Oregon Public Broadcasting

The superintendent of the Portland Public Schools proposes cutting up to 200 teachers and other employees. That’s to deal with a $19 million budget hole created by the state revenue shortfall.

Superintendent Carol Smith proposed cutting from a single program at all elementary and middle schools. So she might make deep cuts to physical education or library services, for example.

At the high school level, she wants cuts spread across different programs. Some special ed and English language learning positions will also be eliminated.

School board member David Wynde responded to the proposal, “There are no painless ways to do this. We can’t take $20 million out of this budget after all the money we’ve taken out of this budget for the last 20 years without it having an impact on kids and families. But we have no choice”

Smith says the district could save several million dollars by cutting teacher salaries or by postponing a scheduled 2 percent cost of living increase.

But the district and the teachers union agreed to a contract earlier this year, and the union does not want to re-open discussions.

The school board will hold a public hearing on the proposed cuts next week.