District’s Proposal to Consolidate Schools Draws Pushback

Parents and members of the Edgewood community came together to voice their concerns over the potential impacts of the Moriarty-Edgewood School District’s proposal to consolidate schools and replace historic buildings. 

The Edgewood Commission held a town meeting on March 14 to inform residents of the potential outcomes of MESD’s Facilities Master Plan, which serves as a foundation for future school improvements and upgrades that public school districts are required to create every five years. The town’s announcement said this plan proposes to “close multiple schools, destroy historic buildings and waste taxpayer-funded buildings.” About 50 residents attended the meeting. 

Todd Bibiano, MESD’s Superintendent, was not at the meeting but posted the FMP presentation that was presented to the school board. This presentation shows the school district is recommending the replacement of older school buildings with poor conditions, consolidating elementary schools into two campuses and consolidating middle schools into one campus. 

The plan included the Edgewood Elementary School’s buildings, which were closed in 2014 due to a decline in enrollment. The school’s north buildings are currently the town library and the town office. In 2022 there was the same controversy surrounding the buildings when the school district proposed demolition. 

“We own the building and they lease it from us,” Bibiano said. “The FMP has not been approved, these are just options. There is conversation about if the old Edgewood Elementary School was to be knocked down, what would happen to the buildings that are there and there’s conversation about looking at conceptual drawings for new schools down the road, but that would be seven to 10 years from now.”

During the town meeting, the commissioners presented their presentation that said the district promised the town use of the facility, by showing the MESD’s 2018 FMP. It said the district would lease a portion of the elementary school to the town and is “committed to future community involvement in all aspects of district functions.” The commission also said Edgewood taxpayers pay for approximately 75% of the facilities through property taxes. 

“I think the biggest concern that I have is that our community was not involved in the process,” said Commissioner Sterling Donner. “It’s very concerning. Especially when you all see that 75% of the funds that the school district receives comes from our community.”

Town Commissioners showed how the town’s repurposed buildings have been successful endeavors. For example, the old Santa Fe County Fire Station is the new Edgewood Police Station and the old Edgewood Police Station is the new Edgewood Municipal Courts. 

“It’s going to cost over a million dollars to demolish these buildings,” said Commissioner Jerry Powers. “These buildings are not up to educational standards because standards keep going up every year, but they are perfectly functional. Somewhere between 40-50% of our tax bills go to the school district. So it’s a significant portion. I think that people have every right to weigh in on how they want that money used or not used.” 

Multiple residents agreed with commissioners and raised concerns about the town’s history being destroyed and how this would affect students and teachers. Commissioner Donner said there are already issues with bus transportation and he does not see how MESD plans to fix that situation. A resident, Katherine Matranga, spoke on her friend’s behalf about these concerns. 

“I was advised that my child is on the bus two and a half hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon, my child has to be up at 4:30 a.m. just to attend school,” Matranga said. “That’s over 12 hours for a six-year-old. You combine the schools and that will be much worse. The MESD is attempting to live like a large city and we’re not a large city.”

The commission invited the school board, district and superintendent to attend the meeting but received no response. The only school board member in attendance was Lyndsi Donner, wife of Commissioner Sterling Donner. Commissioner Donner was asked if he planned to recuse himself from the discussion since his wife is a member of the school board. He said he would not because the commission was simply presenting information for the town’s awareness. 

Sherry Abraham, a former town commissioner, said she was on the commission when the 25-year lease agreement for the buildings was made and she hopes the town and school district can solve this issue. 

“It has not been 25 years, yet MESD is talking about tearing it down,” Abraham said. “I’m very hopeful that we can stop bickering over Moriarty versus Edgewood, but we can come together as a school district to do what’s good for our kids to educate them, to empower them, to make them proud to be from this community.” 

The commission asked residents to attend MESD School Board meetings to voice their concerns about the FMP, but at the school board meeting on March 19, the town and school district again failed to find a solution for the former Edgewood Elementary School buildings.