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Superintendent: No immediate K-12 funding cuts expected; district weighing special-education administrative post
Summary
Superintendent Jim Helmen told the board on March 12 that the short legislative session did not reduce education funding and the district does not currently expect additional cuts; administrators are considering adding an administrative Special Education or Student Services position to manage SPED and administrative tasks.
Superintendent Jim Helmen told the Vernonia SD 47J board March 12 that, following the short legislative session, the district does not expect additional reductions to its education budget and has a clearer sense of its likely ending fund balance.
Helmen said the district must "focus on every student getting what they need" while balancing three priorities: high academic rigor, career and technical education programming, and social/emotional supports. He said administration is evaluating whether to add an administrative position in Special Education or Student Services to manage special-education responsibilities and other administrative tasks if staffing and need warrant it. Helmen said final budget decisions will be made after staff complete data reviews and the budget committee meets in the coming weeks.
Board members asked about presenting a more user-friendly staff FTE summary in the budget documents and requested a copy of a staff workforce survey when it is ready. The district will return to the board with clearer summaries and any recommended staffing proposals as the budget process advances.
