By Kristine Thomas
Mount Angel Superintendent Troy Stoops and Silver Falls Superintendent Andy Bellando are already anticipating decisions for 2013-14 district budgets.
This time next year, both men said in separate interviews, they are anticipating having to make some tough decisions if the economy does not rebound.
“The actual allocation to schools is the same as it was in 2007,” Bellando told his budget committee May 10. “It also represents 39 percent of the state budget compared to 44 percent of the state budget just five years ago.”
Bellando told the committee it would be “easy to be frustrated and even bitter about the continued economic condition in Oregon and its impact on our inability to budget in the best interest of students. We continue to be in the most challenging economic climate in recent history.”
Rather, he said, he presented the budget in the spirit of optimism, knowing school funding levels will improve at some point.
Both Bellando and Stoops told their budget committees every effort was made to maintain programs and staffing to enable the districts to continue offering a quality education.
Mount Angel School District
A combination of reduced state revenue, increases in goods and services and a slowly declining enrollment contributed to a shortfall of $785,218, Stoops said.
In 2011-12, the district’s general fund budget was $6.856 million compared to the 2012-13 budget of $6.378.
Kennedy High School principal Ben Merrill resigned to take a job in Baker City so next year Mount Angel Middle School Principal Debi Brazelton will become high school principal and the middle school position will become a half-time job. Total staff reductions represent the equivalent of five full-time employees.
Stoops said there are no funds allocated for major maintenance and the budget is based on all district salaries being frozen at 2011-12 levels, with no COLA or experience steps, and no increases in benefits.
In anticipation of next year’s shortfall, district staff has agreed to add one furlough day during the current 2011-12 school year. The proposal recommends seven furlough days next year for all district staff.
The school day reductions will have a significant impact on district staff and students, Stoops said. “However, I remain confident with the continuing commitment from our dedicated staff and the support of our parents and community Mount Angel School District still has the potential to develop into the best small school district in the state.”
Silver Falls School District
A tentative agreement with the teachers’ union stipulates four furlough days for the 2012-13 school year, two non-student contact days and two contact days, Bellando said, adding the contract was pending board approval on May 14.
The general fund budget for the 2012-13 school year is $30.267 million compared to $30.522 million for the current year. Five classified positions were eliminated along with the equivalent of one full-time certified employee. The budget committee approved the budget May 10, which next needs to be adopted by the school board.
“The 2012-13 proposed budget reflects an additional reserve amount of $1.3 million which will result in an estimated $1.2 million ending fund balance; approximately 4 percent,” Bellando said. “This is the lowest level experienced by this district.” With aging facilities and the reslting unknowns, he recommends future budgets are created with the intent of increasing the ending fund balance each year to less risky levels.
“It’s my hope that economic recovery in Oregon allows for this to occur without the future impact of additional layoffs or unpaid furlough days,” he said.
