10A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL MARCH 22, 2017
Superintendent testifi es on
budget before legislature
South Lane School Dis-
trict
Superintendant Krista
cmay@cgsentinel.com
Parent testifi ed before the
Oregon State Legislature's
Ways and Means Education
Sub Committee on Thursday, March 16.
Parent was part of a team of superintendants
from across the state to go before the legislature
to testify about the proposed budgetary shortfalls
expected to hit Oregon's school districts.
"They were strategic in who they sent," Parent
said. "There have only been two of us in the state
of Oregon to win National Superintendant of the
Year and the third person was a fi nalist for the
award." Moreover, Parent and her fellow super-
intendants have spent more than 20 years in their
respective districts.
"We know our districts, we know their fi nanc-
es" she said. "And we are telling you this number
is not going to work."
The number, or proposed budget for K-12 in the
state, is tentatively several hundreds of thousands
of dollars short of the rate needed to keep current
services.
The worst case scenario between the budget
released by Governor Kate Brown and the subse-
quent fi nancial forecast sent out by the Ways and
Means Education Sub Committee, SLSD could
end up $1.8 million behind.
"In a district our size, it is nearly impossible to
balance a budget with millions needed in reduc-
tions without cutting school days," Parent told
the Ways and Means Committee, "There just isn't
much else to cut."
If the SLSD has to contend with the $1.8 mil-
lion reduction, it would mean eight to 10 addition-
By Caitlyn May
al days being shaved off the school calendar.
"The students who will be in ninth grade next
year, have had only two complete calendar years
from their kindergarten through high school
years," Parent said, noting the continued mandate
from the state to do more with less money.
It was a message she forwarded to the commit-
tee saying, "My district has had to cut 41 days
over the past nine years."
While the legislature is expected to give school
districts a solid number in the coming weeks, edu-
cational offi cials at the meeting said they felt that
$8.1 billion was a safe number to assume. How-
ever, it is not the needed $8.4 that would maintain
current services, avoid cutting school days and
laying off instructors.
That number of $8.1 billion would force more
cuts to school days, something that could lead to a
larger problem if SLSD experiences another win-
ter like the one of 2016-2017.
"We wouldn't cut enough days to get us into that
trouble spot but if we have more weather days, we
could run into problems," Parent said.
Students are required to attend a certain number
of instructional hours and when school days are
cut, the state could penalize school districts for
not providing those required hours.
The legislature creates a two-year budget and
so while Parent is aware of the challenges for the
coming year with the diminished funds, what the
trimmed budget could mean for the following
year is less certain.
"We haven't even looked at what that would
mean for the following year yet," Parent said. "All
we know is that it would be bad."
Bridge Continued from A1
Madison Avenue. OBEC Consulting Engineers
will present the costs of three options to the city
council at its March 27 meeting.
Option 1: Repair and strengthen the existing
bridge by replacing the support towers and upsiz-
ing the support cables to meet new load require-
ments using as much of the current materials as
possible.
Option 2: Construct a new suspension bridge
with steel towers, steel fl oor framing and plastic
decking that simulates wood. This option creates
a new bridge with the appearance of the existing
bridge.
Option 3: Replace the bridge with a prefabricat-
ed steel truss bridge with a concrete deck placed
on the existing foundations.
According to City Manager Richard Meyers,
“These three options will give the community the
information needed to make a choice of the direc-
tion to take to get the bridge back in service. Once
an option is chosen the fundraising and work can
begin.”
Another dental visit?
Turns out, you have better things to do with
your time.
Lorane News by Lil Thompson
March is quickly coming to an end, so time is running out for March Open Enrollment. If you
would like a small class environment, friendly atmosphere, great teachers, and a delightful place to
learn, then call the Crow- Applegate-Lorane school district offi ce at 541-935-2100 or stop by for
more information.
Spring break begins this Friday, March 25, when school gets out and resumes Monday, April 3,
2017. Everyone have fun and be safe.
There was a fairly good attendance at dinner and bingo last Saturday at Lorane Grange where
everyone had delicious food and lots of fun. The next dinner and bingo will be Saturday, April 29.
Progressive blackout continues to grow as the big amount wasn't won.
Lorane Grange next meets on Thursday, April 6.
Still looking for all you talented people out there to come perform at the Rural Art Center/ Lorane
Grange Talent Show on Sunday, April 2, 2017 at 3 pm. To sign up early, email ruralartcenter@
gmail.com or call Lil at 541-942-5701. Some performers have already signed up. Also for you
other artists, there will be a place to showcase your unique talent. Remember, you may help some
budding artist or performer by sharing your talent. All entertainers need to arrive by 2:45 pm, so
the program may begin on time. Everyone else, mark your calendars to come enjoy a very delightful
afternoon of great entertainment. It is amazing every year.
We know your time is valuable. That's why we've invested in CEREC
technology that allows for a faster experience when you need crowns,
fillings or veneers. With CEREC, there's usually no need for a temporary
and return visit. Everything is done in one visit, in about an hour -
leaving more time for whatever is important to you.
Implants · Teeth Whitening · New State-of-the-Art Building
Dr. Brent Bitner, DDS
350 Washington, Cottage Grove
(behind Better Bodies)
942-7934
CEREC® is a registered trademark of Sirona Dental Systems.
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