Oregon Public Broadcasting

Thousands of Oregon students, parents and teachers are expected to use Monday's President’s Day holiday to make their case for school funding at the capitol.  

The rally comes at a time of increasing pressures on school budgets.  Salem correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

A big education funding rally has become a bi-annual event at the state capitol.  But the stakes are higher this year, with talk of school districts closing weeks early due to budget shortfalls.

It’s likely that the federal stimulus package will head off some of those closures this year.  But Oregon lawmakers are looking at what could be a multi-billion dollar gap for the next budget cycle that starts in July.  

Dana Hepper is a lobbyist for the education advocacy group Stand for Children, which is organizing today’s rally.

Dana Hepper:  “Oregon already has some of the largest class sizes in the nation, and one of the shortest school years and so we’re looking to hopefully minimize cuts to education in the midst of the recession and also minimize cuts to other human services that directly benefit children.”

In Oregon, state income taxes make up the largest portion of funding for schools.  Those revenues are falling dramatically as more people lose their jobs.

Lawmakers will get their next update on the state’s financial situation this Friday.