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Votes at a glance: Rio Rancho board (Feb. 24, 2025) — program changes, grants, procurement and calendars
Summary
At its Feb. 24 meeting the Rio Rancho Public Schools Board approved a package of routine and substantive items including the consent agenda, a donation, a PLTW grant, procurement awards, calendar drafts and the formal sunsetting of the Montessori-branded program.
The Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education recorded multiple formal actions at its Feb. 24 meeting. Key votes and outcomes are summarized below.
Votes at a glance
- Motion to approve the prioritized agenda and proposed time allocation: approved by voice vote (motion made and seconded; recorded as carried).
- Consent agenda (routine contracts and minutes): approved by voice vote (motion by Board Secretary Jessica Tyler; second by Jeff Morgan). Motion carries.
- Accept donation from Leadership Sandoval County, TLC Plumbing and Albuquerque WinAir for HVAC replacement at Ernie Stapleton Elementary: approved 5–0 (mover: Jeff Morgan; second: Jessica Tyler). The donation covers one full replacement for a portable (two classrooms) and installation; electrical panel upgrades were not included.
- Project Lead The Way grant ($20,000) for Mountain View Middle School: approved by voice vote (mover: Jeff Morgan; second: Beth Miller); board accepted the grant to fund PLTW Gateway courses and teacher training.
- Motion to sunset the Montessori-branded program at Sandia Vista and adopt an arts-integration model at that school: approved 5–0 (mover: Jessica Tyler; second: Gary Tripp). The board instructed staff to preserve selected Montessori practices, develop professional development, and report comparative academic and behavior metrics.
- Approval to form a community committee to explore a science magnet or science-based school at Rio Rancho Elementary: approved by voice vote (mover: Jessica Tyler; second: Jeff Morgan). The committee will study K–5 and 4–8 models, partnerships and funding options; no funding or conversion decision was made at this meeting.
- Approval of the Project Lead The Way grant and multiple procurement awards: - Award RFP 2025-016-COO (special education program review) to Gibson Consulting Group, Inc.: approved by roll-call (motion by Jessica Tyler; second by Jeff Morgan). Contract negotiation to follow; estimated study period ~6 months. - Award RFP 2025-017-FAC (architectural design services for Cleveland High School classroom addition and secure vestibule upgrade) to McLean + U Architects: approved by roll-call (motion and second recorded; vote 5–0).
- Draft approval of the 2025–26 instructional calendar: board approved a draft calendar pending legislative developments and possible adjustments to professional development allocations. The district emphasized alignment decisions with Albuquerque Public Schools and timing implications for holidays and graduation dates.
- Approval of the RioTech (RioTech/CNM-aligned) 2025–26 calendar draft: the board approved the RioTech calendar that aligns RioTech scheduling with CNM semesters, including an earlier finish date to allow students to take summer college classes.
- Nomination approval: Carl Leppleman was added as an additional nominee for the New Mexico School Boards Association Excellence in Student Achievement award; motion carried.
The board recorded roll-call votes on procurement and the Montessori motion; other items were passed by voice vote. Several items require follow-up: contract negotiations for the special-education review, architect design scope and cost estimates for Cleveland High School additions, calendar finalization pending legislative action and committee work on the Rio Rancho Elementary science magnet study.
Full minutes and staff-provided documents (grant award letters, RFP evaluations and calendar drafts) will be posted with the board’s public materials.
