Dora school board has four new members

DORA — The Dora Consolidated Schools Board of Education has four new members after its predecessors resigned over a month ago.

The resignations came several months after a report released by the state auditor showed more than $100,000 in funds potentially mismanaged by the district.

The New Mexico Public Education Department was then charged with filling the vacant positions.

DCS Interim Superintendent Brandon Hays said that after a period with only one board member, Jana Roberts — from Sept. 22 to Oct. 13 — NMPED appointed Patrick Kircher and Andrea King.

NMPED then asked the board — now with a quorum present — to appoint the other two members.

Brandon Dewbre and Ty Tipton became members on Oct. 27.

“I’m excited to have a full board,” Hays said.

Hiring a new superintendent will be an item for the new board to address, though the district is not in “a normal hiring time,” according to Hays.

“That will be some of the action this new board will start to take, is to set the timelines and decide on how they are going to accept applicants and so forth,” he said.

Former Superintendent Steve Barron was paid $184,000 by the district on Sept. 1 as part of a buyout for his employment contract, court documents show.

Ninth Judicial District Attorney Andrea Reeb said she has met with the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office regarding a possible criminal investigation into the alleged mismanagement of funds, and was told it is still reviewing the situation.

“They are looking to see what resources they have available to assist us in the matter,” she said.