T’Naus Nieto
The Chronicle-News

On June 11, during Trinidad School District No. 1’s special board meeting, members announced that only a single person had applied for the job of the district’s superintendent, leaving her as their sole finalist.  

Current interim superintendent, Olivia Bachicha, was the sole applicant and finalist, according to the district.  

“We had one applicant,” board member Claudia Trujillo said. “She’s done an excellent job, given that’ she’s hit the ground running and hasn’t stopped.”   

According to the district, they couldn’t make an official announcement of who will fill the void left by former superintendent Bonnie Aaron just yet since they were required by law to have a 14-day review period. Afterward, though, the board could vote on Bachicha’s official appointment. 

Board members didn’t discuss how extensive their search was for potential applicants and simply hinted that they had their candidate preselected. They did, however, express on multiple occasions, from various members, that they had sought legal advice, conducted the process legitimately, and were content with their finalist decision.  

Despite a near consensus, one board member, Brett Duran, brought up some concerns.  

He said, “I just wonder what the backlash is going to look like. People are already chatting it up on Facebook and everything else. They’re already asking questions that we’ve already asked as well… So, I guess my next question is, are we just running with this one ‘in-house’ (candidate) — that’s it?”  

“That’s what we’ve approved previously,” Trujillo replied.  

“Are we going to open it up to… anyone that’s not in the district?” Duran asked.  

Members replied that they had conducted the procedures properly and weren’t concerned about “backlash,” with one even stating that it was part of the job.  

The next school board meeting is scheduled for June 25, with an expected announcement of Bachicha as the next candidate to take on the superintendent mantle for TDS1.