As the legislature works to bring the 2011 session to a close, a deal is being made that will have a profoundly negative impact on our schools. Lawmakers are working behind closed doors to hold money for our schools hostage to bad public policy bills. Legislators are looking to horse trade $25 million in additional school funding in exchange for bills that would:

• expand charter schools at the same time we’re being forced to close public schools all over the state,
• revoke enrollment policies, causing more financial havoc for already-struggling districts,
• force public schools to pay for students to attend for-profit virtual, charter schools,
• take money out of emergency school reserves and use it to fund a private, merit-pay program.

Oregon’s teachers, parents, and education advocates are speaking out against this bad deal. We need to tell legislators that these bad policy ideas don’t make sense for students and would only take money and resources out of our classrooms.

We need your help TODAY! This deal is being made NOW and your legislators and the governor need to hear from you.

Contact your legislator and the governor today! Tell them:

• This package is a bad deal for public education!
• The so-called education package will shift money away from our schools, inflicting long-term damage on our students.
• Work with educators and education advocates to improve the bills, and if you can’t make them better, VOTE NO!!

Across the state, schools are facing deep, painful cuts. The students in these schools can’t afford for lawmakers to play games with their future. We’ve spent the last few months compiling news clips from around the state, and have provided them here for you to read.

The evidence is staggering. Our schools are hurting. It’s time to act.

School closures

Salem-Keizer plans to close five elementary schools
OPB

Lake Oswego School District committee continues planning for school closures; parents urge board to scale back plans
Oregonian

More than 80 Dilley, Gales Creek parents rally in opposition of closing, consolidating the schools
Oregonian

The smaller they are, the harder they fall
Statesman Journal

Read small school profiles: Bethel — Fruitland — Hazel Green — Lake Labish — Rosedale

Budget shortfalls cause one school to close, what’s next?
KTVL

Coping with closures
Register Guard

Districts across Oregon look to school closures for savings
Oregonian

District urged to keep three schools open
Statesman Journal

Lake Oswego board votes to close 3 schools over the next 2 years
Oregonian

Staff losses

Redmond schools staff forego pay raise
KTVZ

Salem-Keizer district to cut schools, teachers
Statesman Journal

Reynolds School District is expected to lay off more than 100
Oregonian

School employee concessions have created flat salaries and fewer work days
Register Guard

Salem-Keizer Schools proposed budget includes loss of 228 teachers
Salem Statesman Journal

Proposed budget cuts would mean 100 staff positions lost for Tigard-Tualatin School District
Oregonian

26 Rogue River teachers’ jobs up in the air
Rogue River Press

Salem’s education leaders on teacher layoffs
Willamette Week

Sisters cuts elementary principal position
KTVZ

A look at when cuts hit the classroom
Statesman Journal

Beaverton School District librarians will not be shushed as they fight for their jobs in face of budget cuts
Oregonian

Can Beaverton schools afford to lose these positions?
Portland Tribune

School workers get bad news on layoffs
Statesman Journal

Beaverton school district employees agree to furlough days, pay cuts
Beaverton Valley Times

Program cuts

South Eugene choir students are vocal about teacher’s layoff
Register Guard

Schools struggle to recover amid years of cuts
MyCentralOregon

Crowd pleads against program cuts
Register Guard

OCSD will cut 10 days after bond failure; incumbents to victories
Oregon City News Online

Portland School Board votes to cut teachers, shorten Outdoor School
Oregonian

Salem-Keizer weighs cuts to sports, teachers
KATU

Forest Grove students’ play, a proactive protest to school budget cuts, opens May 12
Oregonian

Cuts: How deep is too deep?
Oregon City News

Central Oregonians plead to fend off cuts
KTVZ

Library backers urge school board to reconsider cuts
Statesman Journal

Full-day kindergarten hit by Medford budget axe
Mail Tribune

Hard times ahead for Salem school district
The Lower Columbia Daily News

Budget cuts threaten S-K district programs for at-risk youth
Statesman Journal

Schools’ music program cuts could cost talent, opportunities
Statesman Journal

School supporters speak in defense of programs at budget hearing
Statesman Journal

Cuts coming to the classroom
KOHD

Feds say Oregon must boost special education funding or face sanctions
Oregonian

Salem-Keizer cuts target school librarians
Statesman Journal

Other

Oregon’s new normal: School spending consistently trails national average
Oregonian

School districts feel pinch of ‘new normal’
Portland Tribune

Schools’ short year burdens districts
Register Guard

Eugene school budget struggles: Part 1
KEZI

Hermiston school budget cuts looming
KEPR

Sharing the (budget) pain
Statesman Journal

Beaverton school district offers list of 25 budget reductions, looks to community for feedback
Beaverton Valley Times

Salem-Keizer schools’ budget has no more room to grow
Statesman Journal

Budget hit for Oregon’s K-12 takes shape
KOIN

District ready to decide on cuts
East Oregonian

School districts with tight budgets weigh options
KATU

More than 150 pack Forest Grove School Board meeting to speak against cuts
Oregonian

Southern Oregon schools facing cuts
KDRV

Parents grasp reality of education budget shortfall
KEZI

Oregon’s K-12 schools get shrinking share of state budget
Oregonian

Keeping classes small while budget cuts grow
OPB

Cutting school
KDRV