Lake Oswego board hears outdoor school funding shortfall; grant cut and higher camp costs could leave families paying up to several hundred dollars per student

Lake Oswego School District officials warned the board that reduced state funding and higher vendor costs have created a significant budget gap for the district’s mandatory sixth‑grade outdoor school program.

Mister Bailey, who presented the item, said the district’s OSU‑linked grant was “reduced, almost over 20%,” while camp costs rose at roughly the same time. Bailey supplied a grant figure and several cost scenarios: the district’s grant this year is approximately $337,652, and if all 522 sixth‑grade students attend, total estimated costs including transportation, teacher stipends and other extras would be roughly $533,322 — creating a potential shortfall of about $195,000.

Why it matters: Outdoor school is an instructional program that requires 24 hours of immersion; the district has, until now, relied on grant funding routed through educational service districts to cover nearly all costs. A large per‑family fee could reduce participation and create equity concerns, board members said.

Key numbers and options discussed

- Past per‑student camp cost cited in presentation: approximately $800 previously, now estimated at $956 per student in at least one scenario. - Grant amount cited by staff: “about 337,652” (rounded in presentation to $337,000 in discussion). - Total estimated cost (all students attend): $533,322 based on 522 students; estimated shortfall: about $195,000. - Staff estimated a possible per‑student family charge in the range of roughly $375 (transcript recorded $3.75 in places; board and staff discussion clarified that figure as about $375) depending on final scenario and enrollment.

Board members and public speakers pressed staff for options: shorten the trip from four days/three nights to three days/two nights, negotiate with MESD or other camp providers for different pricing, examine whether transportation and teacher stipends can be reduced, and confirm how a fee structure and fee waivers would operate.

Equity concerns

Directors and parents repeatedly raised equity concerns: students least likely to attend without a fee may be the ones who would benefit most. Board members asked about fee waivers for qualifying families and whether the district could credit families if the number of attendees dropped and leftover funds remained. Staff explained the grant is fixed and that surplus money would not necessarily be available as a direct rebate to families; the district will try to avoid collecting fees until final participant counts are known.

Next steps

The district reported a short parent survey had been issued to collect interest levels. Board members asked staff to explore shorter trip options (three day/two night) and to continue negotiating with MESD and camp providers for price and scheduling alternatives. Staff said they would follow up with additional costing details within days to inform board decisions.

Ending

Board members said they hope the funding gap is a one‑year problem tied to state cuts but acknowledged there are no guarantees. They asked staff to return with clearer cost estimates, options to reduce per‑family charges and the mechanics of waivers or refunds before the district begins collecting family payments.