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Federation News
January-February 2011
Tell 2011 Oregon State Legislature:
Time to Reinvest in Public Education
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n 1990-91, Oregon spent $4,760 per student in our K-12 public schools. Twenty years later, Oregon will spend 20 percent LESS – a mere $3,700 for each child. This is just one example of continued disinvestment in education, which extends through community college and university levels. This dangerous trend stands as a threat to Oregon’s economic recovery. Loss of federal stimulus dollars is making for difficult choices, as shown in Governor Kitzhaber’s proposed budget released in February. AFT-Oregon members know that education is the key to economic recovery in Oregon. Now, more than ever, members need to make their voices heard at the bargaining table, and in the Legislature. Overview of Governor’s proposed budget Governor Kitzhaber’s proposal calls for difficult cuts in already strained education programs and other services. It also includes consolidation of school districts, and a “zero to 20” education investment board which would oversee schools, from Kindergarten through Higher Education. K-12 The Governor proposed spending $5.56-billion, nearly $1-billion less than resources needed to fund education programs at an already strained “current service level.” The proposal would rely on “efficiencies” to make up an additional $222-million reduction. This could mean a loss of some 5,000 jobs, or 33 days of schools. (www. OregonBudgetPriorities.org) “While we support the Governor’s attempts at finding efficiencies in the system, short-funding Educational Service Districts (ESD), consolidating school districts, and reducing the transportation grant will not solve the problem,” said Rob Wagner, AFTOregon Director of Political and Legislative Affairs. “Taking money from one pocket and putting it into another, doesn’t magically solve a revenue shortfall.” Higher Education Community Colleges: The Governor’s Budget includes significant cuts to post-secondary education, despite record enrollment. The Community College Support Fund would see a nine percent decrease for the 2009-11 biennium. State funding per student
would drop some 10.6 percent from $1,744 to $1,559 per full-time student in 2011-13, which could result in loss of programs, and tuition hikes. He also proposes an increase in opportunity grants for higher education. continued on Page 6
SHARE YOUR STORY: Register today for Lobby Day Join us on Monday, March 7, 2011, 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., at the Oregon State Capitol for the PLAN Legislative Education Day. With a crop of new lawmakers and new issues facing our members, it’s time to make our voices heard in Salem. Register online at: www.aft-oregon.org. AFT-Oregon and Local 6732 (OSEA) have joined together to hold the 2011 PLAN Legislative Education Day. PLAN is the joint Political and Legislative Action Network. Members from around the state come to Salem to learn about Oregon’s legislative process and educate their legislators about the important role they have in the education and healthcare of Oregon’s students and citizens. Hear presentations from statewide elected representatives, attend legislative sessions, meet with your legislators, attend committee meetings, attend an Oregon AFL-CIO rally for jobs and tour the state Capitol. Lunch will be provided, along with refreshments throughout the day. There is also an optional training and educational program on Sunday, March 6. Please contact AFT-Oregon for more information, at: (503) 595-3880.