School labor hearing delayed


By Eric Maddy
The SCORE

A public hearing on labor issues between the Rio Rancho Public Schools and its union was delayed Tuesday morning as two district representatives were unable to attend due to family emergencies.

The daughter of Sue Passell, the district’s executive director of human resources, had a seizure Monday night and was hospitalized, superintendent Sue Cleveland said. And the husband of Shirley Ogle, the director of secondary personnel, had a relapse of an on-going medical issue that prevented her from attending the hearing.

Representatives of the district and the union went into a private session with hearing officer Kathleen McCorkell to discuss language that may be used as a framework for a possible settlement. A template for the language was provided by union representative Andy Lotrich based on a Las Cruces transportation case.

Lotrich and Peggy Steilow, president of the Rio Rancho School Employees Union, represented labor in the private talks. The district was being represented by attorney Dina Holcomb and Denise Potter, the director of elementary personnel.

The private session began at approximately 11:25 a.m. and the two sides met until 12:45 p.m., when they adjourned for an hour for lunch. The two sides then went back into the private session.

McCorkell said it was becoming “less likely” that any public discussion would be conducted on Tuesday, but it could happen if Passell and/or Ogle were able to be present. Otherwise, that part of the process could be rescheduled.