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Final Phase of Budget Reductions Announced
Superintendent Miriam Mickelson has announced the last of three phases of proposed budget reductions for the coming school year, cuts that would reduce the number of school-based educators, co-locate a school and return the middle school bell schedule to six periods.
Dr. Mickelson previously unveiled budget reductions in two prior phases that slashed nonpersonnel costs, including technology subscriptions and outside contractors; pared down 4J’s executive team; and paused or scaled back numerous pandemic-era programs and initiatives. Those reductions totalled $20.2 million of the $30 million needed to balance the budget for the coming 2026-27 school year.
The proposed reductions that Dr. Mickelson announced to the school board at its Jan. 21 meeting included the remaining $9.8 million. The board is set to vote on the reductions during its Feb. 4 meeting.
Due to continued declining enrollment, Dr. Mickelson said at the Jan. 21 board meeting that the district doesn't anticipate the staff reductions to create overcrowding in school buildings. She expressed confidence that class sizes will remain reasonable and comparable to other districts. 4J will continue to prioritize academics, equity, behavioral support, and specialized services for students, she said.
"None of that lessens the impact on those affected," the superintendent said. "However these painful steps are necessary to stabilize our district for the long term, and we will continue to do our very best to support impacted staff with care and compassion."
LOSS OF SCHOOL-BASED POSITIONS
Dr. Mickelson recommended the staffing reduction of up to 15 full-time-equivalent classified positions (out of 891 FTE district-wide) and up to 95 FTE licensed positions (out of 1,098 FTE district-wide). Individuals affected by the reduction in force have not yet been identified as the process requires multiple steps guided by state requirements, collective bargaining agreements, and district administrative rules.
All told, among the three phases of reductions, the district will shed up to 269 full-time-equivalent positions, or 12 percent of 4J’s current workforce. The reductions take effect July 1.
The reductions would return 4J’s employee headcount roughly to where it was during the 2019-20 school year – before the district expanded its ranks to meet the increased academic and social-emotional needs of students during and in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. 4J used one-time federal emergency aid to largely pay for that staffing expansion, with that money expiring in September 2024.
During the last six years, meanwhile, 4J’s student enrollment has declined to 14,870 from 16,313 as a result of lower birth rates and increased housing costs, which results in fewer families with school-age children living within the district. 4J receives $11,582 in state funding for each of its enrolled students. State funding and local property taxes make up the two major sources of revenue for the district’s operating budget. Ninety cents of every district dollar goes to employee compensation, including wages, benefits and retirement contributions.
FAMILY SCHOOL CO-LOCATION
Dr. Mickelson has recommended that Family School co-locate with Camas Ridge Community School in 4J’s newest school building, located along 30th Avenue.
The move would save an estimated $160,000 in reduced staffing in 2026-27 with more annual savings into the future. It also saves the district from spending some $1.1 million in needed maintenance and capital improvements for the building on Crest Drive that currently houses Family School.
Family School is one of 4J’s smallest elementary schools, with slightly more than 100 enrolled students. It’s the last remaining alternative school at the elementary level that is not part of a language immersion program. Families must request enrollment through 4J’s school choice process and receive placement via lottery.
Last year, Camas Ridge moved into a new two-story school building designed to accommodate up to 450 students. Camas Ridge’s projected enrollment for the coming school year is 250 and its current enrollment sits at 263. The construction project was paid for with proceeds of the bond measure district voters approved in November 2018.
Dr. Mickelson arrived at her recommendation after meetings with families and staff from both schools and careful deliberation. Camas Ridge opened in 2009, itself the result of a merger between neighborhood and alternative elementary schools during 4J’s last major downsizing in the midst of the Great Recession.
In announcing her recommendation to the families and staffs of both schools, the superintendent expressed her confidence that the same spirit of inclusion and collaboration that created Camas Ridge would energize and shepherd the proposed co-location within it.
“I trust that the vision, care, creativity and commitment of the staff and families of both programs will collaborate and strengthen these much-loved school models and create a community that everyone will be proud of,” she said.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BELL SCHEDULE
Middle schools would return to a six-period school day to offset the impact of licensed staff reductions that Dr. Miriam Mickelson has recommended to close a $30 million budget shortfall for the coming 2026-27 school year.
The district moved to a seven-period day in the fall of 2024 to accommodate a state mandate for physical education classes for all students in grades 6-8. The district needs to reduce middle school teaching positions, prompting the discussion about a return to a six-period school day. A six-period day offers instructional benefits, including longer class periods that better align with the adopted instructional materials and fewer daily transitions for students. One consideration is the reduction of one period, which may limit elective options. The district is committed to exploring creative and flexible approaches to ensure students with disabilities and English Language Learners continue to receive needed services while also having opportunities to access elective classes.