Committee asks board to consider resolution and cost analysis after state cuts to outdoor school funding

Michelle Chase Miller, director for Zone 4, proposed a resolution Aug. 14 asking the full Board of Education to direct the superintendent to provide an analysis of outdoor school costs and options to preserve a five-day student experience for the coming year.

"I would like to propose that we consider a resolution to direct the superintendent to provide a comprehensive analysis of the per student and total cost of outdoor school before and after the passage of measure 99," Miller said.

Dr. Armstrong, the district superintendent, reported that Multnomah ESD (MESD) and other statewide partners had notified districts of a roughly 20% reduction to Oregon’s statewide outdoor school funding amount — an estimated $12,000,000 over the biennium — and that MESD was considering shifting from the current six-day staffing model to four days because of the losses.

"The Oregon statewide outdoor school program experienced a 20% reduction. That's about 12,000,000 over the biennium," Dr. Armstrong said, summarizing information received from Paul Coakley, superintendent of Multnomah ESD. Armstrong said MESD was discussing calendar and staffing revisions and that site partners may be asked to respond quickly to planning changes.

Board members and staff described three near-term objectives: (1) obtain a clear per-student and total-cost analysis comparing pre-Measure 99 and current funding levels; (2) identify district budget adjustments or alternative funding sources that could preserve a five-day outdoor school experience this year without cutting direct student services; and (3) coordinate with other districts and ESDs and begin outreach to legislators where state-level decisions affected allocations.

Members asked staff to be realistic about the district’s operating deficit and noted that identifying any local funds would likely require trade-offs or temporary use of activity funds. Christina Howard and staff confirmed the district has a student activities travel fund but said those funds also support eighth-grade field trips and other student activities. One staff estimate discussed at the meeting put the difference tied to the program change at roughly $665,000 — about the equivalent cost of 4.3 licensed teachers — but staff cautioned that final cost estimates depend on MESD decisions about calendar and staffing.

Committee members recommended the board add the resolution and an informational update to the Sept. 9 board meeting so members of the full board could decide whether to adopt a resolution, vote to direct the superintendent directly, or accept staff updates and await further information. The committee noted the board could pursue near-term outreach to legislators and consider fundraising or district-level budget adjustments while staff continue negotiations with MESD.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the resolution itself (the committee's charter role prevents formal action on this item). Members reached consensus to request that the chair and vice chair add the resolution and an update to the Sept. 9 full board agenda so the board can decide next steps.

Paul Coakley, superintendent of Multnomah ESD, was cited as informing the district that MESD may need to change its staffing and calendar model for outdoor school; MESD and PPS staff planned additional meetings to clarify MESD’s timeline and the date by which MESD would need funding commitments to preserve a five-day model.

Committee members and staff said they would continue exploring options and asked staff to provide cost comparisons and funding options to present at the Sept. 9 meeting. The committee scheduled its next meeting for Sept. 18, 2025.