Salem-Keizer deputy superintendent says district plans roughly $71 million in reductions, more than 400 positions affected

Olga cob, one of the deputy superintendents for Salem-Keizer School District 24J, said the district plans to pursue about $71 million in budget reductions for the next school year and that the cuts will affect schools and staff statewide. "Desafortunadamente con 71 millones en reducciones no hay manera de recortar esa cantidad sin afectar a las escuelas," she said.

The cuts are a second round of reductions following an initial $31 million recommended in December, the superintendent said; the district earlier focused most of that first round on district office positions and departmental functions. The total reductions, when combined, will reach about $71 million, she said.

The district is trying to limit impacts to certain programs. "Estos son los programas y áreas que estamos protegiendo en la medida de lo posible: el programa de lenguaje dual, la educación profesional técnica, la música, bellas artes, atletismo, la proporción de clases de primaria, seguridad escolar, o cursos avanzados de escuela secundaria," Olga cob said. She added that the district is also prioritizing basic instruction and mental and behavioral health supports but cannot fully protect every area.

District officials estimate the plan will reduce roughly 400 positions or more, a staffing impact the superintendent described as requiring "trabajo a corto y largo plazo" to support employees and students. To meet legal and operational timelines, she said the district will ask the Salem-Keizer School District Board to take action at meetings on Monday and Tuesday, April 15 and 16, and invited the public to read board materials and sign up for public comment on April 16.

The district is coordinating with the licensed employees' association to cancel classes on May 17 so hundreds of affected staff can attend meetings and learn whether the reductions and associated moves will affect their assignments. "Ese día los empleados oirán si estas reducciones y el movimiento asociado con ellas afectarán sus asignaciones," she said.

The superintendent said the district will publish more information over the next month about the reductions, the process and how schools will be impacted, and asked the community to join in advocating for stable, adequate funding for all Oregon students. The board meetings on April 15–16 are the next procedural step; no formal board action or votes were recorded in this briefing.