The Oregon House of Representatives passed a $7.255 billion budget for K-12 education for the next two years on Tuesday, March 31. Newberg superintendent Kym LeBlanc-Esparza thanked parents, staff and community members for their e-mails, letters and phone calls urging legislators to fully fund education in Oregon.

“Your voices have made a difference,” said LeBlanc-Esparza. “Legislators seem to recognize that this school funding level is inadequate and that they need to do more.”

LeBlanc-Esparza told district Budget Committee members on Tuesday that good investments and conservative spending will “keep the district solid.” She added that she does not believe the district will have to make reductions and that the cost of adding full day kindergarten next year will be covered.

“It’s not pretty, but we are not cutting the budget,” said LeBlanc-Esparza.

Despite this unusually early budget number for schools, the school funding picture is far from complete. District Chief Financial Officer Gwen Gardner explain that there are a number of unknowns that will impact the bottom line including health care costs, local tax revenue and whether or not schools will receive additional revenue if the economy improves according to the May revenue forecast.

The 14-member Budget Committee meets in a workshop session on April 21st to review the school budgeting process, budget parameters, state school funding formulas and district goals. The first official meeting of the budget committee is on May 5, 2015 at the school district office.