March 11, 2011
Dear Parents and Guardians,
At this point, most parents are aware of the difficult choices North Clackamas is facing as we anticipate a school funding shortfall that may exceed $14 million. Our Education Redesign plan includes proposals to:
• Reinstate a $25 fees for high school activities;
• Change graduation requirements to align with state requirements;
• Close Clackamas and Campbell Elementaries; move Sojourner to share Concord’s campus; and
• Reduce high school programs (due to the necessary reduction of 140 teachers);
Planning around potential changes has put the district under some tight time constraints as we work to get our school system ready for the next school year. In a typical year, high school course forecasting would be completed in February,but this year that process must be delayed.I apologize for the printing of high school catalogs and the launch of course forecasting before the School Board considered high school program reductions. In the effort to move forward with the complicated, lengthy process of scheduling and staff reductions, our team got ahead of the decision process. Until the Board makes decisions on program reductions, high school forecasting has been delayed.
The proposals before the Board could result in dramatic changes that would impact each family in our school district.
Therefore, the Board will take the time needed to allow them to fully understand the recommendations of district leaders.
The March 17 School Board meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the commons at Rex Putnam High School. Only the first 30
minutes of the public meeting will be reserved for public comments, limited to 3 minutes per person, with comments on
proposed reductions to high school course offerings given first priority. Those who wish to address the board should sign
up on the list at the door. The remainder of the meeting will provide the Board with time to consider these proposals and
to ask questions of district staff. At this meeting, the Board may make decisions on any or all of the following proposals:
fees, graduation requirements, school closure/consolidation, and high school program reductions.
I am grateful for the substantial input from parents, students, and staff throughout the education redesign process, starting
in September. From focus groups, school meetings, and January forums, to surveys, letters and school board meetings,
we have done our best to inform our community every step of the way. Your input and support of our schools is
important to us as we face some of the toughest decisions in the history of our school district. While we understand that
not everyone will agree with every recommendation, I believe we all share a common commitment to the students of our
community.
When decisions are made, know that we will keep you informed and work to help students and families make any needed
transitions for the coming school year.
Respectfully,
Tim Mills
Superintendent
North Clackamas Schools
Besides Gov. Ted Kulongoski, supporters of the $733 million tax hike include:
* Our Oregon. This group is organizing an effort to support the tax hikes. Kevin Looper, a spokesman, said, "The overall campaign can be succinctly summarized as greed vs. need."
* Former Gov. John Kitzhaber announced in September 2009 that he supports the tax hikes. Kitzhaber, who is a potential candidate for governor in 2010, said,"I don't see any positive outcome from this ballot measure fight. We are going to create enormous divisions and polarizations between business and labor, which are two of the key coalitions that have got to come together if we are going to come out of this recession whole."
* Oregon State University faculty support both Measures 66 and 67. In a letter on January 20, 2010 university president Dwaine Plaza said,"These tax increases would prevent deeper cuts in education, health and human services and public safety than those already made to address a projected $4 billion shortfall in General Fund revenues. As an educator in higher education, I believe those tax increases are necessary and so a YES vote on Measures 66 and 67 is critical."
* Defend Oregon is the main organizer for the "Yes on 66 & 67" campaign.
Arguments
Vote Yes For Oregon ad, 11-27-09
According to supporters of both tax hikes:
* 97.5% of taxpayers will NOT see their taxes increased
* the taxes protect about $1 billion in services, such as: education, health care and public safety
* the taxes will preserve class size, preserve jobs, provide health care through the Oregon Health Plan
* will help protect those "hit the hardest - seniors, children and the unemployed" but the state's economic crisis
* with the proposed corporate tax Oregon will have the 5th lowest corporate taxes
* partnerships, LLCs, LLPs and S corporations will pay a flat $150 corporate minimum
* sole proprietorships will continue to pay $0 in corporate taxes
* Supporters argue that if measures 66 and 67 aren't approved, jobs will be lost.
* The minimum corporate tax hasn't been updated since 1931 and would still be the lowest in the Pacific Coast if Measure 67 is approved.
* Sen. Alan Bates and Rep. Peter Buckley argue that if the measures are not approved by voters, Oregon will face a "downward spiral" in education and public safety. Bates said, "we're barely maintaining K-12 funding...It's been cut, cut, cut for the 10 years I've been in the legislature."
