Oregon parents urge state lawmakers to increase public school funding

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The fight for more funding for Oregon public schools is not over yet.

Hundreds of Oregon parents converged on the state capitol in Salem Wednesday to urge lawmakers to shift more money into the education budget before they adjourn their session in June.

On Tuesday night, the Portland Public Schools Board heard from families angry with plans to cut hundreds of jobs to make up a $40 million budget shortfall.

On Wednesday, parents from across the state, some taking a day off from work, met with lawmakers as part of the Parent Teacher Association and other lobby groups. They urged lawmakers to do better to help keep teachers, staff and even school days from being cut.

“What I’m concerned about are the stories that I hear across the district of kids falling behind in reading, math and social-emotional issues like mental health support,” said Jessica Johnston, a PPS parent. “That’s not who we are as a society. And our kids have the potential to be graduating at much higher levels and reading, writing and thriving. They have that potential, but we’re falling short of helping them realize that, and that’s not who we are as a society.”

In individual meetings with lawmakers, parents explained how cuts next fall will mean some kindergarten and first-grade classrooms could have 30 kids and one teacher, with no extra help. They urged legislators to invest more in schools, which could help attract more families to places like Portland, where enrollment is declining.

“Make our city a place that people want to live. If you want people to come here for jobs, you want the families to see that there’s a good quality education available for their kids,” said Portland parent Courtney Campbell. “I deeply believe in public education. I consider year after year whether I need to pull my kids and put them in private schools. I have the resources but we’re choosing not to do that. They’ve got to do something different because in our school system, we’re having these declining enrollment problems. It will continue and continue to get far worse if they don’t fund our education.”

State tax dollars cover about two-thirds of K-12 funding in Oregon. Education is competing with other big needs in the state, like homelessness and transportation budgets.

Governor Tina Kotek is recommending lawmakers give schools $11 billion for the next two year, serving half a million school kids.

Though it is an increase, parents hope they can convince lawmakers to put even more into the education budget to prevent cuts.