001Good evening. The Rare Rancho Public Schools Board of Education meeting for Monday, November 3rd, 2025 is now called to order. If all would please rise for the pledge of allegiance. >> Pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Second. [laughter] So we'd like to invite K Dr. Kurt Schmid is going to introduce our guest here with us today. And so we'll just invite him up to the podium. Good evening. Um, we should stand. >> There we go. Good evening. Uh, tonight joining us from Eagle Ridge Middle School is the Eagle Ridge Middle School Treble Choir under the direction of Miss Stephanie Wilkerson. And they will be singing the national anthem for us.
002And then immediately after they'll be singing uh the Shashony Love Song, a traditional Native American lyric arranged by Ro Roger Emerson. Oh, say can you see by the dawn [singing] early so proud we held at the twilight [singing] lasting by stripes and bright stars through the perilous [singing] [singing] we were so red through the >> [singing] >> night that our flag was still there. Oh, [singing] say that star spangle yet way for the land [singing] of the free and the [singing] brave. >> [applause] >> The white star of twilight and the sky clearer at star [singing] of twilight and the sky clearer But he is [music] [singing] my heart. There is the white star of twilight and the moon growing to skylight [singing] and the [music] rolling to [singing] [music] fairer [singing] with [singing] loving
003[music] my heart is my heart. >> [music] [applause] >> Thank you. That was absolutely beautiful. I'll say before you're all out. Thank you so much. We have such talented students in our in our district. That was just such a treat and so grateful that they were able to come in. And once again, they were from Eagle Ridge Middle School. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you for coming in. Um, JC, can you take a roll call for us, please? >> President Gal, >> present. >> Vice President Morgan, >> present. >> Secretary Tyler. >> Board member Trip, >> present. >> Board member Miller, >> present. >> We have a quorum. >> Okay. Thank you so much. We'd like to excuse Jessica Tyler tonight. She had some previous engagements that made it so she was unable to
004be here um with us though she was able to attend an executive session with us earlier today. We'd like to welcome everyone out once again that was so such a special treat to have um Eagle Ridge come in and just sound so beautiful. As a person who cannot sing, I really appreciate the voices of others. So that was just absolutely beautiful. And I know tonight we have Lincoln Middle School who's here and we're really excited um to have you guys come up in just a bit to start off our meeting for today and we'll um pass the time over to Dr. Cleveland um for some introductory comments and thank you very much and thank you all for being here this evening. That was a beautiful way to start. That was so beautiful brought tears to
005your eyes. we appreciate the fine arts programs. And I think one of the things uh that we've said on on many occasions is that our middle school um students perform as well or better than many high school students in our state and region. And that's due to the hard work of of um Dr. Schmidt and of the really fine instructors that we have in this district. We're really grateful that doesn't happen by accident. And uh so that was just uh you know just a beautiful way to start the meeting. Okay. Uh again uh I mentioned the the the director was um uh Stephanie Wilkersonson and uh uh both of those were were just absolutely uh beautifully done. So we thank them for coming and uh and we really do enjoy when our students come and
006perform so people can see the really quality work that's going on in our our schools and in our programs. We have this evening uh a donation uh Michelle Havl our executive director of student services will present to the board uh a donation from the Schuman Foundation. They'd be asking for your approval to accept this generous uh donation. Uh Isa Tana Burgers came in, a former um RRPS employee and uh who is currently working with Presbyterian uh healthcare foundation is the president of the Schuman Foundation board at this time. Also see David Hy here and we know very well he also serves on that board and so welcome both of you uh here this evening. the foundation in its um in the the uh brochures that it has uh produced says that it focuses on college
007CTE and trade school assistance for those wanting a better life in Sandaval County. Uh Mr. Schumer has a very interesting background. Um he had uh done many really exciting things in his life and I won't go through all of that. uh and maybe some of you may want to comment on it, but he retired from New York to um to Rio Rancho and wanted to make the community uh that he came to a better place for for people to live and to and to be successful. And so we're always very appreciative of the dation. We were always very appreciative of uh of the commitment uh to the Rio Rancho community and in this case to the school district. We have some other commendations. this evening. Uh the first one will be presented uh well all
008of the first three will be presented by Dr. Kurt Schmidt, our executive executive director of fine arts. Uh this evening we have the pleasure of recognizing Miss Ava Cisneros. Miss Cisneros is a student attending Rio Rancho Middle School. We've got a lot of our middle school folks here tonight. Um she was the New Mexico State Fair art show winner for grades 7 through 8. Uh the art teacher who supports this student at Rio Rancho Middle School is uh Natalie Hard Castle and we want to congratulate to do uh some congratulations to Ava when we get to the commendations part of our agenda. Uh this is the artwork that took first place. We also have another fine arts commendation. Uh Dr. Schmidt will uh share the good news regarding the Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico
009Teacher of Distinction Award and has been presented to Mr. Miguel Halamo who is the choir director at Lincoln Middle School. Um this is one of the top recognitions of instructional excellence for New Mexico teachers. the golden apple has always made his main mission to find teaching excellence and um and so we're really um just very excited for uh Mr. Harmo to to get this this uh uh recognition and uh we do congratulate him and Dr. that will be be providing some additional information. And then our last commendation for fine arts this evening is um for um another of our our fine arts staff members, the New Mexico art education association has awarded the 2026 elementary art educator of the year to Miss Jocelyn Salas from Hustel Elementary. And congratulations to her. What a wonderful honor
