Fernanda Lopez

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Santa Fe Public School board members are once again putting off a decision on what to do with three aging elementary schools in Santa Fe. 

There was a lot of disagreement at a school board meeting Tuesday night where parents and students addressed the board. In the end, the board decided to do nothing.

The issue at hand for the board was what to do with three midtown schools: Chaparral, E.J. Martinez and Nava Elementary.

The problem is the schools need major and costly repairs and there are fewer and fewer students filling the seats.

Parents and students asked the board to leave their schools alone.

Board President Steven Carrillo wanted a vote on renovating Chaparral and holding off on a decision for the other two schools.

However, board member Kate Nobel said she wants to look at the issue some more and things may change when it comes to funding when a new governor takes over.

“President Carillo, I’m not comfortable with going ahead with the plans to build Chaparral given the changing conditions that we’re seeing and I think we’ll know a lot more in a year,” she said.

Board member Maureen Cashmon argued it’s unfair to keep families in limbo but said it seems the board does not have the political will to make a decision.

In the end, the board decided to postpone a decision on all three schools.

Parents of Turquoise Trail students also addressed the board asking them to keep their charter school where it is.

The district previously decided not to renew the lease for their building and now needs to find them a new home.

A possible idea is to move Turquoise Trail students to E.J. Martinez and relocate those students elsewhere.