001Good evening. The Rare Rancho Public Schools Board of Education meeting for Monday, September 22nd, 2025 is now called to order. In just a moment, we'll rise for the pledge of allegiance. Immediately following that, we have the opportunity um to hear a Jaws combo performance and that will be introduced and performed. Um so, follow please rise for the pledge of allegiance and Gary Trip will lead us. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [Music] >> President Greth members of board Dr. Cleveland I want to do I want to introduce uh members of rear high school jazz band 1 under the direction of Mr. your seven husband and they'll have a little little diddy
002for you. [Music] around. [Music] La. [Music] Hello. [Music] Happy birthday. [Music] Happy birthday. [Music] Lou. [Music] Happy birthday. [Music] Dat [Music] [Laughter] [Music] I [Music] Yeah. as they're gathering their things. I just want to say thank you. That was so great. That was fun. That's our new band director at Rancho High School, Sambbit. So, thanks for coming. >> Everybody came walking in in a little different way tonight. >> I love it. So good. So great. I love to swing dance. I was listening and I was thinking I could swing dance to this. Well done. All right, we'll go ahead and ascertain a quorum. If you go ahead and take a roll call for us. President Galbreth, >> present. Vice President Morgan. >> Secretary Tyler, >> present. >> Board member Trip, >> present. >> Board member
003Miller, >> present. Okay, we have a quorum tonight. Um, we'd like to, um, Vice President Morgan is out traveling for work tonight and was not able to be in here, so we'd like to excuse him, but we'd like to welcome everyone tonight. We had a good um, that was a fun way to start a board meeting. Maybe we should start all of our board meetings with some good jazz music, and it'll be great. >> It certainly sets a different tone, doesn't it? >> It definitely does. All right. Um, we'll go ahead and start our meeting tonight with some introductory comments by our superintendent of schools, Dr. Visu Cleveland. >> Okay. Good evening and thank you for being here this evening. Uh prior to the meeting uh the Rio Rancho public schools audit committee met. Um
004the uh the audit for last year 2024 2025 is currently underway. Uh is being conducted by the Beasley Mitchell accounting firm who have uh their offices in Los Cusus and El Paso. Um, this audit is is conducted to ensure that our district is compliant with all of the state and federal financial requirements. Uh, they work for several months through this process and uh um they they put a lot of time and effort as does our financial staff and so it gives us a really good picture of how we're doing and hopefully it gives us some comment. Uh but I just want to thank both the audit firm and and our team here for all of the extra time and effort they put in to uh getting this audit done. We will hear someone asked me
005when when do we get that back and we generally get a report toward the end of October. Uh but it cannot be released to the public until it is seen by the state auditor, cleared by the state auditor and then returned to the school district. So we're a little ways out but they're getting pretty close to finishing uh their their field work. and uh uh the audit committee. Uh we appreciate everybody being there this evening. We have some commendations. Uh Mr. Daniel Holmes, Cleveland High School has been recognized as the New Mexico uh music educators association music educator of the year. And so tonight is going to be a fine arts night. You know, we've had some nights that are other kinds of things. Well, tonight is our fine arts uh night and we're going
006to celebrate that recognition for him. Uh Dr. Kurt Schmidt, our executive director for fine arts, will uh present this agenda item and share a little information with you about the recognition. So, we congratulate Mr. Holmes for receiving this very prestigious award. Uh the Rio Rancho public school district is really appreciative of the outstanding music education that students receive um in in their classes in this district. We truly have an outstanding staff uh of um of folks in fine arts and especially in uh certainly in the the area of music. We also have a recognition this evening for uh Miss Donna Schmidt uh who is uh at Rio Rancho Middle School and she has been inducted into the New Mexico Music Educators Association um Hall of Fame and so we congratulate her. This is a uh
007this this award goes to people who have made contributions over a considerable period of time and have just shown that quality of excellence for year after year after year. And so uh Dr. Kirk Schmidt will uh present this uh item as well. But congratulations um to Donna Schmidt uh for receiving this recognition. It honors her excellence uh as well as her years of service uh to advance music in not only in our district but in the state of New Mexico. And then um we also have uh the Rio Rancho public school district has been awarded the 2026 certificate of recognition and this is given for uh consistent for a consistent level of excellence in music education and uh student performance. And so congratulations to Dr. Kurt Schmidt as well as all of our outstanding music
008and fine arts staff just the opportunities that they create every day for our students K through 12 in this district. We have a report this evening uh Eric Carrian uh with RBC Capital Markets will report to the board of the outcomes for the 2025 bond sale that took place on September 9th, 2025. He will provide the transaction overview for the sale, the bid recap, and the 2025 new money financing summary. Uh Mr. Herrian has uh provided the board of education with an analysis of the overall economic environment that is shaping uh bond purchases for school districts, not only locally, but across the nation. This is a tough time to be doing school bonds. Uh we thank Mr. Heran and all of the RBC staff for their extensive work on this bond sale, especially given that
