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North Marion SD 15 board to issue reduction notices amid funding uncertainty; approves transfers and a budget committee appointment
Summary
Facing uncertain state funding, district officials told the North Marion SD 15 school board they will issue reduction-in-force notices this week; the board approved nonresident transfers for 2025–26 and appointed Jocelyn Schuster to the budget committee.
At a meeting that began at 6:00 p.m., the North Marion SD 15 school board approved routine consent items and took personnel and budget-related actions while district staff warned that staffing reductions may be necessary amid volatile revenue estimates.
District staff told the board the district's adjusted December–June ratio left 2024–25 roughly $70,000 lower than projected, an early estimate for 2025–26 showed about a $146,000 increase, and a subsequent 2024–25 estimate reduced revenues by another $27,000 — leaving the district roughly $50,000 ahead compared with the earliest figures but still subject to change as state numbers arrive.
Why it matters: staff said the district cannot rely on uncertain legislative outcomes and that forthcoming state numbers could materially change the budget. The board was told that reduction (layoff) notices will be issued in person on Thursday; reassignment or transfer announcements will not occur at that time. Staff said the notices are the immediate priority and that further staffing decisions will follow as new information arrives.
‘‘We will be issuing reduction notices this Thursday. Those will be delivered in person,’’ a district official said, adding that the district would not make reassignment announcements concurrently to avoid confusion if recalls occur later.
The board also handled two formal actions. A motion to appoint Jocelyn Schuster to the budget committee passed after a brief discussion about potential conflicts of interest; a board member asked whether the appointee was married to a current staff member or parent, and the board was told there was no conflict. The board then approved the recommendation to accept nonresident transfers for 2025–26 by voice vote.
Board procedure: the agenda and consent items were adopted earlier in the meeting by voice vote. The motions to appoint the budget committee member and to approve nonresident transfers were moved and seconded on the record and carried by voice vote; the meeting minutes do not record a roll-call tally of individual yes/no votes.
District context and next steps: presenters said the district will receive final state school fund numbers for 2023–24 on May 15, and noted uncertainty about a possible high-cost disability refund estimated between 30% and 80% of amounts over $30,000 per student — a spread staff said could create more than $200,000 of variation for the district. Officials said they will continue to update the board as state figures and legislative actions become clear. The board then recessed for executive session under ORS 192.662 to review the superintendent’s performance.
The board meeting record shows the district moved forward with personnel notifications this week but did not take a formal vote on layoffs during the public session; the announced plan was to issue notices and resume personnel decisions as recalls or additional funding information becomes available.
