Portland, Oregon: 19.4 million in cuts to education, 4.3% of budget, 200+ positions cut

[Hannah Bell]

Superintendent Carole Smith today released $19.4 million in cuts to Portland Public Schools’ proposed 2010-11 budget — roughly 4.3 percent of the PPS general fund budget.

Her recommendation to the Portland School Board follows a 9 percent across-the-board reduction in state spending.

In a letter to families, Smith stated, “Over the last 15 years, we have cut budgets repeatedly and tried as much as we can to protect our classrooms, our teaching jobs and our student’s school experience. This year I must recommend difficult cuts that will cost valued employees their jobs and that will be felt at every school, by every student.”

Central support and operations: $3.1 million
PPS central services and operations — including administration, finance and payroll, transportation, building maintenance and more — will cut spending on materials and services, as well as reduce staff by the equivalent of 25 full-time positions (or FTE).

Special education and English as a Second Language: $4.6 million
Reductions to these services, staffed centrally but touching all schools and programs, include elimination of the equivalent of 52 full-time teaching positions through shifts in staffing assignments and a delay of program enhancements.

School staffing: $11.6 million
This cut will eliminate the equivalent of 126 teaching positions in PPS schools — further reducing already lean school staffing.

http://www.pps.k12.or.us/news/3962.htm

[madrchsod]

1. the wars since 2001 has cost portland 1.25 billion and counting

[Bandit]

2. But I am sure the football team will get all it wants.

:shrug:

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

5. sad, but your probably right.

[Hannah Bell]

3. kik

[LWolf]

4. Every district in Oregon is facing cuts,

including my much smaller district. And Oregon isn't alone.

We're being told to expect MORE cuts in '11-'12, and not to expect any improvements for some years to come.

:(


When my small district cut 50 positions last year, there was nowhere for them to go. No other districts were hiring, for the same reasons.

Unemployment is high enough that all those laid-off employees can't expect to find low-level, low-paying jobs while they wait, perhaps years, to be recalled.

[Robb]

6. Every district in the COUNTRY, seems like.

Not just education, though. Private sector, too. Public sector lags, though, being tax-based.

[Starry Messenger]

7. And then when scores start dropping it will be the teachers' fault

"Fire 'em all, time for accountability!!111"