Rio Rancho school board formally initiates superintendent search

RIO RANCHO — The Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved opening a national search for a new superintendent and directed the district to hire a consultant to assist with the process Sept. 22.

The decision came during the first school board meeting since Dr. Sue Cleveland announced Sept. 17 that she is retiring, holding the distinction as the district’s founding superintendent and the longest-serving in New Mexico’s history.

RRPS’s chief legal counsel, Loren Hatch, who presented during the meeting, told the board that it is “with some reservation that I am here tonight” to talk about the search for Cleveland’s successor.

“It’s appropriate, at this time, for the board to take a historic action to initiate a search to find her replacement,” Hatch said.

He added that the school district has “actually been laying some groundwork” to find a consultant.

Board President Amanda Galbraith responded that she wasn’t sure how much detail about the search process could be shared publicly. She, however, expressed the need for transparency.

“As we move forward, we, right now, don’t know exactly how that is going to look until we are able to have our firm in place,” Galbraith said.

She noted she had received emails from community members expressing interest in being part of the search process.

Galbraith opened up discussion about the search to other board members.

District 5 board member Jessica Tyler said she wants to make sure the search process is transparent and inclusive of the community.

“Making sure we afford some opportunities for some community involvement is instrumental,” Tyler said. “This will be, obviously, a big job for the board, and I think we’re confident we can do this.”

District 1 board member Gary Tripp expressed “gratitude” for the leadership of Cleveland, adding that the outgoing superintendent and board are going to ensure “total transparency” in the search process.

“There are a few people I’ve talked to that said, ‘Who would want that job? I don’t want that job,’” Tripp said. “But anyway, it will be a great (search) process.”

Galbraith said she has been “a little bit in denial” over Cleveland’s decision and the fact that a search is beginning. The sentiment, though, did not stop her from sharing the qualities she would like to see in the next superintendent.

“We would like to be able to keep someone in the district,” Galbraith said. “I don’t know if they will stay for 30 years — that would be wonderful — but someone we can have for a long time. We want to continue (Cleveland’s legacy).”

District 4 board member Beth Miller chose to speak about her relationship with Cleveland even before she was elected to the board and praise her contributions.

“We wish you the very best. You have set quite a legacy in this district,” Miller said.

Board Vice President Jeffrey Morgan was excused from Monday’s board meeting due to travel for a work commitment, Galbraith said.

Cleveland spoke during the meeting, stating her tenure — dating back to February 1994 — was “all a team effort.”

“I really want to emphasize that,” she said. “That’s all I’d like to say right now.”

Monday’s meeting included one public comment about the search process, coming from Patricia Camp, a former New Jersey public schools superintendent who recently retired in Rio Rancho. She noted that the primary role of school boards in setting policy and hiring a superintendent led to her questions for the Rio Rancho school board.

“Will there be a dedicated webpage? Is there going to be a timeline? Advanced notice of stakeholder meetings?” Camp said. “I also want to congratulate everybody on a fabulous school district. It’s part of the reason we moved here.”

Galbraith thanked Camp but noted the board cannot respond to public comments during the meeting.

Camp said after the meeting that she felt some of her questions were addressed during the board’s discussion.

“I understand it’s really early in the process, so they really can’t do much until they select a consulting firm. It’s critical” to select a quality firm, Camp said.