Rio Rancho schools to use subs as last resort

RANCHO ARE TAKING A HIT IN THIS SLUMPING ECONOMY. TODAY SUBS FOR RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE ...  More »

RANCHO ARE TAKING A HIT IN THIS SLUMPING ECONOMY. TODAY SUBS FOR RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE TOLD FOR THE MOST PART -- THEIR SERVICES ARE NO LONGER NEEDED. THE DISTRICT WILL NOW USE STAFF MEMBERS -- POSSIBLY EVEN THE SUPERINTENDENT -- TO FILL-IN WHEN TEACHERS DON'T COME IN. ANTOINETTE ANTONIO IS LIVE IN RIO RANCHO WITH OUR TOP STORY. ANTOINETTE? SUBSTITUTES WE TALKED TO ARE UPSET THAT THE DISTRICT DROPPED THIS BOMBSHELL ON THEM RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS. BUT RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFICIALS SAY THESE CUTBACKS HAVE BEEN MONTHS IN THE MAKING. EVERY MORNING STEPHANIE WEBER LOGS ON TO A COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT TELLS HER ABOUT HER LATEST SUBSTITUTE TEACHING ASSIGMENT. MONDAY SHE WAS GREETED WITH THIS MESSAGE. NATS 'school secretaries have been instructed to cancel sub coverage so you will be receiving notification of assignments that are cancelled 'one thing that really irked me is that they didn't give us any notice, they didn't tell us a couple of weeks ago that starting december 1st we're going to be doing this.' RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFICIALS SAY TO AVOID A 4-MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET SHORTFALL... THEY'RE CUTTING BACK. THAT INCLUDES FILLING SUBSTITUTE TEACHING NEEDS INTERNALLY ... INSTEAD OF HIRING A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER WHICH COSTS THE DISTRICT UP TO 95-DOLLARS PER DAY, PER TEACHER. FROM SECRETARIES TO ADMINISTRATORS... ALL QUALIFIED STAFF MEMBERS WILL BE ASKED TO FILL IN. 'people such as myself, the superintendent will be in classes, the associate superintendent, other executive directors, anyone who has classroom experience.'WEBER SAYS SHE'S NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT HERSELF... SINCE MOST OF HER FAMILY'S INCOME IS FROM HER HUSBAND. BUT SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT OTHERS WHO MAKE A LIVING OFF SUBSITITUTE TEACHING .... 'what are they going to do? a lot of them rely on this for rent, they rely on this for people like me this is extra money to help pay off bills. They're not gonna have that.'THE DISTRICT SAYS THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE WON'T BE ANYMORE SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS AT ALL. IT MEANS THAT CALLING IN A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER WILL NOW BE A LAST RESORT. LIVE AT RIO HOOLS ARE ALREADY PRESSED. AA... EWN4. RIO RANCHO  « Less