News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sisters schools will be pinched by a lower-than-expected appropriation from the Oregon Legislature.
The Legislature passed a $4.81 billion education budget at the end of a long session on Friday, July 23. The Sisters School District 1999-2000 budget was based on an appropriation of $4.86-$4.87 billion.
According to schools superintendent Steve Swisher, the final budget figure translates to about $90,000 less than what the district had anticipated.
However, Swisher noted, funding for the Crook/ Deschutes Educational Service District should jump to about $120 per student under the budget package (the current rate is $54). Sisters schools currently contract for thousands of dollars worth of services from the ESD (see related story, p. 17).
The boost in ESD funding "may mean $70,000 in apportionment (to Sisters schools) that we haven't had before.
The real budget picture for Sisters schools won't become clear for another couple of weeks, Swisher noted.
"What comes into play now is how the (state) formula is put together,"he said.
There is a chance that some money from the state budget will be funneled to fast- growing districts such as Bend-La Pine School District. That could cost smaller districts like Sisters more funding from the budget package.
The Sisters School Board will review the budget once the final formula is nailed down. According to Swisher, if the budget turns out to be short funds in the range of $15,000 to 20,000, the board will likely direct staff to make adjustments internally, tightening belts throughout the district.
A steeper drop in the budget would require a review of staffing and programs, Swisher said.
And the state budget package is not the only concern facing the district.
State funding is based on student enrollment.
"The one element that we all have to keep in front of us ... is enrollment,"Swisher said.
"If we don't hit about 1,100 students, then we have problems.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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