Board does not renew its superintendent and names the elementary principal, Lana Gardner, as the new superintendent

What happened

On February 25 the board voted 5-0 not to renew Superintendent Toby Melster for 2026-27. It posted the job in March, listed public interviews of two finalists for May 20 (Lana Gardner and Addie Wallace), and put a motion to approve a contract with Gardner on the June 12 agenda. Gardner is now listed as superintendent in July. Ashley Montes became interim elementary principal and Melissa Vigil became finance director.

Why it matters to families

The superintendent runs the district. The change brought three leadership moves at once, including a new elementary principal and a new finance director.

The evidence

The February 25 minutes record the motion not to renew the contract, by Mr. Six and Mrs. Reyher, passing unanimously. The March 13 minutes approve the job description and an April 16 application deadline. The May 20 agenda lists the two finalists. The June 12 agenda lists motions to approve a contract with Lana Gardner, appoint an interim elementary principal and a finance director, and give Gardner hiring authority. The June 24 minutes list Gardner as incoming superintendent, and the July 15 minutes list her as superintendent. The terms of the contract were not in the documents read.

The source