009we were working in a a very challenging environment that we uh find ourselves in today. We also have a memo of understanding between the district and the National Dance Institute. The um you you have seen this before. This is not the first time this has come to the board. It is a continuation of previous agreements with the National Dance Institute and I I can tell you that these uh agreements have been very beneficial to the district, to our students, to our staff and our schools. We are really appreciative of the opportunity that the partnership provides that enrich the school experience for all of our students. And Dr. Schmidt will share some additional information, but they do some amazing work with with with students in our district and um in our state, but this is a
010national um organization and as well known nationally as well as uh in our own state of New Mexico. Uh there will be an opening of a superintendent search and uh directing the district to retain a consulting firm. The board is officially announcing the beginning of a search and seeking to obtain the services of a consultant firm to assist them in that process. The process is expected to last several months and it should begin fairly soon. Comments uh will be provided by board president Amanda Galbath as well as Lauren Hatch, chief legal counsel and anticipated transition uh will be during the spring depending on a variety of different variables. And those are only agenda items. Are there any questions or any followup? >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Clue. I
011appreciate it. >> Okay. We'll go to approve the prioritized agenda and proposed time allocations. >> Madam President, this is board member Tyler. I'll make a motion to approve the prioritized agenda and proposed time allocation. >> Gary Trip second. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay, motion carries. All right, we will go into our commendations and we'll start with our first one, which is the New Mexico Music Educators Association, the 2026 Music Educator of the Year Award. Um, and Kurt Schmidt, our executive director of fine arts will present. Uh, President Greth, members of the board, Dr. Cleveland. Uh, tonight I am very excited and proud to present to you for accommodation two of our stellar music teachers who have received honors from the New Mexico
012Music Educators Association, which is the state affiliate of the National Association for Music Education. These honors were announced this summer and both teachers will be recognized in January at the annual NMEA Allstate Festival and in service. Uh, Mr. Daniel Holmes to my right uh director of bands at rear sorry director of bands at Cleveland High School uh has received the music educator of the year award as Dr. Cleveland said. Mr. Holmes is in his eighth year at CHS and his 16th year of teaching. He previously held positions in Albuquerque and El Paso. Mr. Holmes received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from New Mexico State and a Master of Music Education degree from Adam State University. Among the many awards his ensembles have earned is the Greg Randall award won in 2021,22 and 23 at
013the NMSU Tournament of Bands. And in 2023, Mr. Holmes and the CHS Wind Symphony were the NMEA Honor Band, excuse me. He currently serves as the jazz vice president uh for NMMEA. Every ensemble Mr. Homes leads, whether it is a concert band, marching band, jazz band, or even a pep band, perform stunningly well and with a sophistication that is all too rare among high school groups. Mr. Holm's teaching philosophy is to inspire students to realize their potential, achieve the highest musical education, highest music education and performance standards, promote music's vital role in students so socio emotional lives, and provide personal growth and leadership opportunities. He's an active freelance trumpet player in the Albuquerque metro area, loves coffee, South Padre Island, Marvel movies, and the Denver Broncos. Mr. Holmes and his wife Daniellea, a fellow Rear
014Rancho public schools music educator, have three beautiful kids and are proud to call Rear Rancho their home. So, Mr. Holmes, >> thank you. >> Well, thank you guys so much and thank you, Dr. Schmid, for setting this up. Um, I really don't like to think of this award as uh being about me. I look at this as a celebration of our musical community at Cleveland High School and with Rio Rancho public schools. Um, just very blessed and fortunate to teach here. Um, so I'd like to thank the students, staff, and parents of the Cleveland High School band, our wonderful theater program directors and students. Um, our ever so supportive administration at Cleveland led by Principal Scott Affranger. Um, I'd obviously like to thank Dr. Schmidt here again for setting this up and for all the
015supports of the fine arts and for your me mentorship as well. Um I'd like to thank you guys as a board for recognizing the importance of arts in our schools and and giving us everything that we need uh to make our students successful. Um and then a special thanks and uh congratulations to Dr. Cleveland on her upcoming retirement. We will miss you. >> Thank you. Dr. Cloon, do you want to add anything before he steps away? >> You all have things you want to say. >> Go ahead, Carrie. I just want to say congratulations. It is a great honor and thank you for what you do for our students. >> Thank you. Over here. Would you like to say anything, Beth? >> Just want to add my congratulations to you. It's wonderful what music education
