New Rio Rancho school board members sworn in, shaping local education policy

Three newly elected trustees took the oath and joined the five-member Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education, beginning four-year terms that will influence district policy, spending priorities, and oversight of the superintendent. Rebecca Murray, Seth Muller and Michael Berry were sworn in during School Board Appreciation Month, formalizing outcomes from the Nov. 4 election.

The swearing-in ceremony was held Jan. 12 and administered by retired Sandoval County Judge Louis P. McDonald. Children of the new board members held the customary Bible as each trustee recited the oath. The ceremony included light, human moments: Muller, who represents District 1, made a face during a particularly wordy passage, and the audience laughed when McDonald asked Berry, who represents District 3, "Who do we have?" and Berry replied simply, "Kids!" McDonald later said it was an honor to fulfill a role for the new school board members. Family members of the incoming trustees offered remarks of pride and support.

The reconstituted board begins its work with Amanda Galbraith continuing as board president after her peers re-elected her to the post Monday. Watching the new members take their oaths, Galbraith recalled her own first day on the board: "I was just feeling, 'I have no idea what I am about to embark on,'" she said, adding she is excited for each member to "start this new thing in your life."

Board composition and leadership matter to Sandoval County residents because local school boards set policy on classroom programs, staffing and capital projects, approve the district budget, and provide oversight of the superintendent. Those decisions carry fiscal implications for district spending and can influence local hiring, transportation logistics, and long-term community outcomes such as workforce readiness and property values. With three new voices seated, the board's votes over the next four years will determine priorities for the Rio Rancho district.

Retiring Superintendent Dr. Sue Cleveland praised McDonald’s role in the ceremony, underscoring the transition in district leadership and governance. As the new board settles into committee assignments and public meetings, residents can expect agenda items on budget planning and program reviews to surface in coming months.

The takeaway? Keep an eye on upcoming board agendas, attend meetings when possible, and ask how proposed budget and policy changes will affect classrooms and taxes. Your participation now helps shape decisions that will matter to families and the local economy for years to come.