School officials from four local districts awoke to face a new challenge today after their levies were struck down by voters. Springfield Local, Oregon City, Sylvania and Toledo Public Schools have already had to make serious changes to balance this year’s budget, and now they're trying to figure out just where else they can cut.
Voters from four different districts said no to levies that would provide additional money to already strapped school systems. For Springfield Local, Toledo Public, Sylvania and Oregon city schools it means cuts, in some cases directly to the classrooms.
“We recognize that its hard to ask for that but its also a huge loss for our students,” says Kathryn Hott, Superintendent of Springfield Local Schools. Springfield Local made more than 3 million dollars in cuts right before this school year. Effective immediately, transportation for all high school students will be eliminated, bus routes will be consolidated and all buildings will be closed 30 minutes after class is dismissed. That means any plays, rehearsals or club meetings will no longer be held in school buildings.
Toledo Public Schools says it now must find a way to cut more than 30 million dollars. That amount is in addition to the 49 million dollars the district has already cut in the past two years. All options are on the table, including closing schools with low enrollments and further reductions to staff. “we're going to have to look at schools as far as capacity, and were going to have to look at boundary lines,” says Jeff Gault, Chief Academic Officer of TPS.
Oregon City Schools is also making cuts. Superintendent Dr. Michael Zalar says “were going to have to cut our budget 2 million and that's going to mean the reduction of about 20 more teaching and staff positions.” An elementary school will be closed and transportation for high school students will also be eliminated.
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