Newberg and Dundee students returning to next week will likely notice a big change since they left school in June for summer break: A lot fewer personnel.
The school district officially released on Aug. 23 the details of the reduction in force plan precipitated by the May announcement that the district had a budget shortfall in the millions of dollars . In studying the causes of the shortfall district administrators quickly identified an imbalance between the number of personnel and student enrollment as one issue that needed to be addressed.
As a result, 90 full-time equivalent staff positions have been reduced or eliminated in the district. The cuts struck all sectors of the district: licensed staff losses include literacy teachers on special assignment, classroom teachers, specialists and counselors; classified personnel cut include education assistants, custodians, secretaries, tech support, assessment and data and human resources; the confidential/supervisory/professional/technical sector saw losses of the district’s technology director, assistant human resources director and communications coordinator.
Administrator cuts in the district include the deputy superintendent, director of special programs, teaching/learning coordinator, bond manager, several elementary school assistant principals and a human resources leave specialist.
By the numbers, bringing in volunteers
Hardest hit were the district’s six elementary schools, which saw 63 slots eliminated, ranging from teachers in all grades and including an assistant principal, counselors, secretaries and English as a Second Language teachers. The cuts ranged from quarter-FTE to full-time positions.
The district’s two middle schools lost a total of five personnel: one at 0.03 time, two at half-time, two at 0.87 time and one full time.
Newberg High School lost two full-time secretaries, three education assistants working from 0.06 to 0.12 time and one 0.62-time special education assistant.
The hole created by the loss of nearly 86 personnel has led to several individuals stepping up to volunteer to help the district. Included is Interim Superintendent Paula Radich , communications director Claudia Stewart, finance director Gayellyn Jacobson and Lesley Carsley, the retired elementary school principal who has volunteered to serve as interim enrollment study lead and complaint administrator.
The search for full-time replacements for Radich and Jacobson has begun; the other positions will not be filled.
In addition, principals and assistant principals at all of the district’s nine schools have seen their roles expanded to include responsibilities previously handled by individuals who have been lost to the cuts or reductions.
Their “administrative support assignments,” as the district referred to them in the release, range from communications to human resources, special education, counseling, custodial, technology and library services.
Administrators will now be responsible for coordinating community volunteers, implementing district policy updates and tending to public records requests as well.
Programs survive, but days cut
In its announcement, the district revealed that no district programs, extracurricular or athletic programs have been cut for the 2024-25 school year, which begins Sept. 4.
However, the district will cut eight days from the school year.
“Furlough days were negotiated with employee bargaining units as a means to reduce the 2024-25 budget,” the release said, adding that it will affect all staff members. “The entire school district will be closed on furlough days unless the superintendent determines there is a vital need for an employee to be on duty.”
By doing so, the district estimates it will save roughly $210,000 in the general fund, primarily in reduced personnel costs, and $250,000 in all-fund dollars, which consists of local, state and federal grants, rentals, donations, nutrition services, construction excise tax and other sources.
Instructional hours in the district will, for the most part, remain above the state requirements by grade level. Kindergarten through fifth grade students will be in class 983 hours during the school year (the state requirement is 900 hours); sixth through eighth grade students will get 1,014 hours of instructional time this school year (the state requires 900 hours); freshmen, sophomores and juniors at NHS will be one hour below the state requirement of instructional hours in 2024-25, although Catalyst School will be one hour above; and NHS seniors will outdistance the state requirements by 89 hours this school year, Catalyst by 31 hours.
“The state of Oregon requires a minimum number of instructional hours per grade level,” the release said. “Considering the eight furlough days, the district in compliance with state regulations regarding required instructional hours for students with one minor exception — one hour (for grades) 9-11 NHS.”
Class sizes will increase
The district’s examination of its budget woes also determined that class sizes in many schools were too low, causing the district to hire more teachers and administrators than what was needed.
“Maintaining consistent and predictable class size ratios is an established method of balancing school staffing with enrollment and remaining within revenue allocated to school districts by enrollment,” the release said. “Over time, Newberg’s adherence to staffing ratios lapsed.”
The district determined that student enrollment has decreased steadily since 2017, yet staffing continued to increase, requiring action.
“Aligning enrollment and staffing reintroduces a standard, sustainable practice,” the release said. “Based on this summer’s adjustments, classroom ratios are comparable to previous Newberg class size and other Oregon school districts class sizes.”
The district cannot determine class sizes, and make adjustments, until the school year begins, but has set a goal for the various age categories: for kindergarten, 26 students to one teacher; for grades 1-5, 28 students per teacher; for grades 6-8, 27 students per teacher; and for high school, an average of 30.5 students per teacher.
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