010uh for for her as well. And then we have an athletic commendation. Uh Todd Rash, our executive director of athletics, will be presenting the NMAA Middle School straight state cross country championship team uh to the board this evening. Uh this team is coached by uh coach Keith Gerard. Uh we want to congratulate the Lincoln Middle School cross country team for their uh state championship and especially recognition to uh head coach Gerard and see also Daniel Cunningham was here as well this evening. So in a minute we'll be turning it over to uh Todd Rash. But congratulations to our Lincoln Leopards. So we've had Eagle Ridge and we've had Lincoln and we've had Real Rancho Middle. Uh so this is a nice evening to recognize the excellence that we have in our our middle schools. Uh
011we'll be sharing that later. Uh but I did also want you to know that our middle schools all became spotlight schools this year uh for assessment in the state assessment system. Uh we also have a request for class-size waivers and this is a really important the board has asked to consider the approval of class size waiver requests. class sizes that exceed the the state maximum um can can now um if you're above that number, it can now impact our accreditation status. So, it's becoming increasingly important. Uh we try really hard uh to keep our class sizes under those uh maximums and occasionally we have situations where they're not balanced during the day. Uh but generally the teacher has a a workload if you take all of it together that's within uh the allocated numbers. But
012uh Renee Saledo our um our school improvement officer and uh I don't know if China's here she's not. She'll be talking to this this waiver. One thing I would want the board to know really important um that the state is getting much tougher on approving the waiverss and so we're hoping that we have a good enough case generally what the state requires if you're over they want a plan on how you're going to to remedy it fairly soon and uh I would also want the board to know that we have made significant gains over the last three to four years in getting those numbers under those state maximums. So made a lot of progress but we still have a few this year uh that were over um the the the state maximum. So we will
013develop a plan and uh as I said we have made great strides. There's a time we had lots and lots of classes that were over and um we we've really made that a priority over the last five years. Uh Renee Saledo, uh our secondary school improvement officer, will also present a grant for the board for your consideration and hopefully approval. This project provides much neededed funding for public school libraries. The grant total for the Rio Rancho Public School District this year is $274,974. And I can tell you our library media centers very much need this funding. Uh this funding comes from a state bond question. And so you've probably seen it on your ballots that for it's a statewide um um question and uh then they take the money that's supported and they divide it
014among the 89 school districts. And so this uh is a significant amount of money and it will really help um our our librarians and media specialists. We also have this evening an award for an RFP uh for architect services for Rio Rancho High School. Michael Madrid, our director of purchasing and our chief procurement officer will present this request for the board to review and approve. The project is a major update for Rio Rancho High School campus. Uh there were eight proposals submitted uh which is good number and the district appreciates all of the companies who did submit a qualified proposal. Uh I was at the game on Friday night at Rio Rancho High School and it was really cold um as the evening went on but the building uh next year will be 30 years
015old. We started Rio Rancho High in 1997 and so I had a couple folks say we need to hang on another year. they're going to make that 30. But I said that's probably not going to happen. But it is 30 years old and when a building gets to 30 years, there's lots of things that need to be done. And uh if any of you were here then you may remember the building was built in record time with built by Intel Corporation. All the walls in that school went up in one day. It was really an amazing thing to see. But we now need to put some significant money into that school. uh updating windows, all kinds of of different things. So, so we we're anticipating the overall cost of the update for Rio Rancher High
016will be close to $50 million. It's a a a lot of work that needs to be done, but it will look wonderful when it is done and we are also out of that money. Um we certainly are u um are u able to include some state dollars. So all of that is not uh district or uh local money. Much of it is coming from PSFA uh at the state level. The committee was charged with reviewing the qualifications, the technical approach, experience and the overall value that each company brought to the project. And that's um you have any comments, questions or concerns? questions from the board here. >> 15 >> 50 [clears throat] and again I want to really emphasize that's assuming we get everything we're supposed to get from the state but right now it's
017looking really good and uh I have to tell you kind of the funny thing about it. It's uh the the consultant uh that was working with us and she's not with the public ed department uh right now. Um but the consultant who was working with us was a graduate of Rio Ranchel High School. So we were really hoping that motivated her uh to help us get the resources and it really doesn't generally work that way but I know for an absolute fact she looked at everything and she crossed every every tea, dotted every eye and uh was a tremendous help. It's wonderful when we see our graduates in those positions of uh responsibility at at the state level and uh and so this this will be a major project. It will take some um certainly
018a considerable amount of work in being able to balance students and and improvement but we've done it before and we know we can we can do it. So, uh, the toe was anticipated about 50 million to Rio Rancho High, which is interesting because the whole building cost 35 million when it was built 30 years ago. So, it just goes to show the concept. Everything has gone up. Um, but it is something that the district really needs to do. >> I was feeling really old when you said 30 years and then I looked over at my former principal over there [laughter] from high school. So, >> and you felt much younger. >> It is crazy how time flies, though. It's amazing. Amazing. So, thank you. Uh, thank you. Thank you, Dr. Cleveland, for that. We'll now
019go to approve the prioritized agenda and proposed time allocations. >> Board member Jeff Morgan. I'll make a motion to approve the prioritized agenda and proposed time allocations. >> I second the motion. >> Got a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Okay. Thank you. So, now we'll move into our commendations. Um we'll start with our first one for the Schuman Foundation um donation. Michelle Havl, our executive director of student services will present and I'm sure she'll have some others come up and with her. >> Good evening. Are we on? Can you hear me? >> Tyler's quickly pulling it up. I think it use a teacher voice if I need to. There we go. Um good evening, President Gwell, Dr. Cleveland, and members of the board. Um I am
