Lake Oswego announces task force to save schools targeted for closing | OregonLive.com

Lake Oswego announces task force to save schools targeted for closing | OregonLive.com

Lake Oswego announces task force to save schools targeted for closing

Published: Saturday, January 08, 2011, 8:00 PM Updated: Saturday, January 08, 2011, 10:48 PM

By Everton Bailey Jr., The Oregonian
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Everton Bailey Jr./The OregonianAbout 100 city residents gathered in the council chambers of Lake Oswego City Hall on Saturday to share issues and projects they felt city officials should focus on for the year. The possible closure of schools to combat an estimated multimillion dollar school budget shortfall was the chief concern.

LAKE OSWEGO -- City councilors are hoping a new collaborative group with education officials will help produce alternatives to a controversial budget proposal that targets some Lake Oswego schools for closure.

Mayor Jack Hoffman announced during a city council community roundtable meeting on Saturday that an eight-person task force has been formed to brainstorm ways to lessen a projected school budget shortfall that could reach as high as $8 million dollars next year.

A recent proposal by a citizens advisory committee calls for shutting down three Lake Oswego elementary schools, saving the district about $1.6 million. A follow-up proposal could also ax a junior and high school, which is estimated to save at least another $2.4 million.

The formation of