Gresham-Barlow leaders outline $3 million in cuts as teacher and community speakers urge saving middle school sports

GRESHAM — The Gresham-Barlow School District laid out a multi-pronged plan April 2 to balance its budget that includes about $3,000,000 in nonpayroll cuts and staff reductions handled through attrition, retirements and transfers, district leaders told the school board.

In remarks to the board, Superintendent John Cook said the district prioritized reducing supplies, travel and contractual services before removing staff and sought to protect safety and services for students with the highest needs. "About 30% of our reductions totaling $3,000,000 are from this work," Cook said. He added that roughly one-third of affected positions are at the district level and two-thirds are at the building level and that the process has so far affected about 4.5% of employees.

The budget discussion came after public comment from Jeremiah Hickman, a teacher and out-of-school-time athletic coordinator at Dexter McCarty Middle School, who urged the board to seek alternatives to cutting middle school sports. "Middle school sports provides opportunities to learn teamwork, in a structured learning environment," Hickman told the board, and he gave participation figures to illustrate demand: 65 students on four volleyball teams, four girls basketball teams, and 68 students on the track roster this week.

Why it matters: District leaders said the cuts are intended to preserve instructional quality while achieving financial stability amid declining enrollment and rising costs. Cook warned that state and federal funding uncertainty and anticipated increases to Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) contributions remain long-term risks to the district budget.

Board and community context Board Chair Chris Howitt reminded the public of two upcoming budget committee meetings—April 9 and April 23—where the full budget committee (board members plus seven community members) will review budget details and accept public testimony. Howitt said staff will post materials and confirmed members of the public may submit comments for those meetings.

Several board members responded to Hickman’s remarks during member updates, noting the community impact of middle school athletics. Board member Sean Farrins and others described strong community turnout at recent middle- and high-school events and said supporting pipelines into high-school athletics was a factor in their thinking about program cuts; those comments were discussion, not binding direction.

What the district said about process and next steps Cook said district leadership developed five guiding foci for the reductions: (1) fund nonpayroll reductions where possible; (2) identify reductions outside the classroom; (3) prioritize student safety and supports for English learners and students with disabilities; (4) preserve permanent employee positions where feasible; and (5) position the district to avoid further reductions next spring. He said the district would share more specific staffing impacts with employees and continue outreach with bargaining units.

The superintendent also said the district will continue prioritizing curriculum adoption, college and career supports, and mental health partnerships as it pursues long-term financial resilience.

Ending note The board did not take an immediate vote altering district budget policy at the April 2 meeting. The budget committee meetings in April will include formal budget review and a public comment period where community members may speak again about programs such as middle school sports.