Officials estimate the Canby School District is facing a $3.8 million shortfall in the 2020-21 school year due to decreased tax revenue and collections related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The announcement comes on the heels of last week’s state revenue projections — which anticipated a $3 billion reduction in revenues next fiscal year, about $500 million of which will hit Oregon’s public schools — and followed the CSD Budget Committee’s first meeting on the 2021-22 school year budget Tuesday.
To help offset some of the impacts next year, CSD had already implemented cost-saving measures, including hiring and spending freezes. The district has also decided to furlough all district staff for five days this school year — a move officials anticipate will save approximately $860,000 and reduce next year’s shortfall.
The district said it has worked with the unions representing both its teachers and classified staff to develop the plan for these five unpaid staff days and other “meaningful savings” that they hope will help mitigate the need for more drastic measures next year.
“Since education is a people-reliant service, staff salaries and benefits make up 80 percent of the district’s budget,” Superintendent Trip Goodall said in an email Thursday from him and the Board of Directors.
During these furlough days, there will be no student contact, instruction, posting of lessons, or communication with teachers or other staff. The first furlough day has been scheduled for Friday, May 29, which includes no instructional packet pickups or meal delivery that day.
The remainder of the furlough days will take place in early June. Parents and students will receive more specific information in an email from their school principals, Goodall said.
“We are saddened that we have to take these drastic measures,” Goodall said. “We would like to thank our associations and staff for their partnership during this challenging time. We also appreciate the flexibility and understanding among our families and community members.”