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District officials say adding 180 days would be costly without state funding
Summary
Superintendent Jennifer Shealy and staff told the legal budget committee that the governor's push toward 180 instructional days would impose significant costs on Lake Oswego SD and reduce local discretion unless additional funding accompanies the mandate.
Superintendent Jennifer Shealy told the legal budget committee that the governor's executive order encouraging 180 instructional days raises difficult trade-offs for the district without extra funding. "We cannot ask our staffs to work without pay and we would not want to do that," Shealy said, noting the district counts conferences and certain professional development hours toward instructional time under current state rules.
Committee members asked for cost estimates. Assistant Superintendent Stuart Ketzler offered a working order-of-magnitude: "So is it Bridal? $500,000 a day," he said when estimating a single district-wide instructional day. Members and staff discussed how instructional time is defined by hours rather than days in Oregon and that converting conferences or other time categories could change the district's day count but would not be free.
Board members and citizen committee members emphasized the educational value of more days while also acknowledging fiscal realities. One member urged advocacy for more state funding so districts could extend instructional time without sacrificing local program priorities.
