Mulvihill: Early childhood education funding needs to improve
By Terry Murry on Monday, December 30th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – InterMountain Education Service District Superintendent Mark Mulvihill is pleased with Gov. Tina Kotek’s proposed budget for K-12 education. Meanwhile, he hopes legislators will realize they are not providing enough funding for early childhood learning. In the current budget, special education for those from birth through preschool took a cut.
Mulvihill said Kotek is proposing an increase in that funding for the 2025-26 biennium. However, the budget must be approved by the Oregon Legislature. He hopes it’s approved.
“I would like to see a clear understanding of how critical early learning is and an investment in that,” Mulvihill said.
He said the error comes when lawmakers fail to realize they are funding more than just teachers and administrators.
“I would like to see a clearer understanding of the degree of people working in schools that aren’t just teachers,” he said.” We have a ton of counselors, medical staff, attendance officers, success coaches. We do so much more than just educate. We feed and transport students. We take care of their social/emotional health. There are so many more people that work in schools than people realize, and sometimes that doesn’t get funded.”
