School board OKs capital outlay projects, 2024 legislative priorities

RIO RANCHO – Entertained by nine Lincoln Middle School musicians and their teacher, Frank Slife, the Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education met for about 90 minutes before saying goodbye to outgoing member Noreen Scott.

It was the final meeting of Scott’s four-year term; she opted not to run for re-election and incoming board member Beth Miller will take Scott’s seat at the board’s next meeting, slated for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 8. Scott was invited to return for Miller’s swearing-in and to receive a token of the board’s appreciation for her time there.

Scott didn’t have much to say at the meeting, but again seemed disappointed when she heard the CTE building probably won’t be ready for students and classes until January 2025, but was told by Patrick Martinez, executive director of facilities, “We won’t know a final schedule until we have our guaranteed maximum price,” and that “demolition” — basically, renovation — on the one-time call center building has begun.

“They’re swinging hammers,” Martinez added.

Martinez later detailed the proposed capital outlay projects:

• FACILITIES: Vista Grande Elementary “site circulation” ($3.5 million); Cielo Azul Elementary parking lot ($1 million); Cleveland High’s staff and visitor parking lot ($2 million); district-wide lighting controls ($600,000).
• INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Eagle Ridge Middle School intercom ($250,000); Colinas del Norte Elementary intercom ($250,000); Lincoln Middle School cafeteria sound system ($35,000); Rio Rancho Middle School cafeteria sound system ($40,000); district-wide external access points ($250,000); district-wide server upgrades/refresh ($225,000).
• SAFETY & SECURITY: District-wide perimeter fencing and access control ($650,000); security camera video-recording storage ($125,000).
• FOOD & NUTRITION: Eagle Ridge Middle School kitchen floor ($140,000).
• ATHLETICS: Rio Rancho Middle School bleacher replacements ($370,000); Cleveland High gym floor replacement ($300,000).

The board also approved the list of priorities for the 2024 state legislative session:

• Investing in CTE;
• Competitive benefits packages for educational employees;
• Funding actual transportation;
• Support for school safety;
• School behavioral health services;
• Teacher licensure advancement; and
• Additional funding for special education positions.

The list of resolutions had been submitted to the New Mexico School Board Association this fall, said Beth Pendergrass, RRPS chief of communications.

She had a few administrative recommendations for consideration, she said, which included an increase in professional development time for secondary educators and a re-evaluation of out-of-school time, especially for students who need remediation and extra support.

The board unanimously approved the legislative priorities as presented.

In other matters, the board:

• Congratulated Lincoln Middle School art teacher Pamela Elam for being named the New Mexico Art Education Association’s Art Teacher of the Year;
• Heard an update on the accountability system from Happy Miller, executive director of Research, Accountability and Data Assessment, which seems to be changing annually; Superintendent Sue Cleveland said the most important aspect is determining, “How does a parent know where (their students) really are?” in comparison to other students, states and the nation, and “Where are students and how much progress are they making?”; and
• Approved contracts for two vendors of facilities parts and supplies; five vendors for as-needed bus parts, maintenance and repairs; and with Clearly Clean Janitorial services of Rio Rancho for as-needed custodial services.