Gresham-Barlow School Board Adopts Budget For 2017-2018

GRESHAM, OR — Facing a $3.5 million shortfall in the oncoming school year budget, the Gresham-Barlow School Board approved what budget it could for the 2017-2018 school year at its meeting Thursday night.

With the board's adoption of a $130 million general fund budget, the school district now faces losing 11 positions across its administrative personnel, teaching staff, and support staff. Additionally, the lowered budget means the district will need to dip into $2 million from its reserves and reduce the curriculum and capital facilities budgets.

The adopted budget, school officials said, is based on an $8.1 billion funding level for K-12 schools for the 2017-2019 biennium.

In his budget message to school district families and employees, Superintendent Jim Schlachter remained confident the district could provide its students with what they need to have a constructive, healthy learning environment, and thanked all those who helped to form what appears to have been a challenging budget proposal based on all the unknowns still at play.

"While we have built this budget based on $8.1 billion in statewide funding for the biennium, $8.4 billion in funding is needed to maintain our current educational program," Schlachter said in a statement. "We urge the state legislature to continue working to find additional funding for schools between now and the end of the legislative session.”"

District officials expect the district's reserves to be at a healthy $12 million as of July 1, allowing for the $2 million withdrawal for operations costs. And because the district made seven curriculum purchases during the 2016-2017 school year, the cut to curriculum purchases won't be as hard felt in 2017-2018.

Nevertheless, a continued shortage in available funds to K-12 schools across the state will only result in more reductions to staff and faculty, services and programs, and teaching materials for all.

According to district officials, Oregon Senate lawmakers on June 8 passed an $8.2 billion spending plan for the state's K-12 schools, but it's still unknown how much will actually make it through the final official vote — which House representatives could vote on as early as next week.

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