Rio Rancho Public Schools: Bond/SB-9 Election 2023

Invest - Improve - Ignite

Past Bond / SB9 Projects

Important Dates

Open Houses

Monday, Sept. 18

5-6:30 p.m.

Rio Rancho HS Cafeteria

Tues., Oct. 10

5-6:00 p.m.

Maggie Cordova ES Library

Wed., Oct. 25

5-6:00 p.m.

RRPS Training Center

Parent University

August 22 at noon livestreamed online on our RRPS YouTube channel.

Election

Bond Election

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Bond Measure: $80M over the next four years

SB-9 Measure: $5,473,346 each year for six years

Voting Information Available Here

Bond Committee

A Committee that included district staff members, board members, community leaders and parents reviewed and discussed:

  • 5 Year Facility Master Plan

  • Other RRPS Needs

  • Potential Bond Projects

  • Cost

  • Priorities

Priorities were established and presented to Board for approval.

Bond Projects

Leveraging Local Tax Payer Dollars

  • Estimated Bond dollars assigned to each project are less the anticipated state match from Public School Facilities Authority (PSFA).

  • We estimate receiving approximately $32M in matches from PSFA for the projects listed (a total of $112M to spend towards improving our facilities)

  • This allows us to meet more of our needs and leverage the local tax payer’s dollar

Safety & Security Upgrades & classroom additions at RRHS, CHS & LMS

  • This includes a new building at RRHS, classroom space at CHS, perimeter security at RRHS and CHS to ensure effectiveness of the Evolv Weapon Detection System. 

  • The most significant part of the project is a new building at RRHS. This will eliminate the use of portable buildings which are old and beyond their life span and create an inner perimeter for security purposes. 

  • The old gym at LMS will be converted to classrooms. Security upgrades will include access control and cameras.

  • Cost for these projects is approximately $13.2M with a state match of approximately $10M

Roof Replacements

  • The following schools need to have their roofs replaced:

    • Colinas del Norte ES

    • Maggie Cordova ES

    • Lincoln MS

    • Rio Rancho HS

  • The cost to the district would be approximately $8.3M and the state match would be approximately $7.6M. 

Additional Preschool Space

  • Provide additional space to grow preschool opportunities in Rio Rancho Public Schools

  • Our cost is approximately $1.9M and the state match is approximately $3M.

New Independence High School Building

  • The current IHS building is approximately 28,000 square feet, and the new facility will be approximately 50,000 square feet.

  • IHS is currently at capacity with 200 students and the new facility will accommodate approximately 350 students.

  • The cost of the new facility is approximately $26M.

Drainage

  • The lack of appropriate drainage mitigation over the years has the potential to effect the integrity of the school structure. The following schools would have drainage mitigation:

    • Enchanted Hills ES

    • Ernest Stapleton ES

    • Sandia Vista ES

    • Eagle Ridge MS

    • Rio Rancho HS

  • Our cost would be approximately $3.3M and the state match is approximately $1.6M if approved.

Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC Upgrades

  • Enchanted Hills ES (Electrical Service)

  • Eagle Ridge MS (Media Center Electrical/Structural)

  • Lincoln MS (Plumbing/ADA Restrooms)

  • Rio Rancho High School (HVAC- converting from Boiler system to refrigerated air)

  • Our cost would be approximately $14.3M and the state match is approximately $10M if approved.

IT Infrastructure

  • Our network is probably the most important system in the district since we rely so heavily on the internet.

  • The bond projects would include Wide Area Network upgrades, an upgrade to our phone system and a replacement of servers at the Data Center.

  • The cost to the district is approximately $550,000.

Special Education Program Support

  • The old Independence High School building would become the new Special Services Support Center.

  • The district needs additional space to meet the increased demand for special education services and testing being provided.

  • In addition, the district would build a new Desert Pathways facility to better accommodate the special education program.

  • The cost for these projects are approximately $8M.

Fine Arts Production Space & Band Room at RRHS

  • This project would include a production and storage space for the Performing Arts building.  

  • The current band room will be renovated into a new production/storage space and a new band room will be constructed.

  • The cost for this project is approximately $3M.

Athletic Projects

  • Pave an ADA parking area at CHS for baseball/softball.

  • Replace the infield turf at RRHS and CHS for baseball and softball

  • Respray the tracks at RRHS and CHS

  • The total cost is approximately $1.3M.

Improvement Tax

SB-9: Public School Capital Improvements Tax

  • $5,473,346 each year for 6 years

  • Provides essential dollars to Rio Rancho Public Schools, the ASK Academy, Sandoval Academy of Bilingual Education and Explore Academy for general maintenance, repairs and capital improvements.

  • No increase to the tax rate