016does for students and I just appreciate all you do. Thank you. >> Congratulations on the recognition and thank you for what you do for our students and our community. >> Yeah. And you It's so fun to watch. Um you guys just do such a great job. whenever I've had the opportunity to um to hear Cleveland, it's it's really it's fantastic. And you have been in a lot of different places. I know a couple years ago we had some great things over at Pope Joy where you were able to be there and just wonderful. So, thank you. I know you you know it is and it's the students and the musical community um and all of our programs, you know, moving up um into that into your broader Cleveland, but yet, you know, it is you
017too. It's the magic of you and what you bring to that program. So, thank you. Thank you for all that. And I had the opportunity to hang out with your wife for a couple of days when we traveled up to um Colorado and she was just fantastic. You guys just have I'm just so grateful we have both of you in our district. So, Dr. Coven, it's just wonderful to see excellence recognized and and you know, maybe we don't do it for that reason, but it's wonderful when people see the quality of work that you do, they step up and say you should be commended for it. So congratulations to you on being the the music educator of the year for the state of of New Mexico. >> Thank you. Thank you. Uh, Miss Donna Schmidt,
018band director at Rear Rancho Middle School and a tuba player, has been inducted into the NMEA Hall of Fame. She is in her fifth year at Rear Ranch Middle School and her 33rd of teaching, all of which has been at the middle school level. Mishm previously held positions in Arlington, Virginia, and Albuquerque. She received her bachelor of music education degree from James Madison University and a master of music degree from the University of New Mexico. Miss Schmidt frequently serves as a clinician and adjudicator throughout New Mexico and has even presented at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She was chosen as New Mexico's representative for the school band and orchestra magazine's 50 directors who make a difference in 2012. In 2016, Miss Schmidt was named the New Mexico Music Educators Association Music Educator of the
019Year. In 2018, she was selected as a recipient of the Golden Apple Award. Most recently, Miss Schmidt received the NMEA Raleigh Helpman Helpman Service Award. Miss Schmidt's bands play at a with a maturity beyond their years and with an excitement that is contagious. The very definition of student engagement is on display every day in her classroom. When she is not teaching music, Miss Schmidt enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time with her husband. That would be Mimi H, and our two children. So, Met and I think um Mr. Pierce would like to say a few words. >> I get to work with this person. So, I just No, I am just so honored that um that Donna came to work at our school. I can just tell you she's been a blessing since the moment she
020came and brought with her that excellence you talk about, Dr. Cleveland. and just to sit back and watch one of her concerts, whether it's out in front of the gym avoiding bees during COVID or it's at Pope Joy Hall where she just brought so much pride to our our school and our program and our kids or just the uh music in the park last year. I love going to her performances and her students performances and just looking at all the faces on the people's faces there just enjoying it and every and listening to them talk and um Dr. Schmidt uh mentioned playing beyond their years and that's always what I hear is I can't believe this is a middle school. We all know middle school, right? It's a bubble off square, right? She's able to
021harness it in a way and they come across so beautifully. So, I'm just so honored and and thankful that you came to our school and you are so deserving of this honor. Thank you, Donna. >> Thank you all very much. Um, I'm very grateful for this recognition. Um, music has been my passion as long as I can remember. And over the past 33 33 years, I've taught hot cross buns more times than I can count. And somehow it never gets old. Well, almost never. Um, it's been a blast. I love what I do. Um, I do want to take this opportunity just to thank everybody here. Um, truly this is a very special place. So, Dr. Cleveland, President Gworth, members of the school board, Dr. Schmidt, Andy Pierce, Guadalupe, Gyos, um, Eric Lozano, and the
022Rioancho Middle School uh, staff, um, my parents and students. It really is just an incredible place to be. Um, fine arts are very special in this district. Um, I've only spent 5 years here. Um, but I've gotten to witness it for a lot longer than that. So, I I really appreciate everything you do um to make this available to our students. Um, I'm honored and grateful and I can't wait to see what the next 33 years of Hot Cross Buns brings. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. Okay, I'm going to embarrass myself because I'm not a band kid, but I remember I think it was just last year, right? Was it the Wind Symphony? Is that what it's called? >> Phoenix. >> The Phoenix Bill. I was like, I can't remember the name,
023>> but I got to sit in there and I know that wasn't just you and there were others who were a part of that, but when you talked about that maturity, I just as I sat there, I couldn't believe it. And I know a lot of that it was a group effort in other directors, but I know a lot of that was your leadership and I was just I was so impressed like I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It sounded so beautiful and so thank you so much for for putting that work in for that. So I'm going to let that board have an opportunity and Dr. opportunity to talk to you. Go ahead, Gary. I was going to say about thank you for everything you do for our kids and everything and and
