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Salem-Keizer School Board Authorizes Reduction in Force

Learning for a Lifetime - Salem-Keizer Public Schools

During a special school board meeting on April 16, 2024, the Salem-Keizer School Board of Directors voted to authorize a reduction in force to address an estimated $91 million budget gap for the 2024-25 school year. This vote comes after nearly nine months of critical budget discussion and feedback from the community. 

This action by the board authorizes the district to reduce multiple staff positions, including up to 15 administrative FTE, 239 licensed FTE, and 138.75 classified FTE, effective June 30, 2024.

During the meeting, the board also approved a motion committing to use any additional state school fund monies for the 2024-25 school year to prioritize the reinstatement of student-facing positions.

Learn more details about the recommended reductions

Reduction in Force Requirements

Oregon school districts are required to comply with ORS 324.934 as well as collective bargaining agreements in making decisions related to reductions in force. The board’s role was to authorize anticipated reductions, aggregated by employee group. Salem-Keizer Public Schools is a public entity and must comply with budget law ORS 294.456 which requires that adopted expenses not exceed revenues. 

For the fiscal year 2025, Salem-Keizer Public Schools estimates a $91 million gap between current expenses and estimated revenues. In order to prepare a fiscal year 2025 budget for adoption, the district must reduce multiple staff positions, including up to 15 administrative positions, 239 licensed positions and 138.75 classified positions effective June 30, 2024.

Next Steps

With the board’s authorization, district leadership and human resources will begin the process of the reduction in force, which is governed by state law and collective bargaining agreements.

With a system as large as ours, this process will take several weeks to complete and must be done with the highest level of accuracy. This process is anticipated to conclude by May 17, 2024, when individual staff are notified of impacts.

Schools and department leaders are now working directly with the district to design schedules and department operations under reduced FTE allocations. Once this work is completed, we will be able to clearly identify affected positions and the individuals who currently occupy those positions. Only then will we be able to move forward with the reduction in force procedure to move through seniority, bumping and other systems that govern our reduction in force process. 

May 17 Will Be a Non-Student Contact Day

Friday, May 17, 2024, has been adjusted to be a non-student contact day. This day will be a work day for all employees and will be dedicated to allowing supervisors to have one-on-one conversations with all impacted employees, answer questions and provide clarity and certainty around reductions. 

For your reference, an updated 2023-24 academic calendar with this adjustment is available on the district website.

Learn more about the calendar adjustment for May 17, 2024

Special School Board Meeting Recordings

On April 15 and 16, 2024, the Salem-Keizer School Board held special meetings to hear from district leadership on budget reduction recommendations and hear from the community through public comment. 

Watch the April 15 Meeting on YouTube in English

Watch the April 15 Meeting on YouTube in Spanish

Watch the April 16 Meeting on YouTube in English

Watch the April 16 Meeting on YouTube in Spanish

Learn more about the upcoming reductions in an update from April 11, 2024