4J School Board Updates: Archive

Reduction in school calendar and employee paychecks will help fill $15.2 million budget gap

7/2/10 — The time has come to find a new owner for the Civic Stadium property.

In August and September, the school board will approve specific criteria for evaluating proposals and a timeline for the Request for Proposals (RFP) process. The board welcomes public input about the proposed criteria at these meetings or via email or postal mail.

New state revenue shortfall means $6.8 million reduction for 4J

5/27/10 — Governor Kulongoski this week ordered 9% across-the-board cuts to balance the state budget, including the state school fund. 4J's share of this reduction is about $6.8 million.

The reduction will result in a state K–12 education budget of about $5.76 billion for the current biennium, down from the $6.0 billion schools based their budgets on, and even further from the $6.245 billion funded in 2007–09.

Prior to this week’s news, 4J’s budget committee already had balanced an $8.4 million deficit in next year’s budget by spending reserves, further reducing central department budgets, furloughing administrators and professional staff and making financially comparable agreements with classified staff, and cutting about 30 classified and teaching positions.

Public hearing will be held Wednesday, June 2

5/27/10 — The Eugene School Board is nearing a decision regarding whether to sell the Civic Stadium property. A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, June 2 (comments also may be provided via email or postal mail), and the board will make a decision on Wednesday, June 16, regarding whether to offer the property for sale later this year. Each meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the 4J Education Center, 200 N. Monroe St., in Eugene.

If the board decides to dispose of the property, criteria for a Request for Proposals (RFP) would be developed over the summer, and an invitation to submit proposals could potentially be released in fall 2010.

For more information, please see www.4j.lane.edu/civicstadium.

5/13/10 — Challenging as budget decisions were last year and this year, Oregon schools may be in the “eye of the storm,” with more serious financial difficulties ahead.

Based on state economic projections, Eugene School District 4J is forecasting an additional operating deficit in the range of $11 million to $32 million for 2011–12.

5/7/10 — Funded by a $100,000 grant awarded by the Eugene Water & Electric Board's Greenpower program, Adams Elementary School is poised to become the first Eugene school to have solar power — and a neighborhood center for renewable energy education.

The school's grant-funded solar initiative will begin with installing a solar thermal and photovoltaic system that will reduce the school's energy footprint and costs. The solar energy program will be integrated into the school's curriculum and community outreach efforts, helping students and neighbors learn about renewable energy. To learn more, please see 4J School Wins $100,000 Grant.

5/7/10 — 4J's outstanding teachers are appreciated all the year 'round, but during National Teacher Appreciation Week, this is a particularly fitting time to let them know how they have touched kids' lives and how much they are valued.

Special congratulations are due on the recognition of Marilyn Cooley, a CTE teacher at South Eugene High School, as Oregon's Career Technical Education Teacher of the Year by the Oregon Association for Career and Technical Education.

Also this week, Eric Freeman, a second-grade teacher at Camas Ridge Community School, was selected for top honors in the teacher category by the 2010 ACE (A Champion in Education) Awards.

3/12/10 — Facing a deficit of nearly $6 million next year, Eugene School District 4J is considering how to balance its budget. The 4J Budget Committee will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 15, to continue its discussion about the projected funding gap and strategies to balance the budget.

The passage of Measures 66 and 67 significantly improved 4J’s budget outlook, but did not make the district whole. A funding gap remains due to declining enrollment, state and local revenues falling short, and the use of reserve funds to ease cuts in previous years.

Howard Elementary, Arts & Technology Academy
receive national awards from Apple

3/12/10 – Tech tools such as computers and mobile devices can help students be successful learners. At Howard Elementary School and Arts & Technology Academy, teachers and students use technology tools in the classroom across all grade levels to increase reading and writing practice, help students engage in project-based learning, and build skills early for their later professional success.

3/8/10 — Eugene, Bethel, and Springfield school districts have launched the fifth annual A Champion in Education (ACE) Awards in collaboration with the Eugene and Springfield Chambers of Commerce.

