NEWBERG, Ore. — As the Newberg School District faces a budget shortfall, school leaders are warning that significant budget cuts and layoffs are looming.
The Newberg School District is trying to dig itself out of a nearly $4 million deficit for the current school year, and a gap of almost $11 million next year. Over the past couple of days, school leaders have been in talks with the union and have said job cuts are imminent.
Former Newberg School District Superintendent Paula Radich was recently appointed as acting superintendent. She is leading the layoffs after Superintendent Stephen Phillips went on unplanned medical leave for two months in mid-June.
During a school board meeting this week, Radich said staff reductions will be "significant." Those layoffs will be in addition to 30 jobs that were recently slashed. Overstaffing and large drops in enrollment are contributing factors to the cuts, according to Radich.
Newberg parents are worried about what the cuts will mean for the students.
"I'm sad that we're having to cut so many personnel. It's going to impact our kids heavily next year and probably years to come," said parent Irene Dunlop.
Almost all groups of employees will be impacted. Contracted positions, such as nurses, mental health specialists and speech teachers, will be hit extremely hard. Those jobs could be cut by half, Radich said.
KGW reached out to the Newberg School District to find out how many jobs will be cut. The school district said it will have more information to share next week.