Oregon Public Broadcasting

Summer vacation will come three days sooner than expected for kids in the Pendleton School District.

Administrators decided Wednesday to end the school year early to save money.

Governor Ted Kulongoski has asked school districts and state agencies to identify nine percent in reductions after the most recent revenue forecast. 

Michelle Jones is director of Business Services for the Pendleton school District. She says the district is saving about $200,000 by closing early.

Michelle Jones: "We have cut an immense amount in our budget in the last ten years, and we're losing the areas that we can trim that don't affect the classroom. The students caught wind of it over the weekend and mass text messaging has been going on. I don't think that the students at this point are that disappointed."

Jones says the district needs to find another $1 million in cuts to make up for the shortfall.