SALEM, Ore. — After two days for public comment from district staff and families, the Salem-Keizer Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday evening to cut hundreds of positions next school year.
Superintendent Andrea Castañeda announced the proposed reductions last week, which she said would eliminate over 400 jobs, or 7% of the workforce in Oregon's second largest public school district. Castañeda also expects at least 800 transfers across buildings and departments throughout the school system.
At the board meeting, Castañeda said the district simply does not have the money to operate as they have been, leaving them with "no good options."
"The way that we built this package, is first with just enormous regret and a sense of heavy responsibility," she said. "We have heard from commenters tonight and we feel in our own hearts, it's the same feeling. That these reductions are not right."
Many other speakers echoed the same feelings, expressing worry for the success of the students.
"$70 million in budget cuts to an already underfunded school system will be detrimental to our students, especially the students who are already pushed into the margins," one person said.
"I urge you to reconsider the profound impact of cutting student-facing jobs," another person told the school board.
"Once again, as often happens in public education, the district is attempting to balance the budget on the backs of educators and students," said Kelsey Miller, a middle school science teacher who is critical of district leaders for the current financial situation.
Despite those objections to the largest reduction in more than a decade, board members voted unanimously to approve the layoffs.
"It's heavy. It's difficult and honestly none of us wanted to do it," said Board Chair Karina Guzmán Ortiz.
She explained the board voted on a maximum number of position reductions, and that over the next month, the district will do what it can to lessen the impact while planning for the upcoming year, making slight adjustments to protect things like classroom ratios.
"None of these positions being cut are about any individual," she said. "Every position is important to us and that we will try to pivot as needed."
Educators and staff will receive notice on May 17 about the fate of their positions.