Springfield schools face $7.9 million shortfall, 33 jobs could be cut

Springfield Public Schools is bracing for another round of cuts that could reach deep into classrooms, with officials saying as many as 33 full-time jobs may be eliminated for the 2026-27 school year. District leaders said the pressure will likely show up where families notice it most: in staffing, school supplies, technology purchases and curriculum materials that help shape day-to-day instruction.

Chief Operations Officer Brett Yancey told the budget committee Thursday night that the district is trying to protect core classroom and district needs while closing a $7.9 million shortfall. Springfield Public Schools has already trimmed its estimate from a $10.4 million deficit in February to the current projection, but the gap remains large enough to force staffing reductions. The district says about 79% of its operating budget goes to personnel, making job cuts a central part of the fix.

The proposal now before the Springfield Public Schools Budget Committee would reduce certified staff by 60.5 FTE, classified staff by 22.6 FTE and administrative staff by 13.5 FTE. District materials say the committee includes five School Board members and five community members, and it can meet up to three times before a public hearing and final board action before the new fiscal year begins July 1. If the plan is approved, layoffs could begin in the summer.

District leaders said the shortfall is being driven by declining enrollment, reduced revenue, the use of one-time reserves to balance 2025-26, and higher costs for salaries, insurance and operations. Enrollment has fallen since 2018-19, and because Oregon school funding is largely tied to student counts, fewer students mean fewer state dollars. Springfield also said its four-year graduation rate has climbed from 56.7% to 76.9% over 17 years, underscoring the strain of a financial crisis that is landing even as some academic results improve.

Families and staff have already been through one painful round of cuts. In January, Springfield Public Schools approved a reduction in force affecting 36 positions, including 27 certified FTE layoffs. The Springfield Education Association filed an unfair labor practice complaint, arguing the district used mid-year layoffs to influence bargaining and gave workers little warning. Students protested in downtown Springfield, and recall petitions were launched against school board members after the vote.

Yancey said the district is now looking at smaller cuts to school supply budgets, technology spending and curriculum purchases as it tries to avoid deeper damage. Still, the path ahead points to a district with fewer resources, tighter staffing and more pressure on classroom supports unless enrollment rebounds soon.