Springfield Public Schools to Present Proposed 2026–27 Operating Budget

Springfield Public Schools (SPS) will present its proposed 2026–27 operating budget to the Budget Committee on May 7, marking a key milestone in the District’s annual budget development process. The proposed budget is currently available for review.

The proposed budget reflects months of planning, analysis, and community engagement as the District works to address a projected $7.9 million budget deficit for the upcoming school year. Like many districts across Oregon, SPS continues to face financial challenges driven by declining enrollment, reduced revenue, and rising operational costs.

“Developing this budget has required careful consideration and difficult decisions,” said Acting Superintendent Jodi O’Mara. “At its core, this budget is about people: our students, our families, and the educators and staff who support them each day. It is also a call to action. While we have worked diligently to align resources with our priorities, a significant gap remains between what our students need and what the current funding level provides.”

To meet budget requirements and align staffing with declining enrollment, Springfield Public Schools must implement significant staffing reductions compared to the 2025–26 adopted budget.

“These reductions carry meaningful consequences,” O’Mara said. “They will affect class sizes, student supports, and our overall operational capacity. While we have worked to prioritize classroom instruction and minimize the impact on students, reductions of this scale will be felt across the system.”

Proposed staffing reductions include:

• Certified Staff: Reduction of 60.5 FTE
  • Includes 36.0 FTE reduced mid-year  and 12.5 FTE reallocated out of the general fund to other funding sources.
  • The total number of certified staff reductions proposed in the 2026-27 budget  from current staffing levels is 12 FTE.
• Classified Staff: Reduction of 22.6 FTE
  • Includes 12.6 FTE reduced following collective bargaining agreement in 2025-26.
  • The total number of classified staff reductions proposed in the 2026-27 budget from current staffing levels is 10 FTE
• Administrative Staff: Reduction of 13.5 FTE
  • Includes 2.0 FTE reduced following collective bargaining agreement in 2025-26.
  • The total number of administrative reductions proposed in the 2026-27 budget from current staffing levels is 11.5 FTE.

These reductions reflect a combination of:

• Adjustments already made during the 2025–26 school year
• Enrollment-driven staffing changes
• Proposed reductions for the 2026–27 school year

All reductions are measured against the 2025–26 adopted budget baseline.

Despite these changes, the District has worked to prioritize student-facing services wherever possible. However, officials note that reductions of this magnitude will inevitably impact the overall student experience, including larger class sizes, fewer support staff, and reduced program capacity.

The Budget Committee consists of five community members and five Board members. They can meet up to three times in May to approve the budget. The Board must adopt a budget by June 30.