Burr responds to land deal report

DEL NORTE — Upper Rio Grande School District Superintendent, Chris Burr was not ready to comment when contacted by the Valley Courier Thursday on the ongoing land exchange. He wanted to wait until the Board of Education has a chance to respond.

Burr strongly disagrees with Tom Haefelis’ assessment of the situation that was reported yesterday. Additionally, he has firmly defended the record of the district’s Chief Financial Officer, Angela Velasquez.

From his perspective, all proceedings have been open. He further noted that Rio Grande County Commissioner John Noffsker and Mike Hurst were present at the most recent meeting on the matter. “They said nothing,” he said. Furthermore, Burr maintains that all transactions have been conducted in a complete and legal manner.

Burr called the Courier late Thursday afternoon but did not want to make a statement for the record.