At the Hatch Valley Board of Education meeting on Oct. 14, officials discussed how to keep students safe as the Village of Hatch police department faces ongoing staffing shortages. Superintendent Fred Montalvo explained that the district has traditionally shared the cost of a school resource officer with the village, but recent hiring challenges have forced the board to consider alternatives.

Potential partnership with the sheriff’s office

Board President Chris Montez asked whether the district should wait until after the November sheriff’s election before pursuing a new arrangement with the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, currently led by Sheriff Kim Stewart. Montez noted that the outgoing sheriff was not particularly supportive, but emphasized that student safety remains the “bottom line.”

Candidate for combined security and coaching role

Montalvo reported that a candidate with prior school‑based law‑enforcement experience expressed interest in serving as both a school resource officer and a coach. The board is reviewing whether the individual could work under the village police department while handling coaching duties as a secondary responsibility.

Exploring a district‑employed armed security guard

Because the village cannot guarantee a full‑time officer, the district is also looking at hiring an armed security employee directly. Montalvo said this would require a review of district policies, personnel qualifications, and financing. While such a guard would be armed, he clarified that the position would not carry the same status as a certified police officer.

“Now they’re not an officer, but it’s armed security,” Montalvo said. “That’s a whole different situation because then you got to change policy.”

Training and cost considerations

Board members asked the administration to investigate the training requirements for armed security personnel and compare them with those for certified police officers. Financing remains an open question. Under the traditional arrangement, the district split the officer’s salary with the village. Hiring a district‑employed guard could mean the district assumes a larger share of the cost.

No immediate decision

The board did not approve any new security position, contract, or funding during the meeting. Trustees directed the administration to gather more information on staffing options, training standards, and budget impacts before taking further action.

The discussion also touched on the upcoming sheriff’s election, with some trustees wondering if a change in leadership might open the door to a different security partnership. No agreement with the sheriff’s office was announced at the meeting.

Hatch Valley Public Schools will continue to evaluate its options and report back to the board with recommendations later this year.

Original reporting: Organ Mountain News (Las Cruces / Doña Ana County) — read the source article.