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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (April 26, 2017)
School Zone APRIL 26, 2017 A monthly newsletter covering area schools SLSD waits for fi nal Lion's Pride Pageant heads to the fi nish line Students work to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network budget numbers The Or- egon State Legislature warned entities around the state that it would be facing nearly a $2 billion defi cit as it geared up to fund programs and departments for the next two years. For Ore- gon schools, less money equat- ed to more cuts but without a fi - nal budget from the legislature, institutions are left guessing at a number and for South Lane School District, that number is between $1 million and $1.8 million. South Lane Superintendent Krista Parent has been holding budget meetings with various educators around the district to illustrate the dire situation. According to information dis- tributed during those meetings, the school district has several options in making up the bud- getary shortfall. To close the $1.8 million gap, it could elim- inate 25 teachers for a value of $70,000 each. It could also cut 20.5 days from school at $88,000 a piece. However, Par- ent has noted that a portion of South Lane's students have had just a fraction of their education consist of a full calender due to cut days to comply with budget restrictions. Further, inclem- ent weather has left students at home more than usual this year which could potential cause a larger problem. Students are required to at- tend school for a certain num- ber of instructional hours per year. When school days fall away to snow days and budget cuts, schools can be left respon- sible to the state to explain the short-coming. According to BY CAITLYN MAY cmay@cgsentinel.com Parent, SLSD has yet to be in the "penalty box" concerning instructional hours but if the school is forced to cut days due to the budget and the area ex- periences another harsh winter, that could change. Also on the list of possible money-saving options is sports at the high school level. Elimi- nating the program would save the school $200,000. Howev- er, it is noted that such a move could cost the district up to 100 students. In a state where stu- dents can choose where they go to school, athletic programs draw in potential players and losing 100 students would amount to a $750,000 loss for the district. Other suggestions on the list include closing Latham School which would displace 120 stu- dents, stalling already delayed math adoption at the elementary level, terminating 31 custodi- ans, 39 secretaries, 21 admin- istrators or cutting all middle school athletics. The district has cut days in the past and according to Par- ent, may have to do so in the future. Because the legislature lays out a two-year budget, further cuts could be waiting for the 2017-2018 school year. Parent noted that the district is unaware of exactly how the legislative budget would affect next year but any budget short- fall would place services, teach- ers and school days back on the chopping block. An answer on the fi nal budget is due from the legislature in the coming weeks which will allow South Lane School District to begin fi nalizing the cuts to ser- vices for the school year. Pictured above from left to right: Contestants Tanner Howe, Hunter Gipson, Blake Sentman, Kory Parent, Brent Ollivant, TJ Bellamy, Zane Levings, coordina- tors Savannah Crump, Carly Sand, Cassidy Lusson, Keara Murphy, contestants Hannah Albrecht, Lauren Fields and Elizabeth Poe. See page 2 for story. Inside: School briefs pg. 2 Changes at Lincoln pg. 3 Updates from Latham & Dorena pg.3 New school construction begins Equipment is scheduled to be on site this week Take Us Back to College Special Digital Subscription Rates for Students Your digital subscription keeps you connected to the people and places you know and love with unlimited access for as little as $10.00 per year! The new Harrison Elementary School on Taylor Ave. will offi cially begin construction this week with heavy equipment scheduled to be on site this week to start demoli- tion of structures on the property. The offi cial groundbreaking was held last month with several community leaders coming out to mark the occasion. The new Harrison Elementary will sit in the space of the old high school and the fi nal cost will hover around $23 million, funded through a bond measure approved by voters in November. The school is expected to be up and running in time for the new class to attend in September of 2017. Cottage Grove Sentinel Your Hometown News In Print, Online & Mobile 541.942.3325 • www.cgsentinel.com
