Rio Rancho (New Mexico) asks teachers to take immediate leave

[phusion]

"Rio Rancho Public Schools asked teachers and school staff in the district with three or more years of experience to consider accepting a long term leave of absence without pay.

The memo, issued by Human Resources Director Susan Passell on Thursday, caught the teachers union by surprise, the union said.

Employees who go on unpaid leave the second half of the current school year, Passell wrote in an e-mail to teachers, are guaranteed an equivalent position at the start of the 2009-2010 school year without loss of service credits. "

http://kob.com/article/stories/S691678.shtml?cat=504

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This is nuts. They are asking these teachers and staff members to take an entire 6 months off without pay. Who can afford to do that?

[Muttocracy]

1. Um, if they needed maternity leave, it's a little late to issue this memo. nt

[earth mom]

2. I bet this is something Arnold will try in California. nt

[TreasonousBastard]

3. So, where would you get the 4 million? This...

might become more common as more districts find themselves in a cash squeeze.

I have no answer, but would not be surprised if we see the end of school budgets being financed by local property taxes.

[phusion]

4. It's true...

The money needs to come from somewhere. But to start slashing at the teacher/staff level doesn't make much sense. I think they should start at the top--reevaluate all those directors, exec. directors, and other administrators and see what sort of cuts can be made.

And they are asking the experienced teachers to leave first. Who will teach the kids? Who will run the schools?

[enlightenment]

5. During the Great Depression, there were teachers in some

cities who worked without pay for years.

I suspect, given that they're specifically asking more experienced teachers to take the LOA that they're just hoping to reduce costs by losing the higher paid folks. Wouldn't be surprised if there was no job for them at the end of the LOA - that's what ATT did to a lot of people (myself included) in the early 1990s. They couldn't lay us off (non-union management) so they offered a two-year unpaid leave with education benefits if we wanted to return to college - they also stipulated that we could return to our jobs. They lied about that part . . .

[Bozita]

6. Spell it any way you want, this is ...

... infuckingsanity!

Tell me about the teacher shortage. Better yet, tell me about the shrinking revenues for public schools across this country.

Coming soon to a local school district near you.

[madrchsod]

7. a friend of mine has been trying to find another teaching job in the midwest

she`s applied for a position within a hundred or more miles from where she lives. her current school is closing and she`ll be forced to move back home with her mother. she has two degrees and over ten years of experience.

no jobs,no taxes,no nothing

[Abq_Sarah]

8. It's more of a PR move

The school district is planning on going to the state legislature in January and requesting a change in the funding formula and advertising this move will help drum up public support. Under the current formula, special needs and economically disadvantaged students are eligible for a higher level of funding. Rio Rancho wants the legislature to change the formula so that high growth areas are treated in the same way. RR has opened 11 schools in the last 13 years and the latest HS, the V Sue Cleveland school will not open next year unless they can free up funds over the next few months.

[phusion]

11. that's a great point

Welcome to DU, fellow Burqueño

[JDPriestly]

9. And if the teachers are expelled, who teaches the kids?

Who even babysits the kids all day? Are we just turning the fourth graders out on the streets?

Next step: first graders will be taking internet courses since schools are closed.

[Hekate]

10. This is how America values education for its young. Pardon me while I barf.

Mr H and I discussed this possibility out here in California, since the college where he teaches is running on reserves.

You are right to say this is nuts.

Hekate