Portland School Board Urged to Seek Alternative Funding by Oregon Legislators
Sixteen Oregon legislators have sent a letter to the Portland Public Schools' board members, urging them to find their own money to settle the ongoing teachers' strike and criticizing the district for excessive spending on administration. The legislators argue that the district should prioritize classroom and student learning investments and cut unnecessary administrative expenses. However, some of Portland's progressive lawmakers refused to provide additional state funding. The superintendent addressed the issue, stating that even significant administrative cuts would not be enough to bridge the funding gap. The letter also rehashes the school funding debate from the spring, highlighting that while Oregon allocated a record amount of money to K-12 schools, it falls short of the state's own Quality Education Model. The district and the teachers' union are currently back at the bargaining table.