Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Portland school board reluctant to spend more from savings to prevent painful teacher cutbacks | OregonLive.com

Portland school board reluctant to spend more from savings to prevent painful teacher cutbacks | OregonLive.com

Portland school board reluctant to spend more from savings to prevent painful teacher cutbacks

Published: Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 10:33 PM Updated: Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 11:05 PM
Portland Public Schools should spend down its savings account rather than cut physical education teachers in the face of a $19 million cut in state spending, the school board was told repeatedly Tuesday during a packed budget hearing.

But board members, including David Wynde, the budget chairman, said the board must hold the line and not spend any more from savings given a looming $50 million shortfall for Portland schools in the next two school years, taking into account state revenue forecasts.


"I reluctantly feel we have got to hold on to our reserves," and make permanent cuts to the staffing levels and operating costs of the school system, said board member Dilafruz Williams. "It's sobering, it's depressing, but it's the reality we are facing."

"No matter what we do there is going to be harm to our students," said board member Ruth Adkins. "There is just no way to avoid that."

Board member Pam Knowles said she might be willing to take some amount, but not the full $19 million, from savings to blunt the pain this fall, knowing there will be more pain ahead. "No matter how much we have in reserves,


olunteers needed to teach sustainable living projects to schools and clubs

By Washington County Reader Contributor

June 29, 2010, 6:42PM
4-H partners in this training are Oregon Farm to School and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Full story »

Forest Grove School District administrators get cost of living raise

By Wendy Owen, The Oregonian

June 29, 2010, 4:01PM
Forest Grove principals, superintendent, directors and others will get a 1.75 cost of living raise, but six days of furlough will cut any salary gain Full story »

'Save Portland PE' campaign makes a fast, well-funded splash

PEclass.jpg

By Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian

June 28, 2010, 6:32PM
Backed by hospitals, the Blazers, doctors and Nike, the coalition takes just days to commission a poll, place ads, jump on FaceBook and otherwise mobilize a full-blown media campaign to save gym class in Portland elementary and middle schools Full story »