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ODE requests $468,750 for independent oversight of State School Fund modernization
Summary
The Oregon Department of Education asked the Education Subcommittee to forward a $468,750 request to fund an independent quality management service (IQMS) to oversee the State School Fund modernization project for about 18 months; LFO recommended approval and the subcommittee moved the request to the full committee without objection.
The Oregon Department of Education asked the Education Subcommittee on Joint Ways and Means on Jan. 14 to forward $468,750 in general fund authority to pay for an independent quality management service (IQMS) to oversee the State School Fund modernization project.
“For the record, my name is Teneal Weatherill … the total funding request is $468,750 which covers approximately 18 months of IQMS services through 06/30/2027,” said Teneal Weatherill, deputy director of operations at the Oregon Department of Education.
Weatherill told the subcommittee the IQMS will provide an “independent and objective review of project documentation and overall project progress, including risk assessments submitted to DAS Enterprise Information System,” and is required to comply with state quality assurance requirements and responsible project oversight.
Legislative Fiscal Office staff noted the agency’s earlier appropriation package in Senate Bill 5515 included roughly $2.1 million (mostly personnel) to build the modernization tool but did not include IQMS services because DAS had not identified the need at that time.
Committee members sought clarification on timing and cost. Weatherill and Amber Forrester, ODE’s chief financial officer, said the requested amount is an 18-month estimate and that any unspent funds would revert to the general fund. Forrester said the estimate was roughly $250,000 per year and the 18-month estimate under the procurement process would conclude by 06/30/2027.
Ben Deong of the DAS Chief Financial Office recommended the committee consider the request during the 2026 legislative session. The Legislative Fiscal Office recommended appropriating $468,750 of general fund to ODE in the 2026 Budget Reconciliation Bill for independent quality management services.
A co-chair moved the request to the full committee with the LFO recommendation. The subcommittee raised no objection and the motion was carried; Senator Solomon was asked to carry the item to the school committee.
Next steps: the request will be considered by the full committee during the 2026 legislative session; ODE said it expects to return if additional funding is needed in a later phase.
