RUIDOSO MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Ruidoso Municipal Schools Invests in Modern, State-of-the-Art Facilities: $1.2M Culinary Arts Renovation and $16.7M High School Upgrades Underway

The Ruidoso Municipal School District is excited to announce significant investments in our facilities, ensuring that our students and staff have access to modern, safe, and functional learning environments. Ruidoso Middle School’s culinary arts classroom will undergo a $1.2 million transformation, set to provide state-of-the-art facilities for our budding chefs. The renovations will include:

» New mobile workstations for hands-on culinary training.

» Upgraded equipment, including dishwashers, wash sinks, and exhaust hoods.

» Improved fire safety systems to enhance security.

» Aesthetic and functional updates, such as new flooring, upgraded lighting, and enhanced technology integration.

“I am most excited for new opportunities for my students. With the new facility and equipment, they will be able to engage in deeper learning, experiences, and demonstration of their skills,” said Amber Griffin, RMS Culinary Arts teacher. Griffin has led the program for eight years and is anxious for the renovation to get underway. Griffin also highlighted the broader impact of the renovation. She explained that her program is very popular with students and will become even more so with the newer, bigger and state-of-the-art facilities. The renovations will allow RMS Culinary to branch out into the community with fundraising, the Braves Bistro program, and other events.

“As for myself and my future students, I would like to give a huge thank you to our community, school board, and my fellow school employees for making this dream a reality. The Culinary Arts program at RMS will continue to thrive and enrich the experiences for the students for years to come,” said Griffin.

National Construction from Alamogordo has been contracted for the project, which is expected to be completed by August 2025.

Phase I Renovations at Ruidoso High School

The district has secured funding from the Public-School Capital Outlay Council (PSCOC) to support critical upgrades at Ruidoso High School. The total project cost is $16,679,200, with the district contributing 63% matching funds of $10,507,896 and Public-School Capital Outlay providing 37% matching funds of $6,171,304. The project will consist of two phases for completing.

Phase I of the project will focus on architectural and structural planning, laying the foundation for a well- designed and structurally sound renovation for:

» Stucco Replacement: Upgrading the exterior envelope for enhanced durability and aesthetics.

» HVAC Systems: Introducing heating and cooling to classrooms, creating a comfortable learning environment.

» Lighting Upgrades: Replacing fluorescent lighting with energy-efficient LED systems.

» Plumbing Overhaul: Substituting cast iron pipes with PVC for reliability and efficiency.

» Locker Room Renovations: Modernizing facilities for athletic and physical education classes.

The allocation ensures the completion of these critical upgrades and sets the stage for potential future phases, pending approval at upcoming Public School Capital Outlay Council meetings.

These projects reflect Ruidoso Municipal Schools’ commitment to fostering a safe, innovative, and inspiring environment for our students and staff. We look forward to seeing these enhancements come to life and the positive impact they will have on our school community.

Ruidoso School District is continually working to improve our communication methods to ensure important updates reach our community efficiently and effectively. We encourage you to stay connected with the variety of platforms we use. Sign up to receive messages from our schools via the following channels:

Ruidoso School District App

In August 2024, we launched the official Ruidoso School District app, which is available as a free download on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. Simply search for “Ruidoso Warriors” to find it. The user- friendly app provides a central hub for important updates, school news, and essential information, with quick access to school calendars, events, and notifications. It also integrates seamlessly with our website, providing you with a one-stop source for all things related to the district. Download it today to stay informed!

Facebook Pages

The district maintains an active presence on Facebook, where we share timely updates, announcements, and photos. We manage five Facebook pages, including a district page for district-wide announcements and key updates and individual pages for each of our schools, where we post school-specific information, photos, and event details. Follow all relevant pages to stay up to date with all of our events and happenings.

Ruidoso School District Text Messaging Service

This service allows us to send critical messages directly to parents and guardians and is used for urgent notifications such as school closures, schedule changes, or emergencies.

To receive these automated messages, please ensure that your contact information is up to date in PowerSchool and that you have opted into the service. To do this:

• »  Text “Y” or “Yes” to the number 67587 to subscribe.

• »  You will then begin receiving messages from the number 575-630-7040. Please save this number in

  your contacts to prevent the messages from being marked as spam.

  Our text messaging service is vital for sharing urgent information, so we encourage all parents and guardians to subscribe.

Ruidoso School District Website

Our website, www.ruidososchools.org, is the go-to place for the latest and most accurate information and resources. Whether you are looking for forms, contact information, announcements, or district policies, our website is a reliable resource for all school-related inquiries.