Eugene School District 4J

• Licensed staffing was reduced by 38 FTE which included increasing the student to teacher ratio by 1.0. The ratio increase resulted in reducing the equivalent of 12 teachers at the elementary level, 6 at the middle level and 8 at the high school level.
• Central office and administration budgets were cut $3.8 million.
• Employee contracts were amended which reduced costs by $2.9 million and eliminated one instructional day.

Excellence, equity and choice are the core values that have shaped the Eugene School Board's direction and actions over the last decade. A core belief is that every student in every school can excel. The district's budget process was guided by its mission, core values and beliefs, board goals and key results and focused on the instructional core. Additional considerations included minimizing lay-offs to the extent possible, retaining sufficient funds to manage required functions of the district, and being mindful of long-term consequences of short-term solutions. Budget decisions were influenced by the responses of over 2,500 staff, parents and community members who participated in a survey designed to get input on budget reduction strategies.

In an effort to preserve the instructional core, reserves were drawn down by $12.4 million, and central office and administration budgets were reduced, including reorganization of central services and administrative staff. Collaborative discussions with employee groups resulted in agreements that reduced contract costs by at least 3%. The majority of staffing reductions were achieved through attrition and an early retirement program, requiring that no permanent teaching staff were laid off. These reductions allowed the district to retain after school, summer school and middle-to-high school transition programs, as well as additional funding for schools with higher need students all which are aimed at increasing student achievement.