Salem-Keizer Public Schools Superintendent Andrea Castañeda has proposed a general fund budget of $646.5 million for the 2024-25 school year.
That’s about $21.5 million, or 3.4%, more than the current school year’s budget.
But it’s not enough to keep up with rising costs, said Castañeda, who blamed rising personnel expenses and the loss of federal COVID-19 aid.
“Salem-Keizer’s 2024-25 budget reflects a moment predicted in Oregon and across the country: the final, grim intersection of flawed and failed school funding policies and school systems trying to meet the ever-increasing needs of their students ,” she said Tuesday night. in his presentation to the district budget committee.
Castañeda took over as superintendent last July. This is your first budget in the district.
The proposal cuts the equivalent of 224 full-time teachers and 138.75 auxiliary workers.
“We recognize and regret the pain of this budget, but we cannot allow ambivalence or hesitation to interfere with our fiduciary and ethical responsibilities to Salem-Keizer Public Schools,” Castañeda said.
Salem-Keizer District Enrollment Declining, Costs Rising
Salem-Keizer’s enrollment is expected to decline again next year, from about 38,648 to 38,061 students. This is approximately the same enrollment as the 2006-07 school year.
Since 2006-07, the district’s staffing has grown 47 percent across all employee groups.
Students are now more difficult and expensive to serve, requiring more staff, Castañeda said.
“We are funded to provide education,” she said. “But we are expected to provide medical care, solutions to food and housing insecurity, social services, laundry, crisis intervention, mental and behavioral health services and more.”
Additionally, special education costs are rising and students and families are still impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.
Castañeda’s proposed budget includes $48 million for mental and behavioral health services, the largest amount in the district’s history.
All Funds Budget for Salem-Keizer Public Schools Decreases
The general fund is the district’s main day-to-day operating fund.
Other funds include capital projects, grants, and self-sustaining services.
In total, the district plans to spend $1.1 billion next school year. This represents $187 million, or 14%, less than the current school year’s budget.
Much of this decrease is explained by reduced spending from a construction bond approved by voters in 2018. Spending in that fund will fall from $202 million this year to $46.2 million next year as construction projects construction are completed.
The district also expects to receive $46.7 million less in grants, including federal COVID-19 funding.
$60 million unspent
Castañeda’s proposal will leave $60 million unspent in the general fund at the end of the 2024-25 school year.
That balance, which will be carried over into next year’s budget, has been controversial, with district unions and some parents urging that it be spent to maintain current programs.
Castañeda said the balance is needed so the district can continue to pay its bills in case of unforeseen circumstances, such as delays in disbursing payments from the state school fund.
The transition from the budgeted general fund is lower than that recorded for at least five years, totaling 9% of planned expenses. That’s within the school board’s goal of 7% to 10%.
Public Contribution Opportunities
Now, the district’s budget committee, comprised of the seven school board directors as well as seven appointed community members, will provide public testimony on the proposed budget.
The committee will make a recommendation to the school board, which must approve the final spending plan before June 30.
Here are the upcoming dates:
-
6 p.m., Tuesday, May 14: The budget committee will hear public testimony and consider the proposal.
-
6 p.m., Monday, May 20: The budget committee will hear public testimony, consider the proposal, and may vote on it.
-
6pm Tuesday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 22: Interim meetings are scheduled if further debate is needed before voting. Public comments may or may not be received.
Meetings will be held in person in the district’s boardroom at 2575 Commercial St. SE in Salem and will also be live-streamed.
More information is available at https://salkeiz.k12.or.us/about/budget.
Tracy Loew covers education at the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips: tloew@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6779. Follow her on Twitter at @Tracy_Loew
This article originally appeared in the Salem Statesman Journal: Salem-Keizer schools superintendent proposes ‘dismal’ budget
