MEDFORD, Ore. – The Medford School District Budget Committee will meet Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to re-address a $15 million budget deficit for the 2024-2025 biennium. The committee's last public meeting was held on May 2nd. Before that meeting, students in the Medford School District organized a walkout to protest the district's plan to lay off 18 teachers.
“One of the things they said was that every cut we make will ultimately impact our students,” Superintendent Brett Champion said. “We have spoken with event organizers about how we can work together in the future.”
In response to the protests, the school district announced that it had met twice with student organizers to make their voices heard. When asked what it was like working with students, Champion said the conversation focused on craft fairs for elementary school students and concerns about student safety and security.
Regarding the budget deficit, the district has not made any changes to its plan since its May 2 meeting.
“Right now, we're presenting the same plan,” Champion said. “Our hope is that the Budget Committee will vote 'yes' at this or its next meeting and the Committee will move on to the next step in the budget process.”
In its plan, MSD offered the following reductions based on position type:
- District-level administrators: 12.1% reduction
- School-based administrators: 8.2% reduction
- Confidential/Administrator/Supervisor: 5.9% reduction
- Certified staff (teachers): 2.5% reduction
- Classified staff: 0.9% reduction
Meanwhile, teachers at the Medford Education Association plan to work with MSD to find other ways to save money.
“We don't think cuts should be made at the student level until we make significant cuts at the district administrative level,” said Jessica Fitzsimmons, president of the Medford Education Association. She said, “Her 12.1% in administrative reductions is actually only one and a half positions. It looks like the percentage is higher in that area, but it's actually not.”
Fitzsimmons and other unionized teachers plan to present an alternative plan at a public meeting, but teachers told NewsWatch 12 they are concerned the decision has already been made. .
“Parents probably have a stronger voice than teachers,” Fitzsimmons added. “Contact your school board, your budget committee, your superintendent and just speak up.”