Inadequate state funding and the end of COVID-19 relief dollars have left school districts across Oregon with multimillion-dollar budget deficits. Portland Public Schools officials are planning to cut $30 million out of next year’s budget and administrators at Salem-Keizer Public Schools need to cut $60 million. The Bend-La Pine School Board recently voted to place a local tax levy on the spring ballot in an effort to close their funding gaps. And in Southwest Washington, Evergreen Public Schools is facing a $16-20 million budget shortfall, while Vancouver Public Schools is facing $35 million.
OPB’s K-12 education reporter Natalie Pate joins us to share more about what’s driving the budget cuts and the impact they could have on students and families.
Think Out Loud