020very fortunate this evening to be joined by um both our president Toner Bergos of the Schuman Foundation as well as um Dave Hy, our treasurer for the Schuman Foundation to present an award of $10,000 to support level all for our post-secary planning from 8th grade through graduation as well as some professional development opportunities for our counselors to support those college and career readiness goals. Um I'm also um that I'm fortunate I'm now serving on the Schuman Foundation. I was given that opportunity recently um and just to learn the opportunities and the support that they do provide to folks who are wanting to pursue education in a number of ways here in Santaal County. So it's been very eye openening on the opportunities that are there. So um both the support that they're giving us here
021this evening as well as the opportunities they present um are quite wonderful. So, I would like to welcome also um Mariah Affranger, our director of counseling who works directly with our counselors at the secondary level to support again those college and career readiness goals as well as TA and Dave if you guys would like to come up >> and we'll let you share as you'd like. >> So, hello. It's good to see you. >> Good to see you. >> Um so, hi. How are you doing? [laughter] >> So, I was looking at this check and we always like find this check and lose this check often. It's like who has the check? >> So, um and I think it is now it's a little torn and so but it still works because I think we've
022given you $80,000 so far when you total everything that we have um for when it used to be Naviance and then now. And so I just think that's pretty powerful. And then also just knowing in the community that we've given away a million dollars in scholarships and we continue to do so and we will continue to do that. Um and Dave and I started on the board 13 years ago together. So um and we're still here. Right. >> Right. [laughter] >> So if you want to share some too. >> Well just it's uh always a pleasure to come and uh contribute and support this particular program. It kind of fits with everything else that we're doing. You know, we provide scholarships for residents of Santaal County. They're not all just graduates from River Rancher Public
023Schools. There are some other schools, but there's also people who are more mature that have come to us for assistance to make transitions from, you know, one career to another or to embellish the career that they're working on. So, again, it's always a pleasure to be here to do this. >> Thank you. >> Thanks for coming. >> That being said, >> we need a picture. We need a photo because we are giving you $10,000 again. We are gonna come down. [applause] >> Okay. You all want to face that way and we'll get a photo. >> We can do that. Do you want to go down on the floor? Should we just stay up here and grab it? >> Whatever you want to do. Think we can. >> Oh, okay. >> Can you guys come this
024way? All right. [laughter] >> [laughter] >> everyone. >> One, two, three. One, two, three. >> Thank you. >> THANKS FOR [applause] the real check. [laughter] >> I'll take it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. I believe he'll be here to let me keep it for five minutes. [laughter] >> He's already got it. We already hand four minutes [laughter] down. And in just a moment during our business portion, we'll formally accept that um that check in just a moment. But once again, thank you for coming out. I love when I hear about the New Yorkers coming out. you know, you were saying that he's from New York and that's because my family on my mom's side that they were the New Yorkers who came out to to New Mexico and and kind of I
025think they thought it there was a little bit more going on here at the time than there was. But I'm grateful for for all those who who came out during that time to to get real ranches started. So, thanks again. Dr. Cleveland, did you want to sing? No, but just thank you all because as you well know, the money goes for a really good purpose and we really appreciate the funding uh this year but for many years and uh and we're grateful that we live in a community that uh is supportive of our schools and so uh thank you very much. >> Yeah, thank you. What's wonderful is to see the faces that we see in the community, you know, and that you do so much for our schools and so thank you so much
026for for doing that and for being here. So we appreciate it. And Tana, I mean, you almost seem at home here. I don't know if you [laughter] for a while for a while. So, thank you again. Okay, we'll go to our next commendation. This is for the New Mexico State Fair Art Show. Um, and we have Dr. Kurt Schmidt who will be presenting. [clears throat] Uh, President Gworth, members of the board, Dr. Cleveland, first of all, I need to I think it was my fault, a clerical error. Uh, Mrs. Naros is not from Rio Middle School, but rather Mountain View Middle School. So, I'm not sure where where I So, we've almost got all the all the middle schools. Um, so tonight I'm very excited and proud to present to you for commendation three individuals
027who have been awarded honors in the field of fine arts. And first of all, uh, we have Miss Ava Cisneros, an eighth grade student at art student at Mountain View Middle School. and she's won the 2025 New Mexico State Fair art show for grades seven through nine divi division seven through nine. I would also like to acknowledge Miss Natalie Hartcastle, Mrs. Naros's teacher, who writes of her, "Ava is an exceptionally talented young artist. Her technical facility You shouldn't stand behind me. You should come up here." Oh, there you go. [laughter] Uh, her technical facility is impeccable and she is a very creative, strong, critical thinker. Ava excels in every medium she picks up. She is kind, bright, funny, and an absolute joy to have in the studio. I can't wait to see where her skill
028and creativity take her. So, I believe these monitors are off, but I think her artwork is being displayed. It's just a just a wonderful piece in the in the state for art show. We're very proud of her and her accomplishments. So, uh would you want to say a few things? >> Sure. >> Okay. Yeah, [clears throat] >> I just wanted to say thank you for taking time to acknowledge my piece and my art teacher. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks for being here. Can I ask you a question, Eva? Is that okay? What are you are you thinking about carrying on with your art? I know you're in middle school now and so you have a lot of years ahead of you, but are you thinking possibly beyond um even high school carrying
