K-12 schools are on track for more funding
By Terry Murry on Friday, July 19th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
IMESD – Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is proposing a way to boost funding for the State School Fund and InterMountain Education Service District Superintendent Mark Mulvihill says it’s going to be a good thing.
Mulvihill said members of various groups representing public education in Oregon met with the governor and asked for some changes they believe would more realistically reflect how K-12 education is funded, and apparently, the governor agreed.
“We’re very pleased with the funding plan,” Mulvihill said. “It’s fantastic news.”
Mulvihill said that basing upcoming funding on a formula that is based on a 20-year history doesn’t properly address things like inflation. The plan being proposed now will increase the State School Fund by an estimated $515 million based on a 10-year history. Also, the proposal is splitting the funding with more going to the second year of the biennium. Instead of a 50/50 split, the split would be 49/51.
Kotek’s plan will be presented to the Oregon Legislature when it convenes in 2025. Then the lawmakers can make changes to it.
“It’s the floor to begin the legislative process,” he said. “It’s a bell weather event and the increase will start that conversation.”
Kotek said public education across the nation is facing budget shortages caused by the expiration of federal pandemic relief dollars, declining enrollment, and increasing costs due to inflation. “In response to the way these issues are impacting Oregon students, educators, and administrators, I committed to reviewing and updating the methods of how the state funds public schools,’ she said in a prepared release.
