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Rio Rancho board approves 2025–26 calendars; elementary and secondary calendars differ to meet PED rules
Summary
The Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education on April 28 approved the 2025–26 district and Rio Tech calendars after administrators explained differences driven by state professional-development requirements and Rio Tech’s partnership with Central New Mexico Community College.
The Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education on April 28 approved districtwide school calendars for the 2025–26 school year, including a separate calendar for the district’s Rio Tech program that aligns with Central New Mexico Community College (CNM).
District officials told the board the calendars were revised after the legislative session clarified professional-development hour requirements for elementary and secondary staff. Superintendent Dr. Visa Cleveland and Human Resources Director Peggy Johnson said elementary teachers will receive 60 hours of professional development (10 days) while secondary teachers will receive 30 hours (five days), which requires different student schedules at some points in the year.
Board members were also told the district shifted the staff contract start date to Aug. 4 and the first student day to Aug. 7 so June and July remain free for staff and families. The district’s instructional year will end May 29, and Memorial Day remains a holiday. To make that schedule work, elementary staff will use some previously observed holidays (President’s Day and the Vernal holiday) as professional-development days; secondary students will be in session on some of those dates. Rio Tech’s calendar was presented separately because many Rio Tech instructors and students are CNM employees and students; CNM’s term begins Sept. 2, so Rio Tech staff and students will begin in August but will follow a different set of breaks and end dates. Rio Tech’s contract year will end May 20, with CNM’s summer classes beginning shortly after.
The board heard details on semester instructional-day counts (elementary first semester about 92 days) and district plans to finalize graduation dates once venue availability is resolved. Board member Jessica Tyler moved to approve the calendars; Beth Miller seconded. The board approved the calendars by roll call, 5–0.
The calendar approval follows public discussion during previous meetings and requests from staff and the union to shorten the summer work window; administrators said they worked with legislators and will continue advocacy on the issue of professional-development parity between elementary and secondary teachers.