029on with art or what are you thinking right now? Yeah, I'm thinking about um doing it more perhaps as a actual job, but also just as something that I enjoy. >> Yeah, thank you. Thanks for coming in. Thank you. Did you want to say anything? >> Yeah, you're good. [laughter] >> Okay. >> Thank you. Dr. Clinton, did you just beautiful and I can see why you took first place. I mean, it's really impressive piece of art. So congratulations to you and thank you for representing your school and our district and community in such a positive way and wish you uh hope you do con consider going further with your your talent because obviously you're a very talented artist and we thank the teacher who supports you and instruction classroom and thank you for coming um
030and being part of [clears throat] this as well. >> Yeah, thank you. Thanks for representing our schools. We appreciate it. THANK YOU. [applause] AND NEXT IS I'LL JUST I'll while he's looking gold. Our Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico um is going to be our next. Go ahead. And Dr. Kurt Schmidt once again right behind him. [laughter] >> Uh President Gborth, members of the board, Dr. Cleveland. Um Mr. Miguel Hario, choir director at and guitar teacher at Lincoln Middle School, has been named a 2025 teacher of distinction by the Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico. Um, Mr. Hario is also a 2009 graduate of Rio Rancho High School, holds a bachelor of music education and a bachelor of guitar performance from the University of New Mexico. His training extends beyond the classroom, encompassing connecting with
031students, gamifying the music classroom, and being part of the rear ranch music community. Mr. Harmier is actively involved in the New Mexico music educators association and has served as treasurer for central NMEA District 6. In 2019, Mr. Hario [laughter] was named the NMEA New and Emerging Music Teacher Educator of the Year. As a passionate advocate for music education, Mr. Hario is steadfast in his commitment to fostering the growth and development of aspiring musicians. His holistic approach to teaching, bolstered by his performance background and dedication to ongoing learning, equips him to inspire and guide students along their musical journeys. So, would you like to take a few things? >> Um, even though I'm a musician, I still like to write out my speeches. Not the greatest improviser. Um, so, uh, thank you, Dr. Schmidt, Dr. Cleveland,
032and the board. Um, I'd like to acknowledge the anonymous person who nominated me. I don't know who they are, so whoever you are out there, thank you so much. I'd also like to thank my administration at Lincoln Middle School, my wonderful co-workers who have supported me along the way, and of course, my students. Um, and I also want to recognize my family who come to all my choir concerts even though I'm not performing anymore. >> [laughter] >> Um, I'm so grateful that my hard work has not gone unnoticed. The hours of prepping fun lessons for students, rehearsing for choir concerts, planning field trips, and teaching my students that they can't use Google Translate to learn the language of music. And I'm glad that's all finally paid off. I sincerely appreciate the support uh real public
033schools has given me through funding that helps me access many resources for students and professional development opportunities. Um the arts and rear ranch show are so strong because of your support. I uh I look forward to continuing my service as a music director and hope to inspire students and do the same. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. [applause] Um, I just thank you so much for coming in. You know, the music our music programs uh my kids all went through music programs through their middle school and through and through elementary school and they didn't always stick with them, but I have found that that training that they had has really stuck with them as they've gotten into their adulthood. Uh my son now who's a senior, he went back to he took guitar in
034elementary school actually and recently is doing guitar again and he still that training is still with him and is so helpful. And I just think it's so important for all of our students to understand that language of music and it just it truly can just help you throughout things, you know, and I think back to to my time in middle school learning how to read music just as much as I as I know. And that's still with me as I open up a book. they can still look and oh I remember my eighth grade choir teacher teaching me what this was. So so thank you so much for the work that you do with our students. It is it's very um wonderful and we're grateful for all your service. And Dr. Well, I just a
035couple of things have said earlier. They um the golden apple is a really rigorous process and and to make it um to uh the teacher of distinction and and the any of the Apple recognitions, it it shows a very high level of of of performance and of work. And so there's nothing better than seeing our students come back and then take on these uh you know instructional positions in our district. It's just one of the most gratifying things that we see. So, we're glad you came back. Uh congratulations on this wonderful recognition and uh very we're very proud for you uh with this uh with this award. I also want to say that the site the school administration is here tonight and if you all would stand as well and be recognized. Uh thank you
036for being here AND our administrative teams do support uh our fine arts and we're very appreciative and very grateful for that as well. But again, congratulations. It's just great to be recognized for doing something um at that level. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. [applause] Our next will be the New Mexico Art Education Association um art educator of the year. And once again, Dr. Kirch, >> President Galbreth, members of the board, Dr. Cleveland. Um I'll wait for Miss Solace to get up here. >> Should that be almost started without her? >> Is that 25? >> Oh, it should be is it 20? It should be 2025 or is it >> for this next year before? So it's >> okay. >> So it is a 2026 thing. >> She was recognized at at the uh conference lunchon
037uh last month or earlier this last month and uh it's it's the honors for the following calendar year. So [clears throat] not that's not a typo. [laughter] >> That one is good. >> That one's not a typo. >> So Miss Jos Sales, art teacher at Preced Soul Elementary, is the 2026 recipient of the New Mexico Art Education Association Elementary Art Teacher of the Year. Uh, Miss Sales was born and raised in Cuba, New Mexico. She received a bachelor of fine art and art history and a master of arts in art education from the University of New Mexico. She taught in Cuba independent schools for six years. While attending graduate school at UNM, she worked with teens and small children at Unlatario, um, an organization in Albuquerque that provides domestic violence services to Spanish-sp speakaking women
