Board acting as budget committee approves superintendent’s proposed 2025–26 budget; adoption vote scheduled for June 10

The Portland Public Schools budget committee — meeting as the board — voted 5–0 on May 19 to approve the superintendent’s proposed budget for the 2025–26 school year. The board’s adoption vote is scheduled for June 10.

Superintendent Armstrong told the board ‘‘the budget is a ceiling on spending and sets the appropriation levels,’’ a distinction staff emphasized repeatedly during the meeting: approval sets the district’s spending limits, and final adoption will occur at a later board meeting.

What the committee approved: staff said the proposed budget preserves most classroom staffing and special education services. The superintendent said the district reversed earlier proposed reductions to the high school staffing formula and restored interventionists, instructional coaches and social‑emotional supports after community and staff feedback. Staff also noted levy funds currently cover about 744 teaching positions this year and are projected to cover about 718 next year; the superintendent said those levy-funded positions total about $4,000,000 in the budget presentation.

Title I and district reserves: district staff said the Oregon Department of Education is predicted to release the district’s Title I allocation on the Wednesday following the meeting; the superintendent said the district expected those funds to be returned to schools (district staff described 25% of Title I funds had been held back earlier and were expected to be released). District staff described Title I dollars as school‑level funds with parameters set by federal law and local school improvement plans; principals decide how to use those funds within federal rules.

Staffing and reductions: district finance staff told the board the district expects an approximate reduction of about 240 full‑time equivalent (FTE) positions based on filled positions and vacancies at the time of the report; the proposed budget compared to a prior-staffing snapshot reflected a reduction of about 270 FTE. Presenters said about 57 of the reductions were teacher FTEs in the snapshot they presented. Staff emphasized that FTE figures can vary depending on whether the comparison uses adopted budgeted positions or current filled positions.

Central-office cuts and public concern: multiple board members pressed staff for greater transparency about central‑office reductions contained in the budget’s broad line-item categories — for example, professional development, contracts, and travel — that together showed multi‑million-dollar reduction targets. Staff said many contract and service changes remain under negotiation and that the district has implemented a spending freeze and careful hiring review while it finalizes details. Board members and public commenters asked for line‑by‑line disclosure of reductions so the community can see which services are being reduced or renegotiated.

Public comments: the meeting drew several public comments. Erin Frazier of the Center for Black Excellence urged a site announcement for the Center for Black Student Excellence. David Contreras Machado of Latino Network warned against across-the-board cuts to culturally specific RDSJ (racial equity/social justice) programs and urged the board to preserve longstanding partner relationships. Angela Bonilla, president of the Portland Association of Teachers, asked that restored Title I funds be directed to school staffing and reiterated concerns about core-enrichment staff traveling to multiple sites.

Vote and next steps: the budget committee approved the proposed budget and the imposition of property taxes on a 5–0 voice vote. Staff said any changes that arise from the forthcoming Title I allocation or later negotiations will be reflected ahead of the June 10 adoption vote. Several board members signaled they expect continued briefings and a more detailed accounting of central‑office cuts before adoption.

Ending: The May 19 vote moves the superintendent’s proposal forward; board members and community groups requested clearer line‑item transparency about central‑office reductions, and staff said they would continue negotiating and return with more detail before the June 10 adoption vote.