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Parkrose School District roils over Ballot Measure 13 defeat Measure 13 defeat could spell $1.4 million in cuts to the Parkrose School District budget for next year SEAN P. NELSON THE MID-COUNTY MEMO
The measure would have transferred an education endowment fund financed through the Oregon State Lottery of $220 million into the states general fund used for public education. The state was going to establish the fund, then raid it for schools, Taylor said. Last March the state announced statewide budget cuts due to the recession. The Parkrose School District made plans for a three percent reduction for the projected budget for the next fiscal year from July 1, 2002-June 31, 2003 in anticipation of the passage of Ballot Measure 13. The measure failed and the District will now consider what to do about it at its meeting to adopt the budget on Monday, June 24, said Parkrose School Board Chair Rod Martin. The initially anticipated three percent cuts would have eliminated seven full-time teachers, two classified employees and two custodians or teachers aides. If the Oregon Legislature does nothing to remedy the current shortfall, the Parkrose School District will cut its budget an additional seven percent, or $1.4 million, Martin said. This will lead to the elimination of 21 full-time teachers, the elimination of support staff such as music, physical education, or library aides, or the elimination of 13 to 15 school days. To us, this is unacceptable, Martin said. The Oregon Legislature is now in Special Session with education a big topic of discussion. Legislators may refer the matter of school funding to a Special Election in September or the regular election in November. Meanwhile, the Parkrose School District must adopt a budget. Thats all we can do if the Legislature doesnt do anything. We have to have a budget in place to be legal, Martin said. Taylor said the District would be reluctant to make cuts until they know the long term situation. If we eliminate programs such as elementary school music, counseling or athletics, you cant put those back in the middle of the year, Taylor said. Martin agreed. The thing that were looking at is that we dont want to cut those positions. They could come back, but obviously they would look for a job elsewhere. The lesser of the three evils seems to be cutting days of the school year rather than cutting teaching or support positions. The only thing you can do is cancel days of school to raise more money, Martin said. According to Martin it now costs the Parkrose School District $83,000 a day to operate. $1.4 million in cuts would lead to a loss of 13 to 15 school days. The adopted budget in the wake of the failure of Ballot Measure 13 will be decided at the Parkrose School District meeting on June 24. |
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