038and children. She has been in the art 21 educator program since 2010. First as part of the second cohort of teachers to go through the program, then serving as a mentor and presenting and participating in art 21 summer institutes. Her artwork is included in the NAEA's culturally sensitive art education in a global world. She has displayed art at the UNM's John Summers Gallery and the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque. She attended Archtopia's international art residency in Puebla, Mexico twice in 2014 and 2019 and was invited into its current alumni honors online residency program which cul culminated in a residency in Wajaka, Mexico in 2023. So congratulations. [applause] Um I want to thank um Dr. Kurt Schmidt for his support. Um fine arts receives um so much support from him as well as u my
039administrators um Dana Petro and Sarah Ranch Baron at PUA. Um, I've been teaching at PUA del Sol for um, this is my 13th year and I am just so grateful for the students there who have taught me so much about teaching, about being a compassionate person and have even inspired my own artwork. Um, I think I have the best um, job in the world working with these students and I'm just very grateful for that. So, thank you. >> Thank you. My microphone is off, but thank you so much. Is this a quilt that you're standing with here? I don't know if you can see it from from your monitors. Is that a quilt? That is absolutely beautiful as I was looking at and realizing that. And so, thank you so much for bringing your talents
040into our district. I love Cuba. It's beautiful there. But I'm really grateful that you've come to to Rio Rancho and to be part of our community and to work with our even our youngest students with with art. So, thank you so much. And Dr. I'd just add the quilt is amazing. I l I looked at it several times and I thought this is it's different than anything I've ever seen and I love quilts. But congratulations and uh it's um um for for the good work and to be recognized as the top teacher for art in the entire state of New Mexico is an incredible honor and so uh we are we are thrilled for you uh and also very appreciative for the work you do in the Rio Rancho public school district. Well, thank you
041for being here tonight. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Oh, I was going to say she she had an art exhibition at the N the Hispanic Cultural Center. >> Um >> or was it Harwood or >> Harwood Art Center? >> At the Harwood Art Center, but it just closed, she told me. So, you can't go see it. I was going to invite you, but [laughter] >> that's wonderful. That's wonderful. Thank you. Thank you for congratulations. >> [applause] >> Okay, our next I can see our middle school young men being ready and antsy. So, this is our NMAA middle school state cross country championship to Lincoln Middle School. So, TODD [applause] Todd Rush, our executive director of athletics will present All right. Well, good evening, Board President Godworth, Superintendent Cleveland, members of the board. It is an
042honor to recognize a truly historic achievement in our school district's athletic history. The Lincoln Middle School boys cross country team has accomplished what no middle school in the Rio Rancho public schools has ever done. They brought home a state championship title at the NMAA Middle School State Championships. Lincoln didn't just win, they dominated. In a field of 336 runners and over 60 schools, every one of Lincoln's seven runners finished in the top 34, leading the team to a victory among the 43 full squads. Even more impressive, the boys won every meet this season, including the highly competitive Rio Rancho Jamberee. Their success reflects the leadership of head coach Keith Gerard and assistant coach Rogan Hoyer. Coach Gerard, with nearly 25 years in cross country, from NCAA and World Championships to years of coaching, called this
043one of his proudest moments. Together, he and coach Hoyer built a program grounded in teamwork, discipline, and passion. Tonight, we celebrate more than a championship. We celebrate a milestone that sets a new standard for excellence in Rio Rancho Public Schools athletics. Please join me in congratulating Coach Gerard, Coach Hoyer, and the Lincoln Middle School boys cross country team, the 2025 Nma Middle School State Champions. YAY. [applause] THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, as a coach, I'm just extremely proud of this group of uh, young students here. Um I've been involved in the sport for many many years as Todd just said and um I spotted a long time ago the ability they had and as a coach I just always want to see um the students who run cross country first of all enjoying cross country
044but second of all to meet their ability as well and these guys did just that. Um so I'm just so proud and so happy. It's really special. >> Thank you so much. >> Yeah. Go ahead. Thank you. Well, what an incredible uh honor and how exciting for all of you and and uh how great it looks for uh Rio Rancho uh for the the years to come as we've built some really strong um programs in cross country and track and field. And so again, congratulations. Thank you uh Coach R for your hard work. And uh but to all of our our runners, what an amazing accomplishment. So, uh, again, we're we're so glad that you were able to come and and let us recognize you this evening. And, uh, there may be others that want
045to say a few things, but we definitely want a photo, uh, and we'd like you all to come up, um, as well. So, um, again, congratulations. This is this is exciting. So exciting. And before you guys come up for a photo, okay, boys, we have to have a quick conversation. So, how many of you guys are Rio Rancho? Are you going to be rear rancho runners? I'm looking. How many are eighth grade this year? How many are eighth grade this year? All right. My kids all run for Rio. So, I'm looking at you guys to to kind of bring it this next year. Okay. We need you. Really, really, really need you. And so, I'm really excited to have you guys. Um, now Coach Gerard, I just have to say he coached um, at least
046Skyler and I think Elena when she just for a little bit when she was running, but um, he's such a great coach and my kids still remember you and the time that you were with them and and I still remember you being out there and being such a support. So, it's really an honor for us to have you um in our school district and how much you care for for our runners and for, you know, it when we talk about running, it's it's the whole, right? It's the whole it's it's we wanted all of the things we have to work on when it comes to to our sports programs. And so, and you really are good at at checking the whole of our athletes. So, >> you looks like you want to say something. So,
047I'm pausing. Pausing. I do have to say I do have to could actually say a lot. Baba, >> you can you know I have to say I think it was the second year of the program. So about a couple years ago because it's been what three years now that we've had the middle school cross country. Is that about right? But their girls team all of them were doing their warm-ups and they were all using your same accent as they did their warm-ups. And it was probably the funniest thing. >> That sounds right. >> Yeah, that's [laughter] I loved it. I loved it. Anything else that you want to say? And then we'll do a picture, but truly you're welcome to to add some more. No, just um like I say, these guys did amazing and
