With what's being called an "education funding crisis" on the horizon, top superintendents from Oregon's largest school districts have issued a call to arms, imploring state officials to re-evaluate the decades-old funding formula. In a video statement circulated on district YouTube accounts, Portland, Salem-Keizer, Bend-La Pine, and Medford district leaders expressed grave concerns about the financial future of their schools, according to the Oregon Capital Chronicle. Representing over 115,000 students, the districts grapple with budget crunches that could severely impact educational services.
The grip on the districts' finances tightens as pending budget reductions loom. Medford Schools Superintendent Dr. Bret Champion revealed to KOIN 6 News that his district will ax $7.5 million from next year’s budget, affecting 32.5 positions. Dr. Champion's counterpart in Salem-Keizer, Superintendent Andrea Castañeda, faces even steeper cuts, with $70 million and 400 positions up for elimination. "We urgently need support and attention, conviction, and courage to look carefully at our state’s funding formula and protect what matters most in our communities," Castañeda told KOIN 6 News.
