A pretty important story from Elaine D. Briseño in today’s Rio Rancho Journal (sub. req.):

Enrollment numbers for the 40th day of school show Rio Rancho needed more than a thousand new desks.

Officials expect it will need thousands more in years to come.

Enrollment figures released by Rio Rancho Public Schools show a surge of new students this year, as they have every year since Rio Rancho Public Schools declared its independence from Albuquerque Public Schools in 1994.

The numbers also indicate the rate of growth is speeding up. Last year, the district grew by about 6 percent. Enrollment numbers jumped 8.6 percent this year.