048I think they're just a product of um like a really strong program of cross country at Lincoln Middle School. Now, we first started four years ago with the middle school cross country program. I think we had about 24 kids that first year. Uh nearly nearly 60 kids came out this year. Um, so the kids at Lincoln just love to run and uh, like I say, these were these were the products of of that strong program and [clears throat] um, yeah, it's it's amazing what they've done. So proud. >> Thanks for coming out. And I have to say so I don't get in trouble from Cleveland really fast, but Cleveland's been dominating this this last season. They've been doing really good, too. But we really, you know, Leo is where it's at. So [laughter] >> let's
049take a picture. Y'all coming up and getting a picture, too. >> Yeah, >> I'm that small that I still on my tippy toes. >> All right. One, two, three. Got you. [laughter] >> All right. I'm sorry. One, two, three. Thank you. [applause] >> Well, it was so nice to have everyone in. We really just have such great programs done to our athletics, to our arts, to our music, to all of those things. We're just, >> we have a wonderful district. And so, as I kind of clear out, I'll talk public comment. We do not have any public comment tonight. We didn't have any on the online form either, right? I just want to make sure I didn't miss something. So, thank you. Um, but if anyone would like to give public comment, just a reminder,
050you're welcome to come in person to the boardroom to give public comment or through our online forum. You can also give public comment there. Those ones I just summarized here in the boardroom. Um we'll move to um approve our consent agenda. >> Board member Jeff Morgan. I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Second the motion. >> Motion in a second. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Motion carries. All right. We will now move to the business portion of our meeting for the evening. We'll start with the consider the approval of the class size waiverss. Um down I believe it was just Renee who's here tonight. Renee Saledo our secondary school improvement officer will present. President Galbreth, Dr. Cleveland and members of the board. Um tonight I'm here to
051request your approval for class load waiver um to be sent to um PD. We basically so out of the um whole district we get a report from peed that tells us which classes are overloaded in the elementary at the elementary level. We have Joe Harris and um their kindergarten had more than all of their um kindergarten classes had more than 20 students but we're going to add another kindergarten teacher and another EA to make that correct. So, that's how we're correcting um that issue for for Joe Harris and that's already in the works and we'll put that on the waiver. But because at that snapshot they were over, we still have to request the waiver >> at the middle school for middle school English classes. So, these are the required courses. a teacher, the maximum
052they can have in a full day of students is 135 students. And then we ask for no more than 27 students in a class. for the waiver at um Lincoln Middle School and Mountain View Middle School. They both had a couple of teachers that are still under the 135, so their full day is fine, but they have one or two classes that may be one or two kids over the 27. So, we're asking for a waiver for the few classes that are over, but their total day is okay. So, I don't know how peed is going to react to that. If they say, "We're not going to grant you the waiver," then we'll have to move some kids around. >> And that's never easy or pleasant to do. >> No. >> I mean, families don't
053like it. Uh kids don't like it. They're almost halfway through the year and have to be moved to a new class. So, we hope they don't do that. >> Yeah. >> Um, at the high school level, Cleveland High School and Rio Rancho High School each have two teachers. Um, the Cleveland High School teachers are at high school. You can have 150 students with 30 students per class. So, 150 in a day and they don't want more than 30 in a class. at Cleveland High School, they are well well below the 150. So like one of them who is the um instructional leader only has or not only but has 69 students >> but a [laughter] a couple of her classes are over the 30. So it's the same situation as the middle school at Rio
054Rancho. One of the students is well below the total day limit, but she has a class that one class that's over 30. The there is a teacher who teaches 9th grade English and her full day is at 160. So, she's 10 students over, but none of her classes are over the 30 maximum. So all of these teachers fit into the the formula one way or another, but yet there's on the other side there's a way that they're out. So the ninth grade teacher I talked to uh Mr. Baka today and she's the only one who teaches um preap English 9. So, she has all of the students in those classes and those classes are the ones that are a little bit larger. So, if for some reason they don't approve this waiver, what we would
055have to do is fold one of her regular classes and make it into a preap class and then shuffle the other kids around to other like it's just secondary schedules can be so complicated. So, um, we're asking for a waiver and then I talked to me on and we're going to try to work on that in the future to make sure that it doesn't happen. >> Okay. Okay. >> I feel I feel really good about um really all of these. She's the only one that I if there was some way we could work on it, we probably should because her full day is over. >> And grading English, >> I was say the grading on that be hard. >> Yeah. Okay. So, I have filled out the waiver with that information. Um, on the waiver,
056it asks if your school board requires approval, and it does. And if yes, has approval been obtained? And so, that's why I'm here. >> Let me see if any does anyone have any questions? Go ahead, Gary. >> I just have one begging question begging not to, but to the community. if there's possibly a retire a retired English teacher out there that could teach one class. We got lucky with French one time that somebody said, "Oh, I'll go do that first period, you know." So maybe So that's a kind of a begging comment for people that might be listening or somebody knows somebody out there so we could resolve it. So but thank you. >> That's a good ask any other questions from the board. And Dr. Cleveland, do you have some comments? just a comment
