Monday, March 4, 2013 – The chief budget writers of the Oregon Legislature today released their proposal for funding public schools over the next two years. And the news is positive.

The co-chairmen of the budget-writing Ways & Means Committee proposed spending $6.75 billion for aid to schools in the next two years. That is $1 billion above the 2011-13 budget and more than the $6.4 billion proposed by Gov. John Kitzhaber.

The Oregon Legislature crafts its budget on two-year cycles, unlike many other states. Ways & Means is the budget-writing forum for the Legislature, and consists of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives. This year’s co-chairmen are Sen. Richard Devlin of Tualatin and Rep. Peter Buckley ofAshland.

Every two years, the governor proposes a budget; the Ways & Means Committee offers a compromise budget; and the full Legislature debates the merits of each. The coming budget must be ready when the 2013-15 biennium begins on July 1.

“This is a great step in the right direction,” said Portland Mayor Charlie Hales. “For too long, we have allowed Oregon’s public K-12 schools to fade. The results: increased class sizes; the elimination of arts, music and shop classes; the loss of librarians and counselors; long delays to replace aging textbooks and roofs. The co-chairs are saying: Enough.”

As one of his first acts as mayor, Hales created a group known as Mayors for Oregon School Kids. The mayors are seeking responsible and predictable funding for Oregon’s public K-12 schools. Mayors on the committee represent small towns and cities; Eastern, Central, Southern and WesternOregon; the coast; rural, suburban and urban communities; and all political parties.

“We all know we cannot afford for our schools to lose any more teachers or school days,” Sen. Devlin said.

The framework unveiled by Devlin and Rep. Buckley will be the starting point for lawmakers, who must fit spending on school aid and agencies within the plan.

Mayors Come Together To Support Schools

THURSDAY, FEB. 28, 2013 – Mayors from throughout Oregon are coming together this week to discuss a shared concern for adequate state support for local public schools.

Portland Mayor Charlie Hales hosted a conference call Thursday to get the process rolling by launching a new group, Mayors For Oregon’s School Kids.

Hales and other Oregon mayors also have engaged the Legislature in discussions regarding sufficient and predictable funding for schools.

Hales – who was sworn into office in January – made the issue one of his three priorities for this year.

“I, for one, am tired of our schools being held together by bake sales and short-term financial Band-Aids,” Hales said. “Instead, our State Legislature needs to fund schools first, and fund them adequately, whether the school is in Pendleton, Coos Bay, Portland or Medford. The value of providing a first-class education to our students pays dividends in every city and town in Oregon.”

In years past, the city of Portland has earmarked millions of dollars to public schools. But this year's shortfall will make that impossible. Other cities and school districts face similar crises.  

Mayors participating in the group include:

Mayor Charlie Hales, Portland

Mayor Denny Doyle, Beaverton

Mayor Shawna Canton, Culver

Mayor Stephen Lawrence, The Dalles

Mayor Brian Hodson, Canby

Mayor Sheila Farwell, Halfway

Mayor Virginia Carnes, Pilot Rock

Mayor Brian Dalton, Dallas

Mayor Sandy Toms, Boardman

Mayor Jerry Willey, Hillsboro

Mayor Tim Knapp, Wilsonville

Mayor Todd Kellstrom, Klamath Falls

Mayor Matt Rowe, Coquille

Mayor Nola Xavier, Florence

Mayor Dennis Anthony, Haines

Mayor Carl Jacobson, Cave Junction

Mayor Susan Woodruff, Waldport

Mayor Kitty Piercy, Eugene

Mayor David Brunscheon, Junction City

Mayor Doug Neeley, Oregon City

Mayor John Stromberg,Ashland

Mayor Peter Truax, Forest Grove

Mayor Julie Manning, Corvallis

Mayor Dick Anderson, LincolnCity

Mayor Bill Middleton, Sherwood

Mayor Andrew Otte, Mt. Angel

Mayor Lou Ogden, Tualatin

Mayor Daniel Pokorney, La Grande

Ron Brean, Mayor, Yachats

Shirley Kalkhoven, Nehalem

Suzanne Weber, Tillamook

Mark Hardie ,Maywood Park

Jerry Cole ,Rainier

Kathryn Figley, Woodburn

Don Larson, Seaside

Margie Shaw, Enterprise

Doug Neeley, Oregon City

Doug Daoust, Troutdale

Mike Weatherby, Fairview

Betty Roppe, Prineville

Lori DeRemer, Happy Valley

Kathie Oriet,Carlton

Jack Lorts, Fossil

Phillip W. Houk, Pendleton

Bob Russell, Eagle Point

Dale De Long,IslandCity

Information released by teachers, administrators and school board members have pointed to proposed budgets that would disenfranchise public schools even further. The numbers cited at the Capitol in Salem include:

$6.15 billion - Crisis budget

• Loss of teachers
• Increased class sizes
• Cutting more school days
• Elimination of many extra-curricular activities

$6.55 billion – More of the same

• Loss of teachers
• Increased class sizes
• Cutting more school days

$6.75 billion – Stability

• Some districts can restore some school days
• Status quo for class sizes
• Status quo for programs

“This is not an urban, suburban, or rural issue,” Hales said. “It’s an Oregon issue. I believe that there is power in mayors coming together with a unified front.”