Jackson County Democrats

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MEDFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT ISSUES PROPOSED BUDGET

Read Superintendent Phil Long’s budget message plus view the proposed Medford School District budget online at www.medford.k12.or.us

While there are some concessions in administrative costs, the district has had to go straight to the classroom in deciding how to balance this budget. Below are some highlights:

1) 35 teaching positions eliminated, including 22 layoffs, and 13 retirements not replaced.

The impact by school by grade level is not delineated in the budget. Elementary music (8.6 teachers) is a definite possibility under the 22 layoffs.

2) The budget retains the Instructional Coach program in its current state, as a program to mentor teachers and improve teacher quality. Although the district intends to fully fund the program from Federal dollars, the question remains as to whether or not these positions could work directly with at-risk students in reading and math. Considering the increase in class sizes contemplated with this budget, deploying those students for direct intervention might be a better use of scarce resources. Considering the 22 layoffs would include newer teachers, the need for mentoring would seem to be on the decline.

3) There is still a $1.9 million hole, which the district has not identified how it will plug. If this were once again to hit the classroom, that is around 25 teachers. The District is budgeting $6.7 million in its reserve (fund balance), which seems high compared to a target of 5% of operations (about $5 million). Including a lower reserve level would free up $1.7 million.

4) At the middle school, this budget keeps Track and field, cross country, volleyball and wrestling which are sports seen as not being provided in the community. They are looking at outside partners to provide the other sports outside of school. 

5) In High school, assistant coaches for every sport were eliminated, and golf is combined under one coach.

The one and only Public Comment period before the Budget Committee adopts the budget is scheduled for May 26^th, 6 pm, Washington Elementary Cafeteria. The public may comment at the regular School Board meeting, June 2^nd, SMHS, prior to the Board voting on the budget.

 Contact: Karen Starchvick  gstarchvick@aol.com