RRPS e-mail requests
leaves of absence

RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) - Rio Rancho High School staff members told News 13 the school district has asked for volunteers to take an unpaid leave of absence next semester. This all comes the same week the Rio Rancho school district announced it will be cutting most of its substitute teachers.

News 13 has obtained a copy of the e-mail, which says the request is because of the budget shortfall at the Rio Rancho Public Schools and specifically asked for staff with more than three consecutive years with the district to consider the request

The e-mail said those employees that take the leave of absence will regain their jobs in the 2009-2010 school year, but won't receive their salary in the meantime, and the district won't pay health insurance premiums however the district says staff would be able to pay for benefits through Cobra.

The Rio Rancho school district has built eleven schools in the past thirteen years and another high school is currently being built but the district says if they do not get funding from the state it will not open as scheduled in August.