Schools face stormy budget picture

It looks like Sisters schools will escape any further budget cuts this year. But the next few years still look pretty gloomy for the local district - and for schools across Oregon.

Superintendent Jim Golden addressed the budget picture in his most recent update to parents, staff, and community members.

"It looks as though our best hope is that we could be flat-funded for the next two years (2011-2013), which would mean we would still fall behind due to increased operating costs," he said. "We could possibly be looking at having to cut up to $1.5 million dollars from our budget next year, which would be about a 10 percent reduction in expenditures from our current year. These possible cuts come after two years of budget cutting, including a nine percent reduction in funding at the end of the last school year (2009-2010)."

Further cuts will slide into the muscle and bone of local schools.

"We will try to maintain our favorable class sizes and cut as far away from the classroom as possible," Golden stated. "Given the size of budget reductions we may have to make, we will be faced with some very difficult and heartbreaking decisions regarding programs, personnel and compensation."

School administrators will be meeting to discuss possible cutting scenarios, and Golden promised that the public would have ample opportunity to weigh in on future budget decisions.