024so forth, but when when at the beginning of the meeting when I saw Hall of Fame, just something about your colleagues saying that you're so wonderful and great and you're deserving to be the best of the best. Congratulations. It's a heck of an honor to have colleagues just tell you you're at you're as great you're a great human being and you're a great musician. And again, thank you so much for being here. >> Beth, >> congratulations. Your passion certainly shows through and um thank you so much for what you do for the students. I know that they will remember what you teach them and work with them about for the rest of their lives and that's so important. Thank you. >> Yeah, just echoing what the board said, but congratulations on this tremendous honor and
025sounds like it's very very welld deserved and we are very grateful to have you here in Rio Rancho. >> Dr. Cleveland, >> I have to tell you, we worked long and hard to lure her here and uh because we really wanted uh uh to be part of this school district and we knew that if she came it she would be a tremendous asset to our district and that has been absolutely the case. and so delighted that you chose to to see the light and come here finally. And uh and certainly I've heard a lot of of a lot of bands over many many years and uh everything everyone else has said is absolutely true. They play beyond their years. Um and and that comes I think so is obviously just the is the instruction itself
026but the other is the discipline and and learning how to uh how how to manage some very um u complicated matters and and survive it and to help students have you know one of the things I've watched is the poise and the presence that they have and so they even act they even act beyond their their their years and uh middle schoolers And it can be challenging about that every once in a while. I I'm sure not not at Rio Rancho Middle, but but it it certainly is. And uh so the music background has been phenomenal, but I just want to mention the other things too that you bring to the program that really help our students become successful high school students and adults. And so again, congratulations. The Hall of Fame of course always
027uh notes a statewide impact and I know that you have made a statewide impact on music education in New Mexico. So congratulations to you. >> Thank you. [Music] Uh finally, I'd like to present uh the Rioanch public schools itself um which has been selected by the NMMEA to receive the certificate of recognition for its commitment to and support of high high quality music programs in the district. Uh and and at the risk of uh of uh uh contradicting the superintendent, uh this this award is for the district is for it's not it's not the music it's not the music program. is for the district especially the the board of education the superintendent so and so forth. So um so don't dock my pay um this is the fourth time Rear Ranch public schools has received
028this honor the other times being in 2012 2013 and 2021 other NME awards uh Rear Ranch public schools has received uh the award of distinction in 2014 2020 and 2023 and the Raleigh Helman service award earlier this year. This chronology is important as it demonstrates the history of dedication our district has made since its inception not only to music but to all the arts. A dedication personified in Dr. Cleveland and reflected in every board of education. It also is a confirmation of a self-evident fact. Our music teachers dare I say are the best. So, thank you very much. And I believe um uh Wend wants to get a picture of the Did you later? No. Okay. All right. Okay. >> So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you. And that's wonderful to hear
029that we have and I love how you said that chronolog that that is. And it is because we just have had an abundance of wonderful music educators throughout our district. So, thank you. Thank you for that. Dr. Clman, do you want to add anything? I >> I would just add a couple of things. The reason that we put Dr. switch picture on the slide is because um someone has to lead that effort and so he certainly has and you know I mentioned the word earlier consistency but you hear all of those recognitions and you know I I think sometimes um and I've said this before uh we need to avoid the risk of complacency about it because these come only with consistent very hard work year after year and it's very competitive and there are
030a lot of good programs in state, but to be recognized as frequently as this district is, it it is sight of the the quality leadership and and the outstanding abilities of our staff and our students and our families. And so, uh, we we celebrate all of that, but sometimes we just see have so many and we forget how hard people work to get those. And there's nothing automatic about this at all and has always been very competitive. So congratulations and uh please share that with all of the fine arts staff on behalf of the superintendent of the board uh that we appreciate and acknowledge their hard work. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Thanks. >> Okay, next we'll go into reports. So this is our report um for our final