057about and and you know we talked earlier about the 135 middle school um the the thought has always been that English is very intensive for grading and it's just a lot of grading has to be done and so that's why they've always looked very carefully at English and trying to keep those under but just to give you something to look at for standard there was a time um five years ago every class in all of the Rio Rancho school district was 10% over so we have come a long way and we have just a really few exceptions. So, uh we we'll find a way to make those make those work and hope that uh they in my way of thinking they're they're minimal in terms of the size of our school district. I hope they'll
058approve it. >> Yeah. In the past, we would have to ask for a waiver if it was over that 10%. >> And the the person I'm talking about is at 8% over. So, >> not good, but okay. >> Okay. We can go for a motion if we're ready. board member Jeff Morgan. I make a motion for the consider to consider the approval of class size waiverss. >> Okay. Trip second. >> Motion a second. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Motion carries. Okay. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. [sighs] I appreciate that. Okay. Our next is to consider the approval of the $10,000 donation from the Schuman Foundation. Um, so Michelle Havl is coming back up for probably questions, I guess, that Yeah. Did you want to give any more words
059about it? >> Um, I didn't have anything else to add, just that I know they've been generous each year for about the last decade giving us that $10,000. Um, it's not just supporting that level all like we said, it does support professional development for our counselors as well. Um, especially now as we've gained some state support for level all financially. um it does help offset that, but it is nice to have this this fund for us to dip into some other opportunities to support those folks that are helping students as they prepare to graduate. >> Yeah, thank you for that. >> Stand for questions. >> Any other questions from the board? >> Okay, we can go. >> Member Jeff Morgan. I make a motion for to consider the approval of the $10,000 donation from Schuman
060Foundation. >> Second motion. Okay, we have a motion and we have a second. All in favor? >> I >> Any opposed? Okay, motion carries. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> All right, our next is to consider the approval of the New Mexico Capital Outlay Grant um agreement. Um and this is Renee Saledo, our secondary school improvement officer will present. >> Madame President Galbreth, Dr. Cleveland members of the board, I'm here to present fund 27107, general obligations bond from the state. They are offering us 20274,974 and um the way this money is to be spent is very specific. Um, we can buy library books, library furniture, shelves, computers, scanners, subscriptions, and software. So, basically anything for the library. And they have a list of things that are you can buy and things you can't. You can't
061get things like tape, glue, paper, more supply kind of things. So, um, what Carol McDow, who has is kind of running all of this money and does a wonderful job on it, um, takes the $274,000, divides it by the number of students we have in the district, and I believe she told me it's $17ish per student, and then if you have, depending on the number of students you have at your school, she multiplies that number by 17 and gives the library that amount of money from this and then [clears throat] they have three years to be able to spend the money. >> Okay. >> So, I ask that we can uh take $275,000. [laughter] >> Any questions from the board before we go to approve or Dr. Cleveland, do you >> Why would we not
062take >> I know, [laughter] but I I it's I just want to put a plug in. uh you know tomorrow is a bond uh election for uh for the district but this comes up on on the state bond list and uh and that money does make its way to our school. So I hope when there is a statewide library bond uh continue uh a community will continue to support it because it's it is a significant amount of money for our district and we are very grateful to have it. [clears throat] Yeah, I think in some ways maybe we should be better at at I I don't I mean I know as a district we have to be careful how we do bonds, but when I see the library ones come up, I think of like
063some random building just out somewhere that they're, you know, so I didn't realize that um that those do affect our school. So that's really good to know. So [snorts] um we can go for a motion. >> Support member Jeff Morgan. I make a motion to consider the approval of the New Mexico capital outlay grant agreement capital uh appropriation project fund number 27107 >> motion and a second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Okay. Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> All right. Our last business item for the evening is from the lovely Michael Madrid, our director of purchasing and to procurement officer to consider the award of RFP number 2026-001- FAC architect services for Rancho High School. >> Well, I'm even more lovely this afternoon because I just chipped my tooth. >> Oh, no. [laughter] Board
064President Galbreth, uh, Superintendent Dr. Cleveland, and members of the board, uh, I thought Dr. Cleveland did a really good job of introducing this when she had her comments. Uh this is an effort uh with public school finance authority to help leverage additional funding opportunities to help pay for the construction services uh that are going to be required. Uh the subject for this afternoon is award of RFP 2026-001 FAC architect services for the Rio Rancho High School. Uh the requested action is approval of the evaluation committee's recommendation to issue award to the highest ranked offer uh MLAN U plus excuse me plus U architect in design. A little bit of background on the scope of work for the project. Uh it is to assist with campus upgrades replacing existing builtup roofs with a TPO roof in
065all main campus areas except the gym and the fine arts building. HVAC. We're going to be replacing existing boiler systems with rooftop package units, upgrading existing control systems. On the electrical uh campus will receive a LED upgrade to also address electrical deficiencies. Uh special systems would be upgrading the existing fire alarm system. On the drainage side, we're going to improve the high priority areas and security perimeters would include replacing some of the existing fencing with CMU walls. Uh construction of a vestibule for the pavilion to house the evolve system. And we're also going to be constructing a fine arts edition which would include a band room addition and repurposing of the old band room to a scene production. As Dr. Cleveland mentioned earlier, we have a total of eight responses. solicitation. All the firms are
066very qualified. I'd like to give a little bit of background of the firm that is being recommended to you this afternoon. Uh the firm has uh under consideration brings extensive experience in delivering a high quality service to uh K12 school districts in New Mexico. They have successfully partnered with Rio Rancher public schools on past projects demonstrating a clear understanding of our district's operational needs. Additionally, they have a strong track record of working with other public sectors clients including municipal and state governments. I just want to highlight a some of the projects that they've worked in the past with three rancher public schools. Uh they worked on the Kenus Del Nordi Elementary School, HVAC and classroom renovations. Uh VU Cleveland High School. They did classroom uh building additions and security upgrades. Rear Rancho Middle School. uh
