Next bond issue proceeds detailed for board

Cost of a baker’s dozen projects for Rio Rancho Public Schools?

How about almost $127 million.

That’s the total estimated cost of 13 needs – “an unlucky number,” noted Superintendent Sue Cleveland — for RRPS, with an expected $80 million coming in the bond issue coming up before voters Nov. 7.

The RRPS Board of Education heard those figures during its April 24 meeting, when it also learned that in spite of the facilities that need improvements and renovations, several schools are close to overcrowding – even though the district has a “flat” enrollment. The district holding steady at about 17,100 students.

The finance committee will review the priorities and needs at a May 8 meeting; the board’s next meeting is set for later that day.

A committee had been meeting to go over the needs with interim Facilities Executive Director Patrick Martinez and Chief Operating Officer Mike Baker, who outlined the needs and costs April 24.

Baker assured the board that there will be plenty of publicity about the $80 million bond issue, topping the usual $60 million bond requests, and the increase can be justified because of the portion of increased property valuation of the city’s residents – leading to an increase in property taxes – the district receives.

“If we don’t do these now, we’re going to pay a whole lot more later,” cautioned Cleveland.

“The main thing is communication, informing the public,” Baker said. “We’re not guaranteed Public School Facility Authority funding,” and that amounts to an estimated $29.686 million.

The finance committee met earlier that day to review new information pertaining to the 2023-24 budget.

The board voted to delay a decision until its next meeting. Here’s a summary of the list of priorities, outlined by Baker:

1. Shining Stars Preschool addition: Six additional classrooms in a new 7,800-square-foot building, $1.95 million, with an anticipated 61% match from the PSFA.
2. New Independence High School: The alternative high school has 200 students and a waiting list; a new 50,000-square-foot building will have a capacity of 350 students. $26 million.
3. Variety of security projects: Most are envisioned at RRHS, where a new building would house security and some classrooms, eliminating the portables on the east side of campus and make for a more secure inner perimeter. Cost details expected in June.
4. New Cyber Academy: A portion of the cost will come from the sale of the property where Joe Harris Elementary was originally planned, the rest from bonds, although a delayed project. $13 million.
5. New Desert Pathways: This entails a separate building adjacent to the Student Support Building at the southwest corner of Quantum and NM 528. Desert Pathways students are now in portable classrooms south of Eagle Ridge Middle School. $4.7 million.
6. New roofs: Aging and deteriorating roofs at RRHS, Lincoln Middle School, Colinas del Norte Elementary and Maggie Cordova Elementary need replacing. $8.32 million is the cost to RRPS, with $7.68 from PSFA.
7. Drainage mitigation: This is needed to prevent structural damage at RRHS, Eagle Ridge Middle School, and Enchanted Hills, Stapleton and Sandia Vista elementary schools. $1.82 million is the cost to RRPS, with $1.68 from PSFA.
8. Lincoln Middle School renovations: Converting the old gym into classroom space, “probably the most-favored PSFA project,” Baker noted. With the additional classrooms, portables would be eliminated. $1.4 million is the cost to RRPS, with $1.29 from PSFA.
9. Miscellaneous PSFA projects; Included here are electrical work at Enchanted Hills Elementary and Eagle Ridge Middle School, plumbing at Lincoln Middle School and HVAC at RRHS. $15.7 million estimated to be the cost for RRPS, with about $10 million from PSFA.
10. Information Technology infrastructure:The project includes network upgrades, some phone and intercom upgrades. $550,000 is the estimated cost to RRPS.
11. Special services relocation: This plan takes the Special Services Department across the street from district offices to where Independence High School is now, once a new IHS is built, in what Baker termed “a one-stop shop.” $14 million is the cost to RRPS, with nothing expected from PSFA.
12. Miscellaneous projects at CHS and RRHS: Making a lot for ADA parking at Cleveland High School. A paved parking lot for ADA folks will be located somewhere between the CHS softball and baseball fields; replacing the infield turf for both schools’ softball and baseball fields; and re-spraying the tracks at CHS and RRHS. $1.3 million.
13. Fine Arts improvements: This entails moving the band room at RRHS and making that area available for dance and theater students in the Performing Arts Center and constructing a new band room nearby. There would also be a security component added for that northwest area of the school campus. $3 million to RRPS, with nothing from PSFA.

Baker outlined what he had as final anticipated costs: $80 million from bond funds; $29.686 million “hopefully” from PSFA; $13 million from a lease/purchase deal; $3.175 from state Capital Outlay monies; and $850,000 from the state Department of Transportation for CTE, totaling $126,7121,000.

“We try to use our bond money as efficiently and effectively as possible,” Baker said, anticipating Rio Rancho voters will continue to support RRPS bond elections.

Instructional materials cost more than a mill

The board approved two other large purchases: Fine arts and social studies instruction materials for secondary schools, to the tune of almost $308,000 for fine arts and $1.75 million for social students and advanced placement materials.

“It’s a huge financial investment,” Cleveland noted.

“I thought that it was going to be about half that,” Executive Director of Fine Arts Kurt Schmidt said, noting that much of the materials are online. “It seems to be double what I budgeted.”

Extensive input went into the recommendation by committees, which included more than 1,100 students for the social studies adoption.

“We are preparing our students for the future. We are preparing them to lead our community and our society in the future,” said Erica Lozano, instructional coordinator for the humanities within the secondary curriculum department, after detailing the materials to be used and how effective they will be for teachers and students.

In other matters, the board:

• Applauded the district’s second graders, who read a combined total of about 6,340 hours in March during a “Reading for Miles Challenge” issued by Intel, which donated 45 bicycles for winning students among the schools, an enticement for spending time with books.
• Thanked USAF veteran Ronald Neldon for his donation of 10 EnChroma colorblind correction glasses for 10 middle school and high school students.
• Heard an update on how the first year of after-school programs overseen by Boys & Girls Clubs since their former location on Sundt Road has been sold; the board members heard that after-school participants had better academic success.
• Approved a contract through June 30, 2024, with Southwest Food Excellence for food services management — breakfasts and lunches.
• OK’d minor changes in policies 604 (Acceptance of Grant Awards), 605 (Revenues from Investments) and 1001 (Student Interzone Transfers) after mandatory second readings.