Rio Rancho Mayor Tom Swisstack will address the Rio Rancho Public School Board on Monday.

He will pitch his idea to the school board that the city and school district create a task force to establish guidelines allowing for the city to expand recreational and intergenerational program opportunities to community members by using RRPS facilities.

“It’s not just city programs, but we are coordinating the activity within schools,” Swisstack said. “So, we are providing recreational programs as well as educational programs. This is an effort to become even stronger partners on developing recreational centers within our local communities in Rio Rancho.” Swisstack is asking the school board members to approve an agreement that creates the task force.

If the agreement is approved, Superintendent Sue Cleveland and the city manager will each assign two to four members to serve on the task force. Jim Payne is the current city manager but is resigning on Sept. 30. James Jimenez will then take over the post.

By the end of the year, the task force will provide a draft agreement to the city manager and Cleveland that will detail the agreed upon terms, rules, operating procedures and responsibilities of each entity so that city programs can be made available for the community at RRPS facilities.

Regarding liability, each party is responsible for the errors and omissions of its own officers, employees and agents.

Swisstack also wants to create another joint task force with the school board. This one would establish a youth governing body of RRPS students consisting of a student Mayor and six student city councilors. The youth’s role is to advise the governing body about issues of concern and promote ideas from Rio Rancho youth. High school juniors and seniors will be eligible to run for the office.

“This is an effort to have the city council mentor young people during this campaign process to run for mayor or city council,” Swisstack said.

He also said the office holders will perform a community service project every quarter within the city and engage other youth.”

If the agreement is approved, Cleveland and the city manager will each assign two to four members to serve on the task force.