Eugene (KMTR) – The superintendent of the Eugene 4j School district has announced his plan to fill a huge hole in the district's budget.George Russell’s recommendations will affect thousands of students in Eugene over the next two years.
Russell spoke before a packed house Wednesday night at the district headquarters. He said after reevaluating funding projections, he's basing his new recommendations on a $22 million shortfall, rather than the earlier estimate of $30 million.
In his new plan, Russell is not recommending the schools be reconfigured, but he is still calling for the closure of five elementary schools by 2012.
“I understand that no community wants to see its neighborhood school closed,” said Russell, “but staff in our smallest schools understand that there comes a point when staying open just doesn't make good instructional or financial sense.”
The schools potentially on the chopping block are Coburg, Crest Drive, Twin Oaks and Parker. Additionally, Meadowlark would be merged with Willagillespie.
Other recommendations include cutting 62 teaching positions and 43 administrators and classified staff and implementing 9 to 12 furlough days through 2014. Russell also recommends the possibility of moving to a four-day work week starting in the 2012 school year and reducing funding for athletics and extracurricular activities b y 25%.
This week, Superintendent Russell will hold regional meetings with teachers to get more feedback on the new recommendations.
Next Wednesday, the school board will meet with the budget committee to further discuss the proposals.
The next public hearing is set for January 5th.
