The Santa Fe Public Schools Board of Education on Feb. 21 accepted the resignation of Superintendent Chavez effective June 30, 2025, voted to allow him to use accrued annual leave so he would no longer be actively serving immediately, and appointed Dr. Veronica C. Garcia as acting superintendent effective Feb. 21.

The board also authorized the board president, in consultation with legal counsel, to negotiate a short-term contract for Garcia with a prorated annual salary of $210,000 and terms substantially conforming to the state model contract for administrators. Separately, the board voted to authorize limited waivers and legal actions to release parts of an investigation report and to file required reports with the New Mexico Public Education Department as permitted by law.

Why this matters: The actions put an interim leader in place while formal hiring and investigatory matters proceed. The board said the moves are intended to preserve stability in district operations and to permit legal counsel to comply with reporting obligations and disclosure rules tied to an investigation and complaints.

The board convened in executive session earlier in the meeting to discuss pending or threatened litigation and limited personnel matters before returning to public session and taking the actions. President Abeyta told the board she had received an email from Superintendent Chavez resigning his position effective June 30 and noted that, "if this is the desire of the board he would be relieved of his duties effective immediately." Vice President Noble moved to grant Chavez's request to use accrued leave through the effective date of his resignation; the motion passed by voice vote.

Board member Bose moved to appoint Dr. Veronica C. Garcia as acting superintendent beginning Feb. 21, 2025; that motion also passed by voice vote. The board then authorized the board president, in consultation with legal counsel, to enter into a contract with Garcia with key terms the board stated as: start date Feb. 21, 2025, and ending on the earliest of (a) the board entering into a contract with a newly hired superintendent, (b) the board making other coverage arrangements, (c) June 30, 2025, or (d) another date agreed by the parties. The board stated the salary for the acting post as a prorated $210,000 and that other contract terms will substantially conform with the state model contract for administrators.

On investigatory and disclosure matters, the board approved a limited waiver of attorney work-product protection for an investigation report "for the purpose of responding to complaint and fulfilling district duties with respect to complaint," and separately authorized legal counsel to proceed with release of the investigation report "to the extent permitted by law." The board also authorized legal counsel to file any reports to the Public Education Department required by state rule and authorized counsel to proceed with ongoing aspects of the investigation, all by motions that passed by voice vote.

Board member Bose read a statement on behalf of the board saying, in part, "On behalf of the Board of Education, we remain committed to fostering a safe and nurturing environment for all students... the board is dedicated to maintaining transparency as much as possible and ensuring that all actions are taken within the framework of due process." Bose noted the matter remained an ongoing personnel matter and that the board could not respond to media allegations, "including whether any allegations have been substantiated." The board said it will begin a superintendent search with community engagement and stated its intent to have a new superintendent hired no later than July 1, 2025.

The boards actions followed an executive session limited to pending or threatened litigation and personnel matters, after which the board returned to public session and took the votes recorded below.