067the gymnasium, HVAC renovations. Um Independence High School, uh it was new construction there, Ernest Stapleton and Maggie Cordova um kitchen and HVAC replacements. And they also did some work on concealed weapons and detection systems at the U Rancho Middle School facility. Um, as part of any solicitation that we put out, we do a background assessment of the proposals to make sure that they were compliance uh with the required documents. All eight firms met the requirements and they submitted the affidavit as listed. Uh, they were evaluated based on the evaluation criteria. We conducted a short list of the firms and we interviewed the top two firms. Uh, we asked additional questions from those firms. We added those scores to the initial scoring and that's how we came up with the overall recommendation to the board this
068afternoon. So with that, I'll stand with any questions. >> Okay. Thank you. Dr. Cleveland, do you want to add anything? >> Oh, I'm good. >> Okay. Do we have any questions from >> I'll have one. Where these guys are local, right? >> They are. >> Okay. All right. Thanks. >> Actually, uh, Dr. Yu is a um instructor at the University of Mexico for architectural services. >> Okay. Cool. Um, I do have one question and probably this might be a Patrick kind of question, but what does our timeline just look I'm just kind of curious just the overall as we're as we're awarding this and then what the timeline kind of is looking like as we go ahead. >> Uh, thank you, President Greth, uh, Dr. Cleveland, members of the board. Um, that's a really good
069question. So, one of the first things that we'll be determining is uh once we get into design and really looking at the depth of the each part of the scope because as you as as as Michael Madre went through it, you can see how u there's a lot of different areas that we're going to be working on. And so, the goal is to one really identify what those uh what the what that's going to look like on the campus and then determine a phasing plan for it. As you can imagine, um you know, Rear Rancho High School, you know, they're pretty full, so there's not a lot of swing space. And so we're going to be looking at how we can do that while maintaining operations and minimal disruption. Uh some of the items are
070going to be outside of what would affect the students. So we naturally be able to hit those areas first. Um but that'll be determined a little bit better once we get the design team underway and and really look at what's needed. >> Okay, sounds good. Thank you. I appreciate that. This is something that we've been looking at for so many years. So it's just really good to hear that we're moving ahead and thank you. um Mr. Madrid for put being so thorough on on the firms that we looked at. So, we'll go ahead and go for a motion on this. >> Dr. Clinton, she good. >> I think she's good. I asked good. I covered most of it in my >> Yeah, that's true. That's true. >> Remarks member Jeff Morgan. I make a motion
071to approve the award of RFP number 2026- 0001- FAC architect services for Rio Rancho High School to MLAN and U architecture and design and thank God that was only one. Thank you by the way. Appreciate Jessica's not here to go through the list. When I saw one I was like yes thank you. [laughter] board seek the motion. >> All right. Um all in favor I >> any opposed? Okay carries. >> I just want on a personal note just thank the board. This will be my last >> this is it. >> You know I was going to ask >> discussion. So I'll be leaving effective Monday and I just want to thank especially Dr. Cleveland for all her support that she's provided. This is uh it's kind of touching and you guys have all been great.
072So thank you. >> Thank you. Well, and Michael, I just want to say before you walk away, um, just how grateful we are for you over the years. You know, as each of us have come on the board, I think it's hard to understand a lot of how these things all work, especially procurement, right? We've had a lot of a lot of discussions on that. [gasps] Um, over the years, we don't have here with us, you know, as we talked about those things, but you've really done such a good job at educating the board and answering questions when we've had them. And so I just I want to thank you. And I knew it was coming up. Dr. Clooney told me and I think I even gave out a no at the time, but you
073have been just really great. So thank you for for all your hard work. So >> appreciate it. Thank you. >> We we truly hate to see you go and wish you well. Uh but I would want the board to know, you know, when someone leaves um you know that some people leave things far better than than when when they came. And in terms of our purchasing and procurement, uh things are a whole lot better as a result of uh uh of Michael Madrid's work. And so we will miss him terribly. He is going to uh work in the New Mexico Finance Authority. So we will still have some opportunities to to see him and and uh occasionally to work with him. But I just wanted to echo how much we're we're going to miss you
074and uh u but wish you well in this new position. >> Well, you are strong leaders and we all appreciate your assistance. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Like you stick around, right? >> You'll stick around to this. I just want to embrace you. That's all. I want to say my last goodbye to you. [laughter] Thank you. >> Don't leave. >> Yeah. Stick around. >> All right. As far as advanced planning goes, tomorrow once again is election day. would really really really encourage. Um I know there's not a ton that's on the ballots and so I worry about a good voter turnout, but there is a very very important item on that um with our bonds and so we really encourage everyone to go out, let their voice be heard
075um and please please go out and vote. Um so there will be no school tomorrow. There's also no school for Veterans Day next week. Our next regular board meeting um will be on the 17th and then we're into Thanksgiving. Um, a couple of things that are coming up is we do have a NMSBA conference that's coming up beginning of December. Am I remembering the 4th through the 6th? So, please let JC know if you're going to go. Have you had the registration that came out to you, right? So, if you want if you're going to attend that, please let JC know. I will need to attend that because I still need another another thing. So, um, any we need one more to be legal. [laughter] So any questions or anything like that from the from
076the board or any last comments? Okay. Okay. With that we are joured. Thank you everyone. >> Thank you. Thank you. Hey, don't