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APS Staff To Receive Paid Leave While Serving In Legislature

aps.edu

The Board of Education has approved a policy that will allow Albuquerque Public Schools employees who are state lawmakers to receive paid "political leave" while they work in the Legislature.

The plan approved Wednesday comes after years of debate over the merits of such pay.

Board member Barbara Petersen tells the Albuquerque Journal the new policy could inspire more APS employees to become lawmakers, which would serve as a benefit to school districts.

But board member Peggy Muller-Aragon, who was the only member to vote in opposition of the plan, says she has concerns about the city's taxpayers having to fund legislators' paychecks.

The board got rid of paid political leave in 2012 after reports surfaced about a lawmaker's salary, which she drew as APS' coordinator of vocational education.

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