031pricing for the district's general obligation bonds. We have Eric Harrian from RBC Capital Markets here to present. [Music] Good evening, uh, Madame President, members of the board, Superintendent, uh, Cleveland, uh, Eric Harrian with RBC Capital Markets. So, back in July, uh, the board authorized the sale of voter uh, approved bonds in the amount of 28 million. Um on September 9th, um the uh district uh opened up bids to investment banking firms around the country to to bid on on the district's bonds. Um in the district had um a really good sale. Um you received a total of 11 bids from uh various investment banking firms. Uh UBS Financial Service was the lowest bidder at uh 2.63%. Now, just to give a little bit of context, in 2024, you received nine bids. Um, the interest rate
032in 2024 was 3.04%. Uh, and in 2022, you received seven bids and the interest rate was 3.29%. We were very pleased with the with the sale results. Um, the uh financing had a had a 9-year uh final maturity because your tax base has been seen a lot of growth. we're able to um retire your debt quicker than what you have in the past and continue to maintain your debt service tax rate. Um the bonds also have a relatively uh short uh call option of 2032. Um vast majority of your debt will be paid off by then, but that does give the district the opportunity to prepay that debt or refund it if it so if it so chose. Um and uh closing is scheduled for October 1st and that's when funds would be available for
033the district to expend on the projects. Um just a couple of of items to note. It's uh very difficult to time the market, but the district did happen to be um uh in the in the municipal market when we see when we did see uh rates rally uh uh quite significantly and and the district was able to take uh to take advantage uh take advantage of that. Um the uh financing did meet all of the terms uh laid out in the um delegation resolution. Um and um with that, I'd be happy to answer any questions. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Do you have any questions from the board? Jessica, anything or Gary and Dr. Cleveland, do you have anything? I just want to reiterate our our thanks for all the work that goes into this
034kind of a project and it's months and it's a lot of research and a lot of analysis and uh we just appreciate all of all of that work and it did produce a good sale and we are really grateful for that because we have so many projects that are just so critical to to uh to the district and so rates and all of those mean a lot to us because they mean you can do more for our our students. So, thank you again for all of your uh your your work and assistance and that of your colleagues with RBC. >> Absolutely. You're welcome. >> Thank you so much. We appreciate you coming out tonight. >> Okay, we'll now go to the public comment part of our meeting for tonight. And I'm just going to put
035out there right from the beginning, I am going to pronounce these names incorrectly and I apologize in advance. So when you do come up, please just um feel free to correct me and say um the correct name. Um you will have three minutes to give your comment. Are you set up where to do that? Okay. So you'll have three minutes to give your comment. Once if the timer goes off while you're speaking, we just ask that that you stop your comments and and please be seated. Again, um we did not receive any public comment on our online form today. Um so these are all three comments that we'll have just in person tonight. Um so our our first one is going to be um Beth Denner. >> Thank you Dollar. Okay, please come up and
036when the timer will start as you start to to go. Okay, hear me. Okay, you're good. Okay, my name is Beth and I live in the um uh Lomatus community near Sandia Vista Elementary School. Hi, Mr. Dodto and um I'm going to make this quick. I didn't realize I only had 3 minutes, but um I have a map in context of uh the traffic problem that we're having. Um can I give that to you so >> Yeah. When you're done, just go ahead and put it on the desk right there. >> When I'm done. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. So, it's um historically been an issue where parents are cutting down our streets, speeding, parking right near the school, disrupting, um being disrespectful, uh being rude, aggressive, and um they're avoiding the traffic that's
037supposed to be going to the school. Uh they're cutting down our streets. So, we have been working with Mr. to and he has kindly helped us. Um, and as it stands now, we have gotten no student drop off pickup signs on our streets and parents are still dropping their kids off and and picking them up. They're on our streets. It is a huge safety risk. We have um had the police involved. They have issued tickets. this is like being on the hamster wheel here and this is a this is a safety issue and so it continues and these parents I've I've worked for the public schools for 15 years working with families and children I have never experienced parents so disrespectful in my life and you know it and it's not it's not a city
038issue who kindly got us were were able to get us signs to to help us with the safety issues I kids rearrangement public schools. I mean, what are you doing about I mean, it's just not this is this school, right? It's schools in the district with this problem with these with residents, I'm sure. So, um anyway, I know it's a comment, but it's an issue. So, thank you. >> Thank you. And now, you're welcome just to go ahead and leave any materials up here if you'd like to. And so and I have emailed superintendent, I have emailed SRO, I have emailed everyone that needs to know about this issue and have not received any. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um something that I didn't say just as we go through public comment is that we
