Santa Cruz Valley board approves Dagoberto Lopez as Rio Rico High School principal after discussion on discipline and retention

The Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District Governing Board on March 18 approved the hiring of Dagoberto Lopez as principal of Rio Rico High School for the 2025–26 school year, voting "aye" on the motion and recording four affirmative votes.

The board learned from Superintendent Verdugo that a committee had interviewed three finalists and recommended Lopez. The board then spent substantial time questioning how the new principal would address discipline, phone policy enforcement and teacher retention at the high school.

Board Member Rene Ramirez said he and others had concerns from past events at the school. "I am concerned, and I speak for other people as well, for that voice that wasn't in this governing boardroom... They were using kids as a political football," Ramirez said, arguing the district must maintain structure and discipline. He told Lopez, "You have to have discipline in your school." Ramirez said he would visit the campus to monitor how policies are enforced.

Board Member Beach and other members praised Lopez's record at the middle school level and his familiarity with the district. Beach said Lopez had raised data and academic performance where he previously worked and noted Lopez is a district product and local resident.

Lopez, the candidate, told the board he had worked in the district for 18 years and had been a principal for two years. "I'm excited and looking forward to the hard work that is ahead of me," he said, adding he is committed to students and families "because those were my parents." Lopez said he intends to be an advocate for families who do not always know how to navigate the school system.

The motion to approve was read aloud by the board chair as the certified administrator contract for Dagoberto Lopez as Rio Rico High School principal at grade 37, step 8 for the 2025–26 school year; the dollar amount read into the record was stated in the motion. The vote passed by voice, recorded as four ayes and no nays.

Board members emphasized they expected Lopez to support and enforce existing district policies and to work with site leadership on discipline and teacher support. Several trustees recommended Lopez delegate operational discipline tasks to the on-site administrators to allow the principal to focus on instructional leadership and student outcomes.

The board's approval concludes the committee selection and interview process described by Superintendent Verdugo and advances Lopez's certified administrator contract into the district's personnel records.

Lopez will assume the principal role for the 2025–26 school year; the contract as presented was approved at the March 18 meeting.