RRPS board votes: Puesta to remain open

RIO RANCHO — The Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education met Jan. 13 to vote on several issues, including a sizable donation from a well-known community business leader, new policy language and the fate of Puesta del Sol Elementary School.

While there was a lot of business to discuss, the top issue of the meeting was the vote on the future of Puesta del Sol.

The fate of the elementary school has been in question for over a year since it was brought up as a potential landing spot for RRPS’s new pre-K education push. The idea was that Puesta would be shut down and reopened as a full time pre-K facility. The issue has been hotly debated in the community and at RRPS board meetings ever since.

At the meeting, board members voted on a plan to convert one wing of the elementary school into a pre-K center while at the same time continuing the search for an alternative site.

The measure passed 4-1 with board President Amanda Galbraith being the lone dissenting vote. Her concern was that the current option may not be sufficient for the community’s needs.

“We haven’t really fixed anything with tonight’s decision,” she said. “It’s a step in the right direction ... but I think we need to keep working on having a better option. Because closing Puesta [del Sol] entirely didn’t sit right with a lot of us.”

Galbraith closed the matter (for the time being) with a statement of gratitude, wrapped in her usual good humor.

“Thank you to everyone for all of the hard work on this,” she said. “And Puesta, I love you all, but I’m excited to (maybe) not hear from you so much.”

The board also took nine public comments, including three from online submissions.

Several comments focused on the removal of SAFE signage and other LGBTQ+ advocacy symbols from Rio Rancho schools. Speakers included Chris Moffit, an educator working with Small Steps, an early childhood development program for kids with special needs.

“This decision does have the potential to negatively impact the mental health and emotional well-being of these students,” he said as he read an official statement from Small Steps.

Next, the board voted on accepting a $3,000 donation from Don Chalmers Ford, which was being offered to RioTECH, a local CTE participant. The motion passed 5-0, and RioTECH director Dr. Kristopher Johnson was on hand to receive the money.

Lastly, the board considered four separate smaller measures pertaining to various policies. All four were voted on together and the measure passed 5-0.

Those measures were:

• Second reading of Board Policy 711- Drug Free Workplace Employee: The board voted to shorten the policy introduction and remove the requirement that RRPS employees submit to a drug screen following a workplace accident. A test may still be required, but the employee will be responsible for obtaining the screen on their own.

• Second reading of Board Policy 722- Termination or Discharge of Employees: There weren’t any real changes in this policy. This was a vote on correcting several typos in the policy language.

• Second reading of Board Policy 737- Medical Leave: The board voted to approve the addition of “examples of similar medical conditions” to the end of the policy to help with clarity.

• Second reading of Board Policy 738- Non-Medical Leave: The board voted to include a provision allowing for five days to provide proof in the case of domestic violence leave.

The next regular board meeting will take place Jan. 26.