Impasse leaves schools in dark

There is a pretty good chance that Sisters will start its school year without knowing how much money the district will have to operate.

As the Oregon Legislature slogs through a record-length session with no budget to show for it, the Sisters School District has put hiring plans on hold.

"We are leaving a couple of positions unfilled right now," said School Superintendent Lynn Baker.

Those positions are in language arts and math and science, both at Sisters High School.

"If we don't have a budget, we'll have to leave those positions unfilled, which will result, for a time, in larger class sizes," Baker said.

There are some signs that a budget agreement may finally come from an exhausted legislature, but Baker said he has heard nothing but unconfirmed rumors.

The Sisters School District based its budget for 2003-4 on a state education budget of $5.0 billion. Baker said there is some hope for a $5.2 billion budget, which would allow the unfilled positions to be filled.

Hiring so close to the school year -- or after it starts -- is not ideal. However, Baker noted, other districts, too, have been unable to make hiring decisions in the face of an uncertain budget.

"The good thing is, we're all in the same boat," he said.

Anything lower than $5 billion in state allocations would likely lead to cuts.

Baker said he is strongly opposed to lopping days off the calendar to make up any deficit. The district cut five days last year.

"I really don't want to do that again," Baker said. "It's an option, but an option I'd like to avoid."

It's an option the district may face again, depending on the final state allocation. There isn't any room to spare in the current year's budget.

"From what I understand talking with our business manager, this year is as lean as we've been," Baker said. "We have no wiggle room."

Despite a tight budget, Sisters schools are in better shape than most, due to nearly $700,000 per year infused into the budget by local option taxes approved by Sisters voters in November 2000.

Baker described those funds as "absolutely critical." Without local option, Sisters schools would face deep program cuts. Local option expires in 2004 and Baker said the district is already laying the groundwork to go back to voters.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

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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