Portales school board members puzzle over 'allocation error'

PORTALES — The Board of Education for Portales Municipal Schools is scratching its head over an “allocation error” to the tune of $200,000 for its special education program.

The issue was discussed at Monday’s PMS board meeting, when Special Student Services Director Cheryl Aguilar said she was contacted last week by the New Mexico Public Education Department stating they made a mistake in their allocation of approximately $900,000 in federal funds for special education in the Portales school district.

“I want to know what the mistake is, because it’s in line with what we’ve gotten every year, and then all of a sudden they’re saying we were given $200,000 more,” Superintendent Johnnie Cain told The News. “I just need to know why. The special education population is higher, so it shouldn’t be less.”

Cain said he was in contact with NMPED officials and trying to get to the bottom of things. PMS has about $100,000 of those allocated funds still available and could return at least that much by the end of the fiscal year (this month), but the remaining balance may have to come out of next year’s allocation.

Fortunately, Cain said, the accounting error won’t negatively impact the schools, but he wants to understand how it happened.

“As far as services, it won’t affect us, we’ll make it work just the same way we always have,” Cain said.

NMPED representatives did not immediately return a message Tuesday from The News.