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Superintendent warns of state funding swings, urges ODE review of outdated data
Summary
Milton-Freewater Unified SD 7 Superintendent told the board that some district funding calculations use three‑year‑old data and joined other districts asking the Oregon Department of Education to review the method; he also reported steady enrollment (~1,541) and upcoming summer safety work.
Superintendent (S1) told the Milton‑Freewater Unified SD 7 board that the district and several peers have asked the Oregon Department of Education to review how student funding calculations use older data, saying the results can produce large, unpredictable swings for districts.
"We're using data that's 3 years old," Superintendent (S1) said, arguing that the lag can cause "a 10% swing" in funding calculations that may produce multimillion‑dollar drops for some districts. He said he has signed on to a letter to ODE and is coordinating with the Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA) ahead of the long legislative session, when many education‑related bills are expected.
The superintendent gave an enrollment update, reporting the district at about 1,541 students and noting staffing plans tied to incoming kindergarten class sizes. He also said facilities crews will focus on safety projects over the summer and that planned summer projects will be brought to the board for approval in May.
Board members asked staff to track legislative developments and clarified that board ethics filings (April 15) and budget hearing dates will be corrected in posted materials. The superintendent urged the board to expect heavier legislative activity during the long session and to monitor potential funding impacts to district budgets.
