Proposed 2024-2025 Operating Budget

April 21, 2024

Dear students, staff, and families,

When I arrived in February as interim superintendent, Portland Public Schools was in a period of transition. We faced a $30 million budget gap and needed to act quickly to identify a new, permanent leader. And we had a choice: let our challenges divide us, or unite to work through them together.

Today, I’m sharing my full budget with you. As we engage this budget, we face the same

choice.

We have an opportunity to show our next superintendent the character, resilience and will of this community. It is a chance to make clear that our community remains committed to public education with a conviction that is unmatched by any district I have been part of.

The reality is that, in closing a $30 million gap, we’ve had to propose painful reductions. But we did so carefully and intentionally, with two guiding principles in mind:

1. Minimize impact on students.
2. Continue initiatives that support student achievement.

I hope we can have a productive, respectful discussion about whether this proposal is the best way to balance our budget. I know it’s an imposing document, but I would encourage you to read the proposed budget as it includes fuller details and rationale for our decisions.

I’ve been through hard financial times as a teacher, a principal, and a superintendent, and I know the urge to fight for a specific school or program. Too often, however, fighting for a program becomes fighting against another one – and many call that advocacy. Ultimately, we are one community and any reduction impacting any part of our community is a shared loss.

I believe in this community. In the past two months, I have met so many caring, dedicated people – students, staff, families, and community partners. You have high expectations from your schools, and school leaders have high expectations for themselves. This commitment to our students, coupled with unwavering support for public education, is the backbone of Portland Public Schools.

I know this budget is not what we want for our kids right now. I also know that if we harness our passion, energy, and commitment in unified advocacy, we can lead by example for our students. We can solve the big problems ahead and build a better future – together.

Respectfully,

Dr. Sandy Husk

Interim Superintendent