039are unable to comment back in the boardroom at this time unless it's on our agenda. And so I always like to say that because it does seem awkward. Um, you always get those awkward moments on, you know, people like to to post and those things, but we we're unable at this time to to respond back to the public comment that we receive unless it's on our board agenda. Um, so our next comment will be from Chris Vanden He was everybody else. >> Um, I'm here for the HVAC. I saw this issue and um the one thing I would say is on your comment I would just put public in front of buildings because public buildings have the maintenance problem. Public buildings um don't work. I um I worked at APS for 5 years. I uh
040worked for private contractors through the union for 10 years I guess uh for different B&D Honeywell and then I spent eight years at Los Alamos um doing HVAC procurement and facilitating and coordinating. They have a lot of the same type of problems like schools do with um closed structures, uh locked doors, sealed windows, so you rely on mechanical introduction of fresh air. And uh I had the misfortune of working at Real Rancho Public High School uh two years ago. I I lasted about four weeks. It was um I thought I'd seen some bad things at APS in Atlanta, but uh Real Rancho High School is probably the worst facility I have ever seen in my 35 years or whatever. And it so I thought I'd talk about the V and HVAC, the neglected V. Everyone
041knows about the heating equipment does work in the winter and the cooling equipment doesn't work in the summer, but nobody talks about the V, the ventilation. I wish they would have changed the name to like call it fresh clean air because ventilation sounds like dry cleaner stuff or something. Uh anyway, this is a 330 page mechanical code book and the V is chapter 4. It's only six pages long, but it got a V. And you, the board, or whoever does your procurement, um, set yourself up for failure when you got those 16 train units up on those, uh, on 14 train units up on on the roofs of the classroom buildings and you don't provide any uh, meaningful exhaust. And the way you do mechanical induction is you take outside air and you suck it
042into the building and uh and the and this tells you how much you need to do, how many CFM. So like on a typical classroom 20 by 25 and 25 students um true calculation. Oh, I'm going to have to come back about five times. But uh anyway, uh you're in OSHA violation and I don't know how those how those units ever passed any kind of inspection when you when you block the the vents that bring in the outside air. >> Thanks Chris for coming in tonight. If you have anything that you want to leave, you're welcome to leave it there. I'll come back and I'll explain why OSHA it um when you you know deplete the oxygen in public spaces, >> that kind of thing. >> Thank you. Thank you. And our last tonight is
043Patricia Camp. I got that one down. >> It's an easy one. >> That's an easy one. Thank you. >> Yeah, once it was anglicized. Um good evening and thank you. Um and I want to congratulate Dr. Cleveland on her impending retirement. I've retired recently to New Mexico from after 25 years of service in public education in New Jersey. I I not really a comment, more just a couple questions that I assume you will be addressing. Um, and please correct me if I'm wrong, but in New Jersey, the board's a board of education's two primary jobs, setting policy and hiring the superintendent. Those are the two jobs that only the board can do. And so I just had some qu general questions about um what the communication will be like out to the public. Will um
044be a dedicated web page or is there going to be a detail like a little bit of a timeline um like uh advanced notice of when there will be various stakeholder meetings uh with the consultant uh and things like that. And then I also want to congratulate everybody on a fabulous school district. Um, it's part of the reason we chose to move here. Thanks so much. >> Thank you. Thanks for coming in. We appreciate it. >> And we do have an agenda item that will possibly address some of those items tonight. So, thank you. All right. That's all we receive for public comment. We want to encourage any who would like to come in and give public comment um to please come into the boardroom or to use our um board site where there's a
045where there's a form that you can fill out. And next we'll go to um to the consent agenda to approve the consent. >> Madam President, this is board member Tyler. I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Board member Mill the motion. Okay. Motion and a second. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay. Motion carries. All right. Next, we'll go into our business portion of the meeting for this evening. Um, we will start with considering the approval of the memorandum of understanding between Rancho Public Schools and the National Dance Institute. And we'll welcome Dr. Kurt Schmidt, our executive director of fine arts back up to present. >> President Goldbreth, members of the board, Dr. Cleveland, uh, this uh, partnership we've had with NDI New Mexico uh, goes back I can't remember how
046many years. I couldn't find my records, but predates my um, my being in this position. Um, the National Dance Institute, uh, very well known in the state and the region. Uh, you might think, oh, dance, they're teaching disco and ballroom dancing. That's it's not exactly what they do. It's, uh, the program they do with our in our schools is a 15week, uh, movement type, uh, program with fourth graders at four of our elementary schools, two in the spring, two in the two in the fall, two in the spring. Uh the the and and um I'll introduce Zach here in a minute, but the the program is to get kids moving, have make them feel confident about themselves, uh live healthy lives, etc. Uh so it's a very very popular program. Uh it's at four of