***
***Oregon taxes the "rich" to help save schools and jobs=UTTER FAIL. Clackamas alone is cutting 140 teachers. I received the above letter today.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
At this point, most parents are aware of the difficult choices North Clackamas is facing as we anticipate a school funding shortfall that may exceed $14 million. Our Education Redesign plan includes proposals to:
• Reinstate a $25 fees for high school activities;
• Change graduation requirements to align with state requirements;
• Close Clackamas and Campbell Elementaries; move Sojourner to share Concord’s campus; and
• Reduce high school programs (due to the necessary reduction of 140 teachers);
Planning around potential changes has put the district under some tight time constraints as we work to get our school system ready for the next school year. In a typical year, high school course forecasting would be completed in February,but this year that process must be delayed.I apologize for the printing of high school catalogs and the launch of course forecasting before the School Board considered high school program reductions. In the effort to move forward with the complicated, lengthy process of scheduling and staff reductions, our team got ahead of the decision process. Until the Board makes decisions on program reductions, high school forecasting has been delayed.
The proposals before the Board could result in dramatic changes that would impact each family in our school district.
Therefore, the Board will take the time needed to allow them to fully understand the recommendations of district leaders.
The March 17 School Board meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the commons at Rex Putnam High School. Only the first 30
minutes of the public meeting will be reserved for public comments, limited to 3 minutes per person, with comments on
proposed reductions to high school course offerings given first priority. Those who wish to address the board should sign
up on the list at the door. The remainder of the meeting will provide the Board with time to consider these proposals and
to ask questions of district staff. At this meeting, the Board may make decisions on any or all of the following proposals:
fees, graduation requirements, school closure/consolidation, and high school program reductions.
I am grateful for the substantial input from parents, students, and staff throughout the education redesign process, starting
in September. From focus groups, school meetings, and January forums, to surveys, letters and school board meetings,
we have done our best to inform our community every step of the way. Your input and support of our schools is
important to us as we face some of the toughest decisions in the history of our school district. While we understand that
not everyone will agree with every recommendation, I believe we all share a common commitment to the students of our
community.
When decisions are made, know that we will keep you informed and work to help students and families make any needed
transitions for the coming school year.
Respectfully,
Tim Mills
Superintendent
North Clackamas Schools
Besides Gov. Ted Kulongoski, supporters of the $733 million tax hike include:
* Our Oregon. This group is organizing an effort to support the tax hikes. Kevin Looper, a spokesman, said, "The overall campaign can be succinctly summarized as greed vs. need."
* Former Gov. John Kitzhaber announced in September 2009 that he supports the tax hikes. Kitzhaber, who is a potential candidate for governor in 2010, said,"I don't see any positive outcome from this ballot measure fight. We are going to create enormous divisions and polarizations between business and labor, which are two of the key coalitions that have got to come together if we are going to come out of this recession whole."
* Oregon State University faculty support both Measures 66 and 67. In a letter on January 20, 2010 university president Dwaine Plaza said,"These tax increases would prevent deeper cuts in education, health and human services and public safety than those already made to address a projected $4 billion shortfall in General Fund revenues. As an educator in higher education, I believe those tax increases are necessary and so a YES vote on Measures 66 and 67 is critical."
* Defend Oregon is the main organizer for the "Yes on 66 & 67" campaign.
Arguments
Vote Yes For Oregon ad, 11-27-09
According to supporters of both tax hikes:
* 97.5% of taxpayers will NOT see their taxes increased
* the taxes protect about $1 billion in services, such as: education, health care and public safety
* the taxes will preserve class size, preserve jobs, provide health care through the Oregon Health Plan
* will help protect those "hit the hardest - seniors, children and the unemployed" but the state's economic crisis
* with the proposed corporate tax Oregon will have the 5th lowest corporate taxes
* partnerships, LLCs, LLPs and S corporations will pay a flat $150 corporate minimum
* sole proprietorships will continue to pay $0 in corporate taxes
* Supporters argue that if measures 66 and 67 aren't approved, jobs will be lost.
* The minimum corporate tax hasn't been updated since 1931 and would still be the lowest in the Pacific Coast if Measure 67 is approved.
* Sen. Alan Bates and Rep. Peter Buckley argue that if the measures are not approved by voters, Oregon will face a "downward spiral" in education and public safety. Bates said, "we're barely maintaining K-12 funding...It's been cut, cut, cut for the 10 years I've been in the legislature."
***
***Oregon taxes the "rich" to help save schools and jobs=UTTER FAIL. Clackamas alone is cutting 140 teachers. I received the above letter today.