Roswell ISD board approves AVID senior trip, districtwide student‑engagement software, tutoring contracts, grants and curriculum; superintendent contract short‑

The Roswell Independent School District Board of Education on Oct. 14 approved a set of motions that included travel for Roswell High School AVID seniors, a districtwide purchase of the SOAR student‑engagement platform, a tutoring contract for a private provider used by non‑district partner schools, a $60,000 wellness‑room grant for Mountain View Middle School, and adoption of the TeachTown special‑education curriculum for ILC classrooms. The board also approved routine items including minutes and the consent agenda, and, after an executive session, voted to extend the superintendent’s contract through June 30, 2026, with salary to include mandated legislative increases.

The actions combined classroom supports, procurement and personnel decisions. Board members said the items were intended to support student attendance, assignment completion and school wellness while the superintendent and staff said the purchases and grants align with Title I and other funding streams.

Votes at a glance - AVID senior travel to Los Angeles (June 2028): Motion to approve made by Rosa Sanchez, seconded by James Edwards; voice vote, ayes carried. The board approved a plan for AVID seniors to travel to UCLA and USC and to participate in college visits and a leadership program; the price cited in the presentation was about $2,059 per student and fundraisers are planned to offset costs. The packet shows a minimum group size of 15; currently 22 students expressed interest.

- SOAR student‑engagement platform (districtwide, Title I funds): Motion to approve made by Rosa Sanchez, seconded by Mr. French; voice vote, ayes carried. Staff said the district is purchasing a single vendor product that three schools piloted last year; district‑level Title I funds were proposed to pay the $34,100 purchase quoted in the board book. Administrators described immediate parent notification when a student receives a zero and an AI tutoring feature; principals reported improved assignment completion rates where the product was used. Staff disclosed that an employee has more than a 20% interest in the company and that legal counsel reviewed the self‑disclosure and recommended board approval under the district policy because the purchase exceeded the policy threshold.

- Study Buddies tutoring contract (Title I pass‑through for private partner school): Motion made by James Edwards, seconded by Mr. French; voice vote, ayes carried. The contract is for academic tutoring (reading and math) for students at a partner private school; the principal representing the provider said the tutor worked briefly as a substitute last year and is not returning to district employment. The district will audit and monitor federal‑fund compliance as required.

- RASD wellness room grant (Mountain View Middle School): Motion made by James Edwards, seconded by Rosa Sanchez; voice vote, ayes carried. Staff said the district applied to the Public Education Department and the award approved for Mountain View is $60,000 (staff said the original request had been $100,000 but PED funded $60,000). The district described plans for equipment, materials and professional development to support social, emotional and physical wellness and to integrate the room with existing PBIS and Project AWARE efforts.

- TeachTown curriculum for ILC classrooms (special education): Motion made by Rosa Sanchez, seconded by Mr. French; voice vote, ayes carried. Principals said TeachTown provides standard‑aligned, adaptive digital and hands‑on lessons for students in ILC settings and includes data collection tools and an SEL module; staff argued it will provide a consistent curriculum across ILC rooms.

- Other routine approvals: Minutes for the Sept. 9, 2025 regular meeting and the consent agenda (September bills approved, October bills authorized) were approved by voice vote per the agenda.

- Superintendent contract amendment (executive session then public vote): After an executive session taken pursuant to NMSA 1978 Section 10‑15‑1(H)(2) regarding limited personnel matters, the board in public session voted (roll call) to amend the superintendent’s contract to extend it from Dec. 31, 2025, through June 30, 2026, with salary to include all mandated legislative increases. The roll call recorded: Jack Cheney — yes; Bill DeSanchez — yes; Ryan (recorded in the roll call as Ryan Bridge/Fridge) — yes; James Edwards — yes; one member (Jared Ashby) was not present for that vote.

What they said Board members and building principals stressed that the SOAR product’s immediate parent notifications and an AI tutor attracted them because pilots showed higher completion rates. Mountain View staff and district administrators said the wellness‑room funds provide tools for de‑escalation and staff professional development. The AVID teacher said students will self‑fund through planned fundraisers; the proposed cost per student was discussed in the presentation.

Details and next steps Staff said remaining bond authorizations will be sold in 2027 and that additional authorization will be sought from voters in November 2027 to continue the bond program. District staff will manage procurement documentation for the sole‑source SOAR purchase and will monitor federal Title I compliance for services paid with federal funds. The wellness room and TeachTown implementations will include professional development and follow‑up reporting to the board.

The minutes and formal contract documents will be posted with the district’s records; staff said they will return with further budget and implementation details where needed.