Oregon schools facing budget cuts: Administrator’s 
salary will save 
money next year

OREGON – Budget cuts are almost a certainty for Oregon School District next year, and staff cuts should be considered, Superintendent William Mattingly told the school board this week.

“I believe we will need to reduce spending by $400,000 to $600,000 for next year,” Mattingly said.

The district is facing “a perfect storm” financially, as it copes with drastically decreased state revenues and reimbursements, an increasing number of students on free and reduced-cost school lunches, and a “significant” 14 percent drop in enrollment over the last 5 years, he said.

“Aside from the financial part of it, with the enrollment decline we should be looking at [staff] reductions anyway,” he said.

There are 538 students and 34 certified staff members at the high school: 27 teachers are recommended for that number of students, he said.

In 2006, the district’s enrollment was 1,814. This year it’s 1,578. Over the same period, state aid has dropped from $3.7 million to $3.2 million this year.

To make matters worse, Mattingly expects only $2.8 million in general state aid next year.

For the first time in history, the state is expected to reduce the amount of general state aid paid per student by at least $100, he said.

“On top of that, right now the state owes us over $700,000 (in general state aid). We’re scheduled to receive just over $300,000 of that,” Mattingly said.

The district has enough surplus funds to cover the shortfall from the state if lawmakers can solve the financial dilemma in the near future, he said.

On a brighter note, a new administrative post approved by the board Monday night is expected to save the district more than $100,000 next year.

Adam Larsen, a psychologist for the Ogle County Educational Cooperative who works in the Oregon and Kings school districts, will become director of student assessment and achievement as of July 1.

With salary and benefits, he will make $82,705 in 2010-11.

Mattingly, who is retiring at the end of the school year, said because of salary differences, the district will pay $104,800 less next year for two administrative posts.