CORBETT, Ore. — Parents and teachers gave Corbett School District officials an earful during Wednesday night's school board meeting, following news of the district's $3 million budget shortfall and pending teacher layoffs.
"It's not a position I want to be in," said Todd Mickalson, director of the school board. "Frankly, I'm pissed."
Superintendent Dr. Derek Fialkiewicz blamed the massive debt on accounting errors, but many parents expressed doubt over his explanation.
"There's a lot of hearsay going on, we want the truth," said Carly Allen, a parent at the meeting. "How $3 million just went under the radar is interesting."
To stave off debt, the district is asking staff to take furlough days. They're also cutting ten positions including three teachers, leaving many parents are heartbroken and frustrated.
"They're not just a teacher, they're the whole community," said Corbett parent, Ashley Brooks. "We're really small, we know everybody, the parents know everybody."
During the public comment period, parents expressed frustration toward the school board as well as Fialkiewicz.
"I think this was 100% avoidable," said Nick Moon, a parent. "110% avoidable."
The way Fialkiewicz explained it, he didn't know how serious the district's financial crises was until August. That was shortly after he said the district hired a chief financial officer, someone he said uncovered multiple accounting errors. Fialkiewicz said those errors were at the hands of the district's former accountant, someone they had contracted with through the Multnomah Education Service District.
"I was assured by her boss multiple times that things were going to be taken care of, that things were going to be okay, that she was double checking the work," said Fialkiewicz. "That's when I said, 'Okay, I have to believe the numbers.'"
Caroline Oakley, a Corbett parent and teacher, said such explanations don't excuse the district's lack of oversight.
"I am concerned that the solvency of our school district is on the brink and the sole blame is being put on the shoulders of one MESD employee who no longer works for us," said Oakley. "It is troubling that the adults in charge are not accepting responsibility for this."
After public testimony, Fialkiewicz said he took the community's request for better transparency and communication to heart and that he would work on it.