047our middle school, sorry, four of our elementary schools. It's PUA, Kenus, um Maggie, and um um >> thank you. Uh but I want to introduce Zach Smith uh who is the 30week program coordinator for ND producer sorry for NDI. He is also a rearch public schools alumnist. He graduated from Rancho High School in 2007 was one of my students. So he uh he might want to say a few things about this program. >> Thank you uh President Gwith uh members of the board. Dr. Cleveland u my like Dr. Schmidt said my name is Ax Smith. from the 30week program producer at NEI New Mexico. Um, and NEI New Mexico was founded with the knowledge that the arts have a unique power to engage and motivate children. Um, our the purpose of our distinctive programs is
048to help children develop discipline, uh, a standard of excellence and a belief in themselves that can carry through into all aspects of their lives. So, we're so happy to be uh partners with the Rancho public schools and uh we're very excited to continue to grow that relationship going forward. >> Uh so, we'll you have the memorandum in front of you. If there any questions, we'll we'll stand for those. >> Okay. Do you have any questions from anyone? Gary, any questions? >> No questions. Just much appreciation. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh Dr. Mill, >> no questions. Jessica, any questions? >> No. >> Dr. Dr. Coin, did you want to add anything? >> Except we do love your program. We are really glad to have them in our schools and they do enrich the lives of
049our students and we are glad that you are rearrango alumni. So that that's wonderful as well. But >> looking at your face to think we're know you're way after my time. That just means that I'm old. >> But thank you so much. We appreciate it. So we can go to a motion. >> Madam President, this is board member Tyler. I'd like to make a motion to approve the memorandum of understanding between Rancho Public Schools and the National Dance Institute of New Mexico. >> Gary Trip. I second. >> Motion by Jessica Tyler, second by Gary Trip. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay. Motion carries. >> Great. Thank you. We appreciate it. >> All right. Our next um item of business is to consider the opening of a superintendent search and directing the district to
050retain a consultant to assist with the process. And Lauren Hatch, our chief legal counsel will present. >> Madam President, members of the board, Dr. Cleveland, uh it's with some reservation contribution that uh Dr. Cleveland has made to reranch public schools into our community and to the state of New Mexico and education excellence. And uh the board and Dr. Cleveland announced last week that uh she after over 30 years of service in Rear Ranch public schools that she is retiring and uh it's appropriate at this time for the board to u take a historic action and that is to initiate a search to find her replacement. In anticipation of that, the district has actually been laying some groundwork uh to find a consultant to assist in the process. >> Okay. Um so we can go we
051can go to a motion, but I just you know really quick and I and I I think it would be good for us maybe to talk I I don't know how much we can go into with this with some of the questions that were asked earlier about some of those things. But first I I just want to add to to um Lauren Hatch's comments. you know, we we're just so grateful to to Dr. Cleveland for all that she's done for us. And I think I've been in a little bit of denial that all of this is taking place and somehow this is like finalizing some of those things and making making me feel a little emotional. And I know she's received so an outpouring of um just love and support from the community and um
052we're so grateful for that. Um, and I'm going to give the board an opportunity to talk too, but you know, as we have been a little bit working on this, just as we were working on contract things and knowing that this was going to come up soon, um, everyone's expressed of just really trying to be as transparent as we can and as we move forward, we we right now don't know exactly how that is going to look until we are able to receive and have our firm in place. um that will help us to to really establish a good timeline and help us to to navigate the best ways to do that. And I've received some emails from from different people in the community as well who would like to be a part of this
053process. And and I u will definitely we're going to sit and counsel in the best ways that we can do that. Um because we've had a superintendent for 30 years. um this is new to our district um to do, but we also would like to be able to keep someone in the district. Um I don't know if they will stay for 30 years. That would be wonderful. But someone that we can have for for a long time and that um that we can show just, you know, Dr. Cleveland has left such a great legacy and we just really want to continue that as we move ahead. Um but as we go into this, does does anyone in the board want to add anything? um to to what I said or just any other comments um
054as we go forward. Um Jessica, >> just echoing I think it's really important for all of us as board members that we do want to make sure that the process is transparent, is inclusive of our community, inclusive of our teachers, staff, students, community members. Um to I believe it was Miss Camp's you know comment, a lot of reason that a lot of people come to our community is because of our school district. And so making sure that we afford opportunities to involve some community involvement in the selection of our next superintendent I think is instrumental and um this will be obviously a big job for the board and I think you know that we're confident that we can can do this. Again sad to see Dr. Cleveland go but she has most certainly earned it
