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Coquille SD 8 board directs $1.8 million budget reduction after superintendent reports enrollment decline
Summary
After a superintendent presentation showing multi-year enrollment declines and potential staffing impacts, the Coquille SD 8 board directed a $1,800,000 reduction in next year's budget following executive session; the motion passed with no recorded opposition.
The Coquille SD 8 board voted to direct the superintendent to reduce next year's budget by $1,800,000 after reviewing enrollment trends and fiscal projections.
During his report, the superintendent told the board that the district's latest enrollment was about 1,181 students and that the district is "19 students below" a prior reference point; he said the district is averaging 14 students down and that projections show a multi-year decline of roughly 145 students over three years, which he said will affect staffing and budget planning. "We cannot continue to operate at the staffing levels that we currently have being down next year a 145 kids over a 3 year window," he said, warning of likely staffing implications.
Board members later discussed a proposed $1.8 million reduction. A motion to table the budget-reduction proposal for more information was made and passed earlier in the meeting. The board then entered executive session to consider exempt records and to review staff performance under Oregon statutes announced from the agenda packet (ORS 192.660(2)(f) and ORS 192.660(8)). After returning to open session, a board member moved and a second was recorded "to direct the superintendent to make a $1,800,000 reduction in next year's budget," and the board voted in favor with the chair calling "Aye" and recording no opposition.
The board previously heard a fiscal projection from the district fiscal director that the district was projecting an ending balance of about $1,031,003 for the year after recent emergency expenses. The superintendent said administrative committees had reviewed data and generated recommendations tied to Senate Bill 141 implementation, but emphasized that the enrollment decline is the critical driver of the current budget direction.
The motion directs the superintendent to prepare budget reductions; the superintendent said he would provide detailed options and staffing-related information in executive session and follow up with the board. No specific personnel actions were announced on the record at the meeting.
The board also approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting and moved on to executive session for further discussion before returning and directing the budget reduction.
