Looming Tigard layoffs have parents, educators on edge
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- There were tense moments during Monday night's Tigard-Tualatin school board meeting as several students, parents and teachers pleaded with district leaders about looming layoffs and cuts to some student programs.
The district, facing a $10 million budget shortfall, is grappling with how to handle it.
Superintendent Iton Udosenata outlined an easy-to-understand math problem.
"Over the course of the last five to six years, our staffing has gone up by 14.5% and our enrollment's gone down by 9%," he said. "One of our keys ways in getting funding is in our students, and without students, we can't generate the income that we need."
"Of course there's not enough money. Of course laying off people is horrible. We've said that so many times, I've lost count," said TTSD board member Jill Zurschmeide -- who was then interrupted by people yelling from the crowd.
"Excuse me," she said. "This is a board meeting, where board members speak until it's public comment time."
Jennifer Brown, who is both the Vice President of the Tigard Tualatin Education Association and a 4th grade teacher, said the budget shortfall is "affecting more than 80 of our employees, whether that is through transfers, through layoffs or through reductions in their hours. Beyond that, it's going to have a domino impact amongst a lot of employees in our district."
The Tigard Tualatin Education Association said this will be the 3rd year in a row of job cuts. They're concerned there could be an issue in how the layoff process could be in violation of their contracts.