02/05/10 – The 4J school board has begun a careful and thoughtful discussion of options for the Civic Stadium property. This week, the district’s real estate consultant team, Sue and Hugh Prichard of Prichard Partners, presented several options and a recommendation that the district use a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to elicit offers for the Civic Stadium property, and rezone and sell a smaller adjacent property separately.

1/25/10 — The election Tuesday is expected to have a major impact on school funding. The 4J budget committee last week looked at different scenarios for the district’s financial forecast — projections range from a $2.3 million deficit to a $15.4 million deficit in 2010–11, depending in large part on the outcome of the election. More information about the ballot measures is available at www.4j.lane.edu/ballotmeasures.

To balance this year’s budget, the district drew down reserves and contingency funds, lowered employee compensation agreements, eliminated 38 teaching positions, reduced central office administrative positions and budgets, decreased high school athletics budgets, postponed purchasing new math textbooks and materials, trimmed supply budgets, and more. After making about $25 million in general fund budget reductions over the past two years, decisions about additional cuts will be particularly difficult.

1/25/10 – The district has reached an important milestone on its path to increase the diversity of its workforce. A diverse teaching staff helps to create an inclusive learning environment for our diverse student body. As the demographics of our students change, we feel it is important for our teachers — key role models for their students — to also reflect the varied cultures and backgrounds that make up our community.

Two tax measures that would provide funding for the Eugene School District and other Oregon public schools are on the January 26 election ballot. Oregon voters will decide whether to approve a personal income tax increase (Measure 66) and a corporate tax increase (Measure 67). Ballots will be mailed beginning January 8.

If the tax measures are approved:

The expected revenue from Measures 66 and 67 is included in the state funding allocated to schools for the 2009–10 and 2010–11 school years. About 40% of the state’s general fund and lottery budget goes to K–12 education.

If the tax measures are defeated:

The 2009 Legislature made reductions to many state services, including schools, and passed the tax increases to help balance the budget. If the tax measures are not approved, the Legislature would need to decide how to balance the state budget without this revenue.

If reductions are spread evenly across-the-board, school funding would be reduced by about $285 million (about $430 per student) for 2009–11.

The Eugene School District’s proportionate share of the reductions would be about $8.5 million for the 2009–11 biennium. That’s the equivalent of 94.4 teachers or 19 school days.

For more information, including the source of figures cited above, please see http://www.4j.lane.edu/ballotmeasures.

11/25/09 — Learning doesn’t end when the school bell rings. Academic after-school programs in eight 4J schools are helping students improve their success in the classroom.

The ACE and BEST after-school programs extend the learning day, offering academic assistance in small-group reading, math or writing lessons and homework help. The well-rounded programs also include enrichment activities, dinner at school and transportation home each day, as well as occasional family activities and adult learning opportunities. Students are invited to participate based on academic needs in reading, writing or math, with any additional slots available to other students on a first-come, first-served basis.

11/09/09 — Donna DuBois, an inspiring fourth-grade teacher at Camas Ridge Elementary School, is Oregon’s Teacher of the Year.  She was selected from among Oregon’s nearly 29,000 teachers by the Oregon Department of Education. Joyce Osternig, as a teacher at Churchill High School in 1975, was the last 4J educator to have been named Oregon Teacher of the Year. Both teachers exemplify the passion, skills and dedication of our 4J teaching staff.

If the two measures are not approved by voters, the Legislature will decide how to balance the state budget and adjust for the revenue loss.  If reductions are spread evenly across-the-board, school funding would be reduced by about $431 per student. The Eugene School District’s reduction would be $8.5 million for the 2009–11 biennium. 

10/26/09 — With the Eugene Emeralds vacating Civic Stadium next month, the school board is beginning a thoughtful discussion of options for the stadium and other surplus properties owned by the school district.

10/26/09 — More than 30 community and business leaders will go back to school in 4J this week, but this time they'll be the principals! The local leaders participating in the district’s annual Principal for a Day event on October 27 will each spend the morning in one of 4J’s schools, then gather for lunch to discuss their experiences with district staff and school board members. This is a great opportunity to see our schools in action!