Lake Oswego teachers could face more cuts

District begins planning its budget on several variables

By Rebecca Randall

The Lake Oswego Review, Feb 4, 2010 (7 Reader comments)

ADVERTISEMENTS

On the heels of the passage of Measures 66 and 67 last week, the Lake Oswego School District announced the possibility of cutting 16 teachers for the 2010-11 school year.

Planning numbers for special services and Talented and Gifted teachers as well as nonteaching staff haven’t been determined yet.

The election’s outcome preserves $3.1 million of the district’s budget, which included the two tax increases in faith that they would hold.

Despite the victory, revenue levels are still not what they were prior to the recession. The 2009-10 budget has a $7.2 million gap in an otherwise $60 million budget.

Next year, the situation isn’t expected to change much, said Superintendent Bill Korach.

“It’s hugely positive for us that it passed, but all it did was keep the money that the state has designated for school districts.”

The Lake Oswego School District Foundation’s contribution this year could still save some of those jobs, but it is yet to be seen how many.

“Right now if they have a successful year, we will cut fewer teaching positions that are in the (planning) document,” said Korach.

In implementing this year’s budget, the district cut 19 temporary teachers and one probationary teacher. Additionally, one junior high teacher was transferred to an elementary school, and some contract teachers were impacted by a reduction in FTE or change of subject matter.

As the foundation began to commit more funding, the district added back advanced math instruction for elementary students who are going to be taking accelerated math at the middle schools, extended Chinese instruction from three years to four years at the high school level and added the equivalent of a period of physical education at the elementary level.

1 | 2 Next Page >>