The Board of Education of the Rio Rancho Public School District recognizes that confidential information will be brought to the attention of individual board members and/or the board as a whole pertaining to, but not limited to, the following:

• matters relating to the employment or dismissal of, or charges against, specific district personnel;  
• matters relating to litigation or proposed litigation in which the board is or may become a party, or attorney-client communications;  
• consideration of the acceptance of gifts, bequests, or donations where confidentiality has  been requested by the donor;  
• consideration of wages and benefits during salary discussions;  
• consideration of suspension, expulsion, or disciplinary action in connection with a student;  
• matters relating to the security of students, personnel, visitors, and/or school property, and;  
• matters relating to discussions of bargaining strategy preliminary to collective bargaining  negotiations between the board and a bargaining unit representing the employees of the school district and collective bargaining sessions at which representatives of the collective bargaining unit are present; and;  
• matters relating to the purchase and disposition of real property.

The board further recognizes that public disclosure of such information may result in injury to individuals or potential harm and possible liability to the school district and that board members are honor-bound by the Code of Ethics for New Mexico school board members to respect confidentiality of information that is privileged under applicable law. It is the policy of the board that board members shall discuss or disclose confidential information only in connection with legitimate school district business and only with individuals with a legitimate right to know. All information discussed or documents provided to members of the board which fall within the categories listed above or which are authorized to be closed by the Open Meetings Act shall be kept confidential unless the board authorizes disclosure by majority vote.

It shall be the duty of each board member to voluntarily excuse him/herself from discussions of confidential information and abstain from voting on matters in which the board member has a personal or financial interest, including an interest by a member of the board's immediate family, or where the board member's participation will or may compromise the confidential nature of the discussion. Where a board member fails or refuses to voluntarily excuse him/herself from such discussions and confidential information is disclosed as a result, the board may enforce this policy by: (a) requiring the board member to excuse him/herself from the future discussion of the same or similar matters and abstain from voting; (b) publicly censuring the board member or (c) by such other remedies available under applicable state law.

See Policies 150, 165.

Rio Rancho Public Schools
Adopted: October 19, 1993
Revised: January 10, 1994
Revised: October 24, 1994
Revised: August 9, 1999