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Tucumcari Today
By the People, for the People
Tucumcari's Mountain View Elementary School demolished
The long-closed school held decades of memories for former students and teachers.
Mar. 11, 2026 at 12:00am
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After being closed for decades, the Mountain View Elementary School in Tucumcari, New Mexico is being demolished. The school, which opened in 1963, was condemned by the district's insurer in 2023. Crews from Grancor Environmental have been working since mid-January to remove asbestos and begin the demolition process, which is expected to be completed by April.
Why it matters
The closure and demolition of Mountain View Elementary marks the end of an era for many in the Tucumcari community. The school held fond memories for former students and teachers, who recall close-knit faculty, fun traditions, and encountering wildlife like snakes in the classrooms. Its closure reflects the changing landscape of public education in the region.
The details
Mountain View Elementary was home to the district's Early Head Start program in its final years, but the building was deemed unfit for use and condemned in 2023. Demolition crews began the process in mid-January, first removing asbestos before starting the full demolition on February 12th. The school is expected to be completely leveled by April.
- Mountain View Elementary opened in 1963.
- The school closed decades before its demolition began.
- The district's insurer condemned the building in 2023.
- Asbestos removal started in mid-January 2026.
- Full demolition began on February 12, 2026 and is expected to be completed by April 2026.
The players
Veronica Hernandez
Maintenance director of Tucumcari Public Schools.
Sheri Morper
A former teacher at Mountain View Elementary who started teaching there in 1962 before having a degree.
Ruth Ann Litchfield
A former teacher at Mountain View Elementary who started her career there in the late 1970s and remained until the school closed in 1998.
R.H. Hale
The principal of Mountain View Elementary when Litchfield taught there.
Norrie Maciel
A former teacher at Mountain View Elementary who taught there for 28 years.
What they’re saying
“I drove by there the other day, and it was sad to see it going down.”
— Sheri Morper, Former teacher
“We were a really close faculty. We used to get together at Christmas, and we had a gag gift that got passed around. It was an iron fly that I think was an ashtray. Whoever got that gift was guaranteed to come back to school, and they had to bring the fly back. I'm not sure who ended up with it.”
— Ruth Ann Litchfield, Former teacher
“Teaching fourth grade, I opened up my cabinet to get one of my bulletin board things out, and there was a big bull snake all coiled up. It was kind of scary. We all went outside while the janitors took care of it.”
— Ruth Ann Litchfield, Former teacher
What’s next
The district has not announced any specific plans for the vacant lot once the demolition is complete.
The takeaway
The closure and demolition of Mountain View Elementary marks the end of an era for the Tucumcari community, as the school held decades of memories and traditions for former students and teachers. While the building's condition necessitated its removal, its legacy will live on through the recollections of those who passed through its halls.
