New budget counts on shared sacrifice to protect students' education

Under the $6 billion state budget for K-12 over the next two years, Portland Public Schools faced a $32.3 million shortfall next year. That gap was closed through decisions that consistently put students first:

• Cuts to central office services: $3.0 million
• Reductions in central office staff (22.5 positions): $2.0 million
• Reductions in school staff (24 positions): $2.0 million
• Alternative funding for Outdoor School: $1.1 million
• Five unpaid days off for all employees: $6.0 million
• Tapping reserve funds: $9.0 million
• Eliminating cost-of-living pay increases for all employees: $9.2 million

The school district must still come to agreement with the Portland Association of Teachers before moving forward on the unpaid furlough days and no cost-of-living increases. (The school district must also gain agreement from other employee groups on COLA freezes for represented employees whose contracts are open in 2009-10.) PPS and the PAT are in bargaining over a new contract for teachers; the two sides have had a series of informal talks since January. Despite a concerted effort and long hours of informal conversation from late May through early June, the two sides have not yet been able to reach agreement.

The Oregon Legislature has passed a $6 billion 2009-11 budget for K-12 education, with $200 million of that amount held back until the second year of the budget, to be released if the economic forecast holds up and the revenue measures approved by the legislature take effect.

To learn more about the budget, click here.

At Portland Public Schools, this is our goal: By the end of elementary, middle, and high school, every student by name will meet or exceed academic standards and will be fully prepared to make productive life decisions. For more information on Portland Public Schools, call 503-916-3304, e-mail us at pubinfo@pps.net, or visit www.pps.k12.or.us. Portland Public Schools is an equal opportunity educator and employer.