Board recognizes HR team; district reports improved hiring and lower resignations
Summary
Rio Rancho Public Schools acknowledged district human-resources staff for summer hiring work while HR reported declines in resignations and fewer vacancies compared with the prior year, though some vacancies remain in special education and educational-assistant roles.
The Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education recognized the district human-resources department Aug. 11 and received a personnel report showing improved hiring and retention trends. Superintendent Dr. Lisa Cleavon and Board members publicly thanked HR staff for summer recruitment and assignment work; Executive Director of Human Resources Mike Chavez introduced HR team members and outlined departmental responsibilities. Chavez presented comparative data showing teacher resignations fell from 135 to 106 year over year and educational-assistant resignations from 58 to 28. Retirements remained broadly stable. For the 2024–25 hiring cycle the district reported hiring 96 teachers (73 general education, 23 special education) and 32 educational assistants; rehired staff and internal transfers also reduced pressure on vacancy rates. Chavez said vacancies in early August included about four bus-driver openings (with trainees nearly ready), roughly 21 educational-assistant vacancies after in-process hires are finalized, and about 22 teacher openings once in-process hires are counted. He said vacancies were spread across schools rather than concentrated at a few sites. Trustees thanked HR and noted ongoing challenges in special education staffing and educational-assistant pay; the superintendent and staff said the district has increased compensation in recent years and will pursue state legislative support for further changes. The board approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting (motion recorded) and heard the personnel report as informational. No separate board vote on the personnel report was required.
