Budget cuts squeeze RRPS

Superintendent: ‘The sky is falling’ as $3.8M reduction adds to woes

Rio Rancho Public Schools will hold a special public meeting on Monday to discuss the dire financial outlook, which has administrators scrambling to cover a $3.8 million budget reduction for the current fiscal year.

Like neighboring Albuquerque Public Schools, RRPS is considering all options, including cuts to electives, specialized programs, activities and athletics, as well as a potential district-wide furlough, according to a recent message from Superintendent Sue Cleveland to district staff and Rio Rancho community members.

“In my entire career, I have not seen such disregard for public education and the future of our children in New Mexico,” she wrote. “Cutting public education and taking away opportunities for students is not the answer.”

During a board meeting earlier this week, the superintendent had even stronger words: “The sky is falling,” she said.

Districts around New Mexico are facing unprecedented money woes as the state works to cover a massive budget shortfall, largely tied to declining oil and gas rev-

enues. On Jan. 31, Gov. Susana Martinez signed off on a plan to take $46M from district cash reserves — on top of operational, transportation and instructional material cuts instituted during the Legislature’s October special session.

For RRPS, that amounted to a $2.3 million reduction last fall, and another $1.5 million last month.

Cleveland told the board it is particularly hard to faces cuts of this magnitude partway through the fiscal year, which ends on June 30.

“It is going to be a very discouraging situation,” she said. “Keeping the cuts away from the classrooms is getting harder and harder.”

According to a financial document presented to the board, RRPS aims to cover the reduction largely by dipping into cash reserves — the total balance will drop from $5.1 million to $2.3 million in the best case scenario.

The district is also under a spending freeze, dubbed the “Hunker Down Pantry Plan,” which has largely eliminated expenses in areas like travel and stopped all hiring except for essential positions.

“What do you do when you are out of money? You stop buying food and go to the pantry to see what’s there,” said Randy Evans, executive director of finance.

Board members complimented district staff for their hard work on the budget, but expressed dismay at the cuts.

“Shame on Santa Fe and shame on our politicians for not supporting good districts,” said board member Ramon Montaño.

Board president Don Schlichte referenced the district’s low per pupil funding, which, combined with a tripling of enrollment over 23 years, has made it hard for administrators to build up the cash reserve.

“Rio Rancho is getting screwed,” Schlichte said.

Albuquerque Public Schools is fighting its own budget battles.

The APS budget steering committee is considering four furlough days or 750 layoffs to address a $25 million budget cut, according a message emailed to employees.

“There’s little meat left on the financial bones of Albuquerque Public Schools, which means anticipated cuts in state funding are going to hurt in the coming months and years,” the committee said. “We wish we had more specifics. The only thing we can say for sure is that we’re working diligently to do what’s best for our students and our employees.”