Educators seek budget solutions

From the Clovis News Journal - State budget concerns had eastern New Mexico educators huddled in Portales on Saturday to try and come up with a game plan to avoid job cuts and unpaid furloughs for teachers. Over 50 district superintendents and school board members — the Eastern New Mexico Educational Research Council — gathered at Portales High School to discuss the upcoming legislative session, beginning in January, and what the state may do to education funding. Superintendents reported hearing a 5 percent cut will be handed down, which doesn’t sound bad, but Texico Superintendent R.L. Richards said it’s much worse in reality. “We’ve already been cut 10 percent by the state but we’ve been propped up by federal money,” Richards explained. “And that federal money is going to stop, probably this year. So if we get cut 5 percent, it’s really 15 percent.” Richards said most district’s budgets are 88 percent salaries and benefits. “So when you cut that deep, it starts to mean people,” he said. Richards and Regional Education Center Director Patti Harrelson organized the meeting. Harrelson said she was glad that so many gave up their Saturday morning. Read more

Educators seek budget solutions