Deming School Superintendent Dr. Dan Lere said the district wants to build the school at the intersection of Pear Street and Hermanas Grade on city-owned land instead of Florida Street and Highway 418 – property purchased by the district for the school site.
The two entities have proposed swapping the land, pending approval from each governing board and the State Board of Finance.
The reason for the change is the intersection of Florida and Highway 418.
New Mexico Department of Transportation officials reportedly told the district that Florida Street intersects Highway 418 at less than a 70 degree angle, and intersections with such a small angle are unsafe for bus traffic, as well as the overall increase in traffic from parents and staff.
The Deming city councilors are meeting in special session Monday at 9 a.m. with only one agenda item: a vote on transferring just over 80 acres of city-owned land in exchange for nearly 93 acres of school-owned land.
Then the Deming school board will meet in special session Monday at noon to vote on the same land trade.
Even if approved by both the city council and the school board, the swap will still have to be approved by the State Board of Finance.