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Lake Oswego SD 7J to cut 64 positions; elementary and secondary class sizes to increase
Summary
District leaders told the legal budget committee they have proposed more than $10 million in reductions for 2025–26 that include 64 position eliminations across district and site levels, seven elementary classroom teacher cuts and 20 secondary classroom staff cuts that will raise average secondary class sizes.
Lake Oswego School District 7J leaders told the legal budget committee they have identified more than $10 million in reductions for the 2025–26 school year and plan to eliminate 64 positions across district and site levels.
"That includes administrators, administrative assistants, facilities, librarians, specialists, wellness professionals, and academic support staff," Superintendent Dr. Shealy told the committee. She said the reductions also include classroom staff: "At elementary, we have reduced by 7 classroom teachers ... maintaining those average targets of kindergarten is 1 to 25, grades 1 to 3, 1 to 26, and grades 4 to 5 is 1 to 28. And then at secondary ... we reduced 20 classroom staff ... which means you have increased class size. And then also that will increase that average class size from 1 to 29 to 1 to 33."
Budget staff presented the cuts as part of a larger financial planning effort. Budget Officer Stuart Kessler told the committee the reductions are part of steps already taken and planned to close a projected gap, and he said the district is working to balance changes while preserving core services.
District leaders said reductions affected both central-office roles and school-based supports; Dr. Shealy said reductions at the elementary level were structured to preserve class-size targets by trimming specialists’ time (PE and innovation) rather than raising elementary classroom averages above the stated targets. At the secondary level officials said electives will be preserved but offered in fewer sections.
Administrators emphasized the cuts were designed to align staff and spending with available resources and that additional state or federal funding changes could affect final decisions. The committee will review the proposed 2025–26 budget on May 7; final school board action occurs in June.
