Message from Superintendent Sandy Husk regarding today's snow
1.) a message from Superintendent Sandy Husk regarding today's snow:
Dear Salem-Keizer community,
I want to take a moment to explain today's decision regarding keeping school open and on schedule. This morning, we made the best decision we could with the information that we had. Knowing what we know now about the road conditions, we would have made a different decision. I want to re-iterate that if at any time you feel it is not safe for your child to travel to school, you can make that personal decision to keep him or her home.
Thank you,
Dr. Sandy Husk
Superintendent, Salem-Keizer Public Schools
2.) This is a summary of information shared with Salem-Keizer staff this week regarding the budget outlook for this school year and the next. Here are the highlights.... for the complete message, go to http://www.salemkeizer.org/content/superintendents-update-budget-posted-feb-24
>>> Shortfall for THIS school year is now estimated at $12 million. This does include some of the federal stimulus money, but not all. We will know later in the spring the complete amount going toward Salem-Keizer and the rules attached to the money.
>>> Oregon Legislature discussing applying more stimulus money for schools for this year. That would give Salem-Keizer another $3 million. But this proposal has not yet been voted on.
>>> For next school year (2009-10), we're looking at about a $30 - $40 million shortfall. But that number could be reduced with the use of the federal stimulus and state reserves. It's just too early to have precise numbers since so many variables are still unknown.
Steps we're taking to deal with the budget crisis:
>>> We've already reduced purchases and have frozen hiring of all non-mission-critical positions.
>>> We've asked the employee associations to re-open contracts for discussions so we can discuss topics that impact staff pay and work time. Both associations would like to discuss things informally, but not open formal barganing.
>>> No decisions have been made regarding lay offs, shortening the school year or compensations.
Our primary goal in all of this:
>>> We want to keep the focus on student achievement and do what's best for the children of our schools. Our hope is to retain as many jobs as possible and move through this crisis in a way that brings us closer together as a district and community.
