Taos school district to release findings from yearslong corruption investigation

TAOS — The findings of a two-year independent investigation into allegations of procurement misconduct, kickbacks and bribes in Taos Municipal Schools, Taos County’s largest school district, will soon be released to the public.

At a regular Oct. 22 meeting, the Taos Municipal Schools Board of Education voted to accept the results of what the district has described as an “independent special audit,” conducted by Albuquerque-based Jaramillo Accounting Group and coordinated by the New Mexico Office of the State Auditor.

“The special audit, initiated in 2023 for the period between January 1, 2017 through October 13, 2022, began after the Taos Municipal Schools Board of Education received and self-reported allegations of district procurement misconduct, potential kickbacks, and bribes,” reads a press release the board issued following the meeting.

Board President Mark Flores motioned for the vote after a marathon executive session, lasting from just before 8 p.m. Oct. 22 to nearly 1 a.m. the following morning.

Along with its approval of the audit results, the district board also voted for “legal counsel to explore and advise the board and superintendent regarding all available legal remedies to address findings in special audit report, including but not limited to debarment.”

The Journal has requested a copy of the report under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act.

Antonio Layton, Taos Schools superintendent, said he expected the report’s findings, which are hundreds of pages in length, to be released in the next “two to three weeks.” He said school officials and board members are not permitted to comment on the report until its final release. So far no one has gone on record regarding the specifics of the findings.

“We’re in the final process of doing the final release of what we can release following IPRA and (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and all that, and that will be out very soon,” Layton told the Journal after the meeting. “It’s been an interesting few weeks, to say the least.”

Two Taos Schools diesel mechanics fired in February 2022 filed separate Whistleblower Protection Act lawsuits that spring in 8th Judicial District Court. Both former employees claimed they had been retaliated against after reporting “double-dipping” in the district, including “facts supporting a good faith belief that public funds are being misused.”

Judge Emilio Chavez filed a summary judgement in the district’s favor in one of the cases and dismissed the other with prejudice.

In October 2022, New Mexico State Police spent days on site at the district’s headquarters in Taos, and the district placed several school employees on administrative leave. The school board also approved a contract to replace keys and locks at its offices around the same time.

The district employs more than 300 teachers and have over 2,000 students across two preschools, five elementary schools, three middle schools and three high schools.

Layton, who became superintendent in May 2024, and all five board members signed the Oct. 22 press release announcing the completion of the audit and approval to release its findings.

“Taos Municipal Schools Board of Education and the District proactively self-reported, initiated, and fully cooperated with the audit to reinforce our commitment to transparency and public trust,” the release reads. “The District will continue to strengthen its internal safeguards and uphold the highest standards in stewardship of public funds, remaining fully accountable to our students, families, and taxpayers.”