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Rio Rancho board votes to end Sandia Vista’s ‘Montessori’ label, adopt arts-integration districtwide at school
Summary
After months of review and staff visits to model programs, the Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education voted 5-0 to retire the district’s existing Montessori-branded program at Sandia Vista and move the school to an arts-integration model that keeps several Montessori practices while aligning instruction to district standards.
The Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education voted 5-0 Monday to sunset the district’s current Montessori-branded program at Sandia Vista and convert the school to an arts-integration model that retains selected Montessori practices.
Board President Galbraith and Superintendent Dr. Bisu Cleveland had presented the proposal as the outcome of visits to arts-integrated schools, meetings with school staff and parents, and a review of research showing overlap between Montessori and arts-integration approaches.
Board members and staff emphasized that the change is intended to be an expansion of educational practices rather than a removal of enrichment. “I don’t see that we’re replacing Montessori,” said visiting consultant Sean Lane, an arts-integration trainer. “I see it as an expansion — from a small group of teachers to all the teachers in these schools.”
The nut graf: District leaders said the move responds to staffing constraints, program drift away from classical Montessori methods and…
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