PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Public Schools (PPS) staff members said they were recently notified that some positions would be cut, and other employees would see reduced hours. This comes after PPS sent a letter last week to families announcing $30 million in budget cuts next year.
"Feeling a little shell-shocked," said Diane Newton-Prior, a library assistant at Glencoe Elementary School.
For almost two decades, Newton-Prior has worked as a library assistant at PPS. This school year, she has been splitting her time between Glencoe and Grout Elementary School. As a library assistant, Newton-Prior teaches students short lessons, organizes the library, and adds books to the library's collection, among other duties.
However, recently, Newton-Prior said she and other library assistants were told there won’t be funding for their jobs next school year.
"I'm numb,” she said. “I'm numb."
Other specialist positions, in art, music and P.E. classes could also face cuts in hours, Newton-Prior said.
However, PPS is working to provide jobs, like paraeducators roles to library assistants, Newton-Prior added. If principals have funds leftover in their budget, they can also allocate it to library assistants, or other reduced positions.
Still, some people will lose their jobs, Newton-Prior said.
"A lot of people depend on this job for their insurance, for their family," she added.
Other PPS staff members said that some jobs, like members of the "feeding team," who work to ensure students with high needs don’t choke on food, will also lose their jobs next year.
"I'm actually very upset," Yasmin Correa, a paraeducator at PPS.
In a letter sent out by PPS to families last week, district officials said that some class sizes may also increase due to the budget cuts. PPS said this was due to a poor financial situation, from higher labor costs, inadequate state funding and increased student academic and nonacademic needs. The district also mentioned a decreased student enrollment as another reason for the cuts.
Of the $30 million in cuts, about half will come from central operations, PPS said. The district also said it will try to minimize cuts to individual school budgets.
KGW reached out to PPS for a list of positions being reduced or cut but haven't heard back yet.