Ashley Aragon

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance and a roll call, noting two excused members. Key discussions included updates from the Superintendent regarding the upcoming school year start and the ongoing audit being conducted by Beasley Mitchell accounting firm for the 2025-2026 school year. Several events were highlighted, including an open house on the 30th and a tour for the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association representatives and legislators. A grant of $4,000 from the Rio Rancho Education Foundation was presented to support the 'Building Thinking Classrooms' initiative, a research-based math instruction approach focused on active learning through randomized groups, whiteboards, and collaborative problem-solving tasks. The board also recognized several individuals: Lynn Wheeler, Director of Nursing Services, for receiving the 2025 Liaison of the Year award, and athletic commendations for Madison Weaver (Spirit Coach of the Year), Ricky Castillo (Softball Assistant Coach of the Year), and Eric Jack (Coaching for Character award). Todd Rash was recognized as the District Athletic Director of the Year. The agenda included consideration of fee adjustments for facility use, gate receipts, and parking permits. Additionally, the board held the second reading for policy changes concerning wireless communication devices and the first reading for updates to two travel-related policies regarding student trips and staff mileage/premium payments.

The meeting began with roll call, confirming a quorum for the Special Audit Committee. The primary purpose of this session was to approve the prioritized agenda and propose time allocations for the meeting. Subsequently, the committee members publicly announced that they had previously met in closed executive sessions on May 27, 2020, and August 4, 2020, as permitted by open meetings and audit acts, to discuss matters limited to the notice provided for those separate sessions. The committee chairman indicated that this current meeting served to establish the agenda and formally read the reports regarding the prior closed executive sessions before adjourning to enter another closed audit meeting.

The meeting focused on Early Childhood matters, specifically the New Mexico PreK grant requirements and expansion plans involving Shining Stars and Questa. Discussions covered grant structure, including expanding the grant to offer full-day programs at Questa, and family survey data indicating strong interest in full-day options. Key grant requirements detailed included a five-day-a-week program structure, 1,080 instructional hours, 90 family engagement hours, and student age eligibility. Operational details involved classroom size (50 square feet per student), staffing ratios (1:10 adult-to-child ratio), required dual-certification for teachers (Early Childhood and Special Education), and professional development requirements for teachers and educational assistants (EAs), including an EA associate degree partnership. The plan involves budgeting for four floating EAs to cover coaching and planning time, and the provision of breakfast and lunch family-style. Staffing projections included nine licensed dual-certified teachers and four special education EAs at Questa, with ancillary services potentially shared. The need for more seats to serve uninsured four-year-olds (60% saturation rate) was emphasized.

The meeting included significant recognition of the district's fine arts programs, highlighting the talented students, choral groups, band, orchestra, and choirs. There was a major presentation on assessment data, noting growth in spotlight schools, particularly at Independence. Business items included a proposed copper refresh at Eagle Ridge Middle School and a request for an easement agreement between the district and PNM. The board formally recognized several award recipients, including Diane Lee for the NAEA Pacific Region Secondary Art Educator of the Year Award for 2026, and numerous students from Rio Rancho High School and Cleveland High School who received Gold Keys, Silver Keys, and Honorable Mentions in the New Mexico Scholastic Arts Competition. The latter part of the session recognized the accomplishment of Dr. Cleveland, who was honored by the State Senate.

The Audit Committee meeting, identified as the first of the current audit cycle, focused primarily on selecting options for securing independent public accountant services. The two options presented were recommending a one-year extension with the current auditor, Accounting Financial Solutions, or resoliciting proposals via a Request for Proposal (RFP). Committee members expressed positive feedback regarding the current auditor's helpfulness and thoroughness, leading to a motion to recommend the extension, which was unanimously supported. Additionally, the committee discussed and established a preliminary schedule for the 2021-2022 audit committee meetings, proposing the third Thursday of every month starting in June for regular meetings, with the entrance conference scheduled for May 13th.