055and we are super grateful for you know what she's given to our district and the community in general. >> Thank you. Did you want to add anything? I don't know that I could add anything in particular, Dr. Cleveland. I knew you from before when I was working with UNM and so I've had a history a little bit with you and I appreciate the fact that I could work with you on the school board. Um, so and I emailed you and I said, "Do you like retirement?" I do. So, especially with your grandchild and so we just wish you the very best. you have set quite um a legacy here in this district and this community and I think um we see it everywhere and I think this community has really grown and and been so
056successful in large part because of you and your efforts and you're you're just uh going to be so appreciated for many years. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Gary, did you want to add anything? You know, I think there would be a lot more to to say, but but I think that that um gratitude is a word that's too simple, but it's the only word I'm thinking of, but more so ever since last Wednesday, I've thought of Jim Cleland and the partnership to lead this district. So, I think Dr. Cleveland may be in her closing statements months from now, we'll we'll be talking about how they led this district to a great and so cuz um there's those of us that work in the schools and I look at people out there that it
057was either Dr. Cleveland or Jim just leading the charge for all our children for many years and showing the leadership. And then of course there's um James and Royce who who just were fantastic students. But I do I just want to say um that I think the board and Dr. Cleveland and the leadership are going to ensure within a very very short time frame the total transparency and the process and the input and and um there's a few people I've talked to that said who who would who would want that job? I don't want I don't want that job. I want to be the person that follows the person that follows Dr. But um anyway, it'll be a great process. It'll be very transparent. I would I would just agree with all the other board
058members and um and it will be it will be um it will be honest and wide open. But Dr. Cloon, thank you for you and Jim for the all the years of great service to our students. >> Thank you. >> Did you want to say anything? >> I know. I was >> kind of hard right now. >> I know. It definitely is. And I think >> but I will I Gary's right. I I reserve the right >> that to have some comments later, but I do appreciate you recognizing Jim and uh and there are there are downsides to things. I'll tell you one thing that's funny because you're into laugh. When uh James was 6 months old when I came to the district and um he used to help Jim Dryer and he used to
059follow him around in the building and Jim was our u our maintenance custodial and um and Jim had a vacuum cleaner and James focused on that vacuum cleaner. He loved it. When he was old enough to ask for his first toy, he asked for a vacuum cleaner that lasted about a year or two. It didn't hold over till to now, but um it it was it was it was very funny. But I I I cannot emphasize enough. It was all a team effort. A team effort from everybody, the staff, the administrators, everybody. So, I really want to emphasize that, but it was a great team to be part of. So, that's all I'd like to say right now. >> Thank you. Thank you. We appreciate that. Um and just once again, like to our community,
060I know I I've received so many. I was out at the cross country meet and someone just came who's going to be our next superintendent and I know everyone is just wants the best for the district and you we have a very dedicated um board. We have a wonderful district staff but we are are we are dedicating our time to make sure that we find someone who is wonderful. >> Um is there anything else you need to know about the process before we go into a motion that you feel like? I think um uh after the it's initiated and we have a a a contractor on board, we'll provide a lot more information as we develop that. >> Okay. >> And uh it will be transparent process. We we provide information on our website now.
061Uh that will not change. Um we'll let people know about what's going on in the timeline. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate >> with that. I'd like to make a motion, Madam President, uh to open a superintendent search, a nationwide search, and direct the district to retain a consultant to assist with that process. >> Gary Trip, I second. >> We have a motion by Jessica Tyler and a second by Gary Trip. And all in favor? >> I. >> Okay, motion carries. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. >> That's a hard one. Um so, thank you everyone for coming out tonight. We appreciate you being here. It's um fun to look out and we see some new new faces um who are out there. I know everyone is very um involved in what's going
062to happen next and we will get that out as soon as we possibly can to everyone. Um I do want to just quickly look at the advanced planning. If you are attending the September 30th um New Mexico School Board Association regional meeting, um please make sure you let JC know if you haven't yet. Can I Is there anyone I think I might I think it's just me. Okay. Okay. That's okay. Um and then as far as that, just please refer to um to the board agenda for anything else. Is there any questions on anything that's coming up on the Okay. So with that, our meeting for tonight is agenda. Thank or agenda is adjourned. Thank you.