Dear WLWV Community,

The West Linn-Wilsonville School District continues to prepare the 2024-25 school year budget.  

Budget Reduction Increased to Approximately $10 million for 2024-25

In March, we shared with the WLWV community that the district would need to make approximately $4 million in reductions for the 2024-25 school year and another reduction the following year. Like other Oregon school districts, West Linn-Wilsonville has experienced the depletion of pandemic-related reserve funds, as well as inadequate state school funding lower than actual workforce costs and inflation. Unfortunately, reductions are needed to balance the budget.

As projected revenue becomes more clear, it has become evident that the district will need to make approximately $10 million in reductions in 2024-25. This is approximately 6.5% of the district’s general fund expenditures budget. Based on the 2025-27 state funding biennium allocation, another reduction the following year(s) may or may not be needed. 

What led to the increased reduction from $4 million to $10 million for 2024-25?

In the last month, we have received new information.

• Costs associated with insurance rates, supplies & materials, and utilities are coming in higher than projected. Some as high as 15% more than last year.
• State and Federal grant estimates are just now coming in. Each estimate has been lower than we have received in the past and projected for next year. For example, our overall federal Title grants were reduced by 41% based on census poverty data. Similarly, our state Student Investment Account Grant (our largest grant) is coming in less than we projected for next year.
• The district’s new substitute teacher vendor contract was not factored correctly in March; the correction revealed increased payroll costs of about $3 million. 

Where will the district make the reductions?

The district considers key investments and feedback from both the licensed and classified associations as well as the community.  The 2024-25 Budget Survey (1,000+ responses which includes staff, parents and community) data shows strong support for existing district programs (co-curricular activities, music, arts, world & dual language, preschool, STEM), curriculum for teachers, and mental health support. Hiring quality staff and maintaining effective class sizes remain the top two priorities identified in the survey and for the school district. 

1. Districtwide Department and School Operational Budget Reductions, Approximately $4.5 Million

Reductions include supplies, services, vendor contracts, rentals, utilities conservation, printers, etc. Note: remaining intact for next year will be board-approved curriculum renewal materials for Literacy and Math, as well as arts, music, athletics, and co-curricular programs.

2. District administrative and school/student support personnel (non-classroom positions) Reductions, Approximately $4 Million

Reductions include District Office administration, districtwide classified support staff, licensed support staff and TOSA positions, and reducing WKOA (online program) to service Grades 9-12 only. These personnel will be transferred to other vacant positions in the district or reduced due to natural attrition (retirement, resignation, temporary contracts). 

3. Twelve (12) Primary Classroom Teacher Reductions (due to decreased enrollment since 2020), Approximately $1.5 Million

Average primary class sizes will return to pre-pandemic ranges.

• Pre-COVID
  2017-2018 Average Class Size = 23.7
  2018-2019 Average Class Size = 23.1

• With COVID relief funds/reserve: 
  2019-2022 class size variability due to online, hybrid, return to in-person
  2022-2023 Average Class Size = 21.8
  2023-2024 Average Class Size = 21.6

• With the 12 reductions: 
  2024-2025 Average Class Size = 23.3

Didn’t the Local Option Levy we just passed preserve teaching positions?

Yes, it does. Those 90 positions are still preserved. Positions funded through a local option levy, similar to positions funded through a federal or state grant, supplement the general budget allocation we receive each year from the state.  Unfortunately, the inadequate state school fund which makes up the general budget drives the need for the reductions. The Superintendent’s webinar on how public school budgets are funded describes these distinctions in more detail.

Are There Outstanding Factors that Could Continue to Impact 2024-25 Budgeting?

• Student enrollment impacts budget revenues and expenditures. Declining enrollment could result in staffing changes. The district is actively monitoring this.  

• The district is currently in contract negotiations with the West Linn-Wilsonville Education Association (WWEA) and Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA). The negotiation discussions in our district are highly professional and mutually respectful. Outcomes from these contract agreements may or may not create the need for additional reductions. 

What’s Next in the 2024-25 Budgeting Process?

Superintendent Ludwig will provide the 2024-25 Budget Message at the May 6 School Board meeting. The WLWV Budget Committee will hold its official Budget Meeting on May 20 to review the details of the proposed budget. Once the Budget Committee provides approval, it will go to the WLWV School Board for adoption at the June 10 meeting.

WLWV Commits to Healthy Financial Shape for Future

Making reductions in order to operate within a budget is challenging on many levels. However, these decisions are necessary to ensure long-term financial stability and academic success for our students. To review budget-related documents or recent updates, please visit the district website. Thank you for your feedback, your patience, and your grace as we continue forward with the 2024-25 budget process.

Sincerely,

Kathy Ludwig, Superintendent

Dear West Linn-Wilsonville School Community,

It is that time of year when school districts across Oregon propose their budgets for the next school year. As you are hearing in the news, a number of Oregon school districts have announced proposed budget reductions in order to maintain essential programs going forward.  West Linn-Wilsonville School District will be doing the same. This is due to several factors that impact K-12 school districts: continued labor cost increases, goods & services increases, utilities increases, unfunded recent legislative mandates and the discontinuation of federal pandemic relief grants.  While there are increases in state funds to school districts each year, the percentage increase is consistently less than the labor/market cost roll-up increases to operate the following year. 

2024-2025 Budget Outlook Includes Modest Reductions

During and since the pandemic, WLWV has experienced an enrollment decline of students, but has maintained, or in some places, increased staffing to support students impacted by the loss of in-person instruction, mental health trauma, and disconnection to community. These staffing decisions were justified and needed. But this level of spending is not sustainable in the long term given the budget allocations from the state based on enrollment.

By making modest reductions next year, 2024-2025, and again the year after in 2025-2026, the District anticipates avoiding drastic reductions later on. 

WLWV Reduction Plan Approximately $4 Million

The District plans to reduce resources, programs and staffing by approximately $4 million to the general fund budget next year. This is about 2.6% of our general fund expenditures. The details of these reductions are not yet finalized as the District is in the process of contract negotiations with both employee unions and those associated costs are undetermined at this time. However, all efforts to maintain class sizes on the lower end of our targeted range and maintain direct services to support students will be prioritized. 

Opportunity for Community Feedback

In April, the Superintendent will deliver a community message about the district budget and program areas that the district has prioritized in the past. The community will have the opportunity to provide input, feedback, and suggestions through an online survey about their priorities for the following school year given the need for reductions. 

In May, the Superintendent will deliver the Budget proposal for 2024-2025 school year to the Budget Committee. The Budget proposal will take into consideration feedback from the community and staff. The public is welcome to attend the May board meeting and provide public comment. 

In June, the School Board will vote on the proposed budget for the 2024-2025 school year. The public is welcome to attend the June Board meeting and provide public comment prior to the School Board vote. 

In Appreciation of our Community

The School District appreciates the strong support of our community to ensure quality of programs, staffing levels, and safe & welcoming school environments for our students.  The recently approved Local Option Levy currently funds more than 90 additional teachers/counselors/support staff, supplementing the state school fund. The Capital Bond of 2019 has provided funds to: build and remodel three facilities in response to current needs and future enrollment growth; purchase new and replacement technology; upgrade or implement safety components to school and district facilities. These positions and improvements greatly enhance our school district’s effectiveness and impact on students and we are enormously grateful for the generosity and support of our community.

Let Us Know

Feel free to contact your school office if you have any questions about the upcoming school year and be sure to take the online survey in April that accompanies the community budget message. 

Most sincerely,

Kathy Ludwig, Superintendent