Why is Oregon City School District balancing their budget on the backs of classified staff?

Every day, Oregon City classified staff are on the front lines, caring for our kids — preventing bullying, keeping kids safe, being a friend to our most challenged students and helping all students learn.

But Oregon City School District has recently decided to reduce more than 20 classified employees, the majority of whom would be coming directly out of classrooms. Cuts to our staffing levels result in cuts to the services we provide to students. It is not sustainable. Staff cuts hurt kids.

A school district cannot survive or thrive without its classified employees. The work that is done by this group of people is vital to the success of the students and the process of education itself. Oregon City School District needs caring, qualified classified professionals in our schools.

Our school district is a community. When each of us does our part and works together with everyone else to make the district a better place, the community thrives. Our classified staff make it possible for education to take place:

• Instructional assistants work alongside teachers every minute of their day: hands-on, one-on-one with children, coaxing them out of dark discouragement into the light and joy of successful learning.
• Secretaries and office staff work together to assist members of our community with positive, caring, friendly reception – while drying tears, bandaging wounds and tending sick children until parents can arrive.
• Maintenance, facilities and custodial staff work faithfully to keep our buildings beautiful, in good repair and clean, sanitary and welcoming.
• Our transportation department works ceaselessly to ensure our students have a safe, stable way to get to and from school.
• Nutrition services prepare and serve healthy meals so all children can learn.
• Information and technology specialists, the heart of our communication, work endlessly to keep our server, programs and computer systems stable and our students connected.
• Campus monitors work tirelessly as the peacekeepers to ensure the safety of our population.
• The list goes on and on!

In the classroom and behind the scenes, classified staff work hard to keep schools running and help students learn. Oregon City School District’s current proposal eliminates the positions of many staff who have the closest relationships with students and community members: instructional assistants and secretaries. These cuts will have a direct, immediate and adverse impact on our students. Staff cuts hurt kids.

We are a community with one goal in mind: successful, whole, healthy students! Such a community has needs if it is to succeed. It’s time to reverse the proposed cuts so we can continue to provide quality student education and care. Oregon City School District has a community reputation to uphold. The bottom line: if our kids are going to thrive, they need classified staff by their side. Staff cuts hurt kids.