Alb. Board to Vote on Employee Pay While Serving in Roundhouse

Sheryl Williams Stapleton

From capitolreportnewmexico.com -The question of public school employees who serve in the state legislature receiving paid leave is back — and this time, the state’s largest school district is considering ending the practice. In Wednesday’s edition of the Albuquerque Journal, education reporter Hailey Heinz writes that a majority of the school board of Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) have scheduled a vote for May 1 and that a majority of the board “made clear” they want to change the district’s policy:  Board member Martin Esquivel said the public wants APS to change its practice. “I just want to make it clear that I am not in favor of compensating for political leave with APS money,” Esquivel said. “I think people have spoken pretty loud and clear about this, and they are aghast at the idea that we pay people to serve in the Legislature.  Currently three APS employees serve in the Roundhouse and are eligible to take paid leave when they go to Santa Fe during legislative sessions, committee meeting hearings between sessions and attend to other legislative duties. They also receive $153 per diem for each day they work at the Roundhouse. The three are: Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Albuquerque) who is an APS administrator, Sen. Bernadette Sanchez (D-Albuquerque) who is an APS counselor and Rep. Tim Lewis (R-Rio Rancho) who is a teacher.   More here

Alb. Board to Vote on Employee Pay While Serving in Roundhouse