Oregon’s Common School Fund is sending $2 million+ to Umatilla and Morrow school districts

By on Friday, March 14th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

SALEM – Oregon’s K-12 public schools will receive a record $76.8 million in 2025. Of that, $2,040,150 will be heading to school districts in Umatilla and Morrow counties. Every one of Oregon’s 197 school districts receives money from the fund which has been supporting education since statehood. The amount received depends on the number of students enrolled.

Gov. Tina Kotek said that the record amount is due to districts facing budget shortages due to the expiration of pandemic relief, declining enrollment, increasing costs due to inflation and other factors.

Money from the fund can be used for anything from instruction to infrastructure. It is separate from the public education budget set by the Oregon Legislature. It was created when the federal government granted the new state more than 3 million acres of land for the use of schools. That saw the establishment of the Oregon Land Board, comprised of the governor, secretary of state, and state treasurer to oversee the school lands dedicated to generating revenue for the fund. It is managed by the State Treasury with oversight from the Oregon Investment Council.

The fund is valued at $2.38 billion. Annually, 3.5 percent of the fund is distributed to schools. This year’s funding is $2.4 million than last year.

Today, about 681,000 acres of school lands in all 36 Oregon counties are managed by the Department of State Lands on behalf of the State Land Board. Ranchers and farmers, Tribal governments, businesses, and more work with DSL to lease and buy lands, plan for future community needs, and keep lands healthy. School lands generated $7.2 million in revenue during fiscal year 2024.

Grants for Umatilla and Morrow school districts:
 

Athena‐Weston SD $69,644

Condon SD $19,019

Echo SD $41,685

Helix SD $24,313

Hermiston SD $700,503

Ione SD $15,901

Milton‐Freewater Unified $203,245

Morrow SD $288,279

Pendleton SD $384,229

Pilot Rock SD $38,745

Stanfield SD $67,104

Ukiah SD $3,745

Umatilla SD $183,738