Budget plan: 110 teachers laid off

KOIN:

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland Public Schools Superintendent Carole Smith proposed a budget for the 2012-13 school year eliminating 110 teaching jobs and closing two schools. According to the PPS website, the budget proposal -- released Monday evening -- "balances a $27.5 million general fund shortfall with a combination of: reductions in school staffing (that will unavoidably affect class sizes and course offerings), deep reductions to central academic and operational supports and the use of reserves." Smith recommended closing two schools in North Portland that reportedly do not have sufficient enrollment at this time. Humboldt School, a smaller K-8, and the Harriet Tubman Leadership Academy for Young Women, a magnet school for girls. Humboldt students, like 6-year-old Brandon Lloyd, would go to Boise-Eliot about a mile away, along with the teachers who did not get laid off. Smith's proposal would cut 7 percent of Portland's teaching staff, 110 positions. It also would increase class size across the district. However, it would preserve full-day kindergarten. Smith noted that every other school district in the state faces similar budget choices. “Our budget situation is not just a Portland problem, it is an Oregon problem,” Smith said.Smith's proposal is to spend $429 million next year, 2 percent less than last year. The school board will vote on the plan next month. The Board of Education will hold public hearings on the proposed budget:April 9, 2012 at 5 p.m. at Cleveland High School, 3400 SE 26th Ave., Portland.April 11, 2012 at 6 p.m. at Roosevelt High School, 6491 N. Central St., Portland.!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");

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