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Economic clouds loom over district
By Jim Cornelius

An economic storm is brewing on the horizon and the Sisters School District is bracing for its impact.

According to a memo from Ozzie Rose of the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators, "Oregon's projected deficit of $300 million for 2001-3 has grown and will probably exceed $600 million. Some argue that it could be as high as $1 billion."

That's grim news for schools, which depend on funding from the state. Sisters could be facing cuts of $600,000 in its budget over the next couple of years --maybe more.

The state legislature is expected to meet in December or January to determine exactly where cuts will be made in the state budget. Educators hope that education will be at least somewhat protected, but nothing is certain.

"We know it's going to have an impact," schools superintendent Steve Swisher told the school board on Monday, November 5. "Schools aren't going to escape."

According to Swisher, the school district is already battening down the hatches.

"We've already made some cuts, we've made some adjustments," he said.

One teacher who moved to Summit High School in Bend was not replaced and budgeted positions for teaching assistants have been left unfilled.

Along with other savings here and there, that's saved the district some $212,000, Swisher said.

"That's taking up all the slack we can find at the moment," Swisher told the board.

Sisters administrators, like their colleagues around the state, hope to avoid mid-year layoffs and disruptions to the programs that are already underway.

But, this year or next year, cuts will come.

"All in all, it paints a bleak picture," Swisher said.

The real extent of the damage will become more apparent in December, when new economic forecasts are expected from the state government.

See related story, this page.

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