The relocation of students to Chaparral begins in the fall, well before approval of a bond to rebuild E.J. Martinez. That’s because the 65-year-old building is in bad shape because of a deteriorating roof. As it is, nearly 40% of the school is shuttered. The two school populations won’t become one school next fall; instead, there will be two independent schools on one campus. That takes care of the near-term crisis, getting children out of a building that is literally crumbling.

Over the long term, however, we still aren’t persuaded rebuilding a school for 180 children — in a neighborhood too expensive for families with young children — makes either financial or educational sense.

National Education Association-Santa Fe President Grace Mayer has made the most sensible statement on the situation. “We can’t just say that we’re going to maintain all of these sites — and think that we can staff them, that this is going to work out, [that] we can build it and they will come.”

She pointed out that staffing at the district’s nearly 30 schools is challenging and becoming more so. Enrollment is declining, teachers are reaching retirement age and many teachers can’t afford to live in Santa Fe, so recruitment is an issue.

Creating one school with 340 students consolidates teaching and administrative staff, and frees up a piece of property to be used by the district for other purposes. Homes could be built for teachers; the land could be sold for cash; a central administration campus could be built, uniting the district staff under one roof to create stronger in-person collaboration and unified teams. Then, the many district offices could be sold off, again creating cash flow for the district.

So many possibilities exist other than maintaining the current district structure. Board members expressed support for maintaining community, but they need to think not just of the community attending E.J. Martinez but of the broader school community. What pressing needs will wait while E.J. is rebuilt? How many schools with fewer than 200 students are feasible in a district whose enrollment is declining? How will the district staff so many schools, especially if it cannot recruit teachers with lower-priced housing?

Over the decades of its history, as neighborhoods grew and declined, Santa Fe Public Schools repurposed, consolidated or closed schools. Manderfield school is now a residential property. Kaune school has become an early childhood learning center. Santa Fe High School moved to what was then the edge of town rather than remaining a block away from the Plaza. Needs shifted and the district adjusted. Today’s students deserve no less.