Los Lunas Schools make contract offer to acting superintendent

LOS LUNAS — The Los Lunas Board of Education extended a new contract offer to current Acting Superintendent Susan D. Chavez, voting unanimously to approve the proposal on Tuesday, May 20.

After an hour-long executive session earlier Tuesday afternoon, the board’s first action item addressed a new contract for Chavez, who became acting superintendent in July 2024 after the board placed then-superintendent Dr. Ryan Kettler on administrative leave.

Chavez’s contract will still need to be approved by the board after negotiations are completed. Board President Dr. Michelle Osowski said the board hopes to have the contract finalized no later than June 30. The contract offer approved by the board is for a two-year contract with compensation at $175,000 a year with other benefits.

Osowski said the entire process was long and tiring but was done with the intention of being transparent and open with the public.

“We wanted to be able to offer her a contract that she feels comfortable with and also that she feels is fair,” Osowski said, “and one that is going to encourage her to give us her very best so that our students benefit and our staff benefit.”

The board president explained Chavez worked the 2024-25 school year on an addendum to her original contract as assistant superintendent, which was agreed to when she took the position in February.

Chavez has spent her entire educational career at the Los Lunas Schools. She was serving as assistant superintendent in July 2024 when she was elevated to acting superintendent.

The board approved a motion that board evaluations of the superintendent be done twice a year. Board member Justin Talley also made a motion to approve a two-year contract which passed 4-1, with Osowski being the lone dissenting vote, saying Wednesday she would have preferred a one-year contract.

“I just think we don’t have a good history in this district with multiple-year contracts,” she said. “I like the playing field to be the same for all employees whether they hold the title of superintendent or they hold the title of custodian or educational assistant or principal or teacher, I like uniformity. That’s in my nature.”

Download PDF

In other action, the board also voted to affirm its adherence to and knowledge of board roles and responsibilities in accordance with the New Mexico Open Meetings Act after Ososki read aloud a response to a letter from the New Mexico Department of Justice sent in March. The board approved the response with a 4-0 vote, with member C’Moya abstaining from the vote.

The board was also set to vote on a resolution proposed by Superintendent Chavez regarding the formation of a foundation for the Los Lunas Schools. The foundation would be similar to the Albuquerque Public Schools’ foundation and assist in acquiring funding similar to the recent funding received by the district from Meta/Facebook.

The board voted 4-1 to table the resolution until a board work session could be convened to address the lack of detail about forming the foundation. The lone dissenting vote came from board member David Vickers. The work session will be scheduled for an unspecified date in June.