Mora, N.M. - Mora Independent School District has begun the next phase of its long-term facilities planning following a September 23 project kickoff meeting with representatives of the New Mexico Public School Facilities Authority (PSFA) in Albuquerque.
Superintendent Dr. Fidel Trujillo and Chief Financial Officer Miguel Martinez met with PSFA representatives to begin work under the District's FY26 Standards-Based Capital Outlay award from the Public School Capital Outlay Council (PSCOC).
Mora was awarded $495,000 for planning and assessment, consisting of a $282,150 state share and $212,850 local share. The purpose of the award is to determine the most appropriate long-term approach for the Mora school campus, including evaluation of alternatives and cost-reduction strategies.
During the kickoff meeting, District representatives shared their current preference to retain and renovate the high school facilities, including classrooms and the atrium, wood/welding shop and high school gymnasium. The District’s facility master plan calls for replacement (demolition and construction) of the elementary school building, elementary gymnasium, cafeteria and middle school building. The Phase 1 process will provide additional information before the final project scope is established.
The assessment will examine a broad range of issues, including property boundaries and topography, utilities, geotechnical conditions, flood and wildfire hazards, environmental risks, building systems, financial readiness, educational specifications and construction phasing considerations.
The process will culminate in a Phase 1 report identifying major risks and potential cost and schedule implications and making recommendations regarding project scope, site, retained buildings, budget assumptions and readiness for the next phase.
Collaboration between the District and PSFA was a major focus of the kickoff meeting. The two organizations discussed project-management responsibilities, regular coordination meetings and opportunities to learn from other New Mexico school districts that have completed high-quality and compliant capital projects.
PSFA also expressed interest in community stakeholder input, including feedback from the District's recent survey and discussions regarding the future of the Mora High School Gymnasium.
The District expects to meet with PSFA approximately every two weeks during Phase 1, beginning on Tuesday, October 20 at 3:30 p.m. These meetings will take place virtually, with in-person meetings and site visits scheduled as needed.
Because of the particular characteristics of the Mora site and the need to evaluate factors such as topography, wildfire, flooding and environmental conditions, PSFA staff indicated that the District could potentially return to the PSCOC for consideration of the next phase (Design) in April or May 2027, with May described as the more realistic preliminary target. The timeline remains subject to completion of Phase 1 work and the PSCOC schedule.
The District will continue to provide updates to the Board of Education and community as significant milestones are reached.