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Turmoil Grows In Las Cruces Public Schools As Collective Bargaining Agreements Are Violated

  

  The turmoil continues in the Las Cruces Public Schools, which recently cut the 2015-2016 school year to 180 days.

At this week’s school board meeting…union representatives asked the school board to reconsider its decision to furlough employees for three days…effectively cutting pay in the next school year.  The move was approved to fill a budget gap. 

National Education Association Las Cruces President Patrick Sanchez asked the board to reconsider its decision, noting that the teachers' contract stipulates a 183-day school year.

Irma Valdespino of the Classified School Employees Council of Las Cruces told the board the vote to cut hours…and pay…goes against state law, which requires pay and hours to be negotiated in collective bargaining.

School Board member Ed Frank…who voted against the budget…called the furlough days “appalling.” 

The move is the just the latest blow for school district employees.  The state education department recently forced the district to count contractually-bargained sick and personal leave days against teachers on their performance evaluations.