Portland Public Schools to Cut 120 Teaching Positions

Portland, Oregon — A statewide funding cut of 9 percent has left Portland Public Schools with a $19 million hole in its budget for the coming year. Up to 180 teacher jobs were at one time on the chopping block, but the district has opted to cut only 120 jobs. The layoffs will save about $13 million, leaving the rest to be filled in by federal funds that haven’t yet materialized. Special education positions will be hardest hit by the cuts. 60 special education positions are currently set to be eliminated.

Board co-chairwoman Ruth Adkins said she was pleased that fewer teachers would be losing their jobs than had initially been feared, but warned that in such a dismal economic climate more layoffs are likely next year.