On February 12, 2025, the West Linn-Wilsonville district hosted a public forum to show how district funding was distributed among school costs. The meeting by the district was a wonderful opportunity for PTA members to share with their communities how their students’ needs are being met with their tax money.
Parents often ask themselves, “Where is our money actually going?” The forum included parents, teachers, WLWV staff and two students to listen and learn. Not a question went unanswered, and the major finding of the night was that information is much more accessible than you’d think.
The district holds regular meetings for PTA, WLWV staff, and parents to attend, ask questions, and share ideas. Practices such as district budgeting are performed by volunteers from the community; together making up the Local Education Funding Advocacy.
This committee overseeing the bonds within the district works directly to support the public. Made up of both students’ parents and taxpayers they work to spend money effectively and efficiently. They have faced challenges however, with declining enrollment, inflation of costs, and federal budget cuts.
Without raising the education tax in Oregon, the bonds committee is working to possibly bring back the West Linn-Wilsonville Education Foundation (WLWV Education Foundation), which stopped during COVID.
The recurring issue causing cascading numbers was the pandemic. Enrollment, graduation, and funding all have faced notable drops. For example, before the pandemic, the WLWV Education Foundation used to raise $50-$140,000 a year.
With this money, PTA members at the meeting recommended that preschools be pushed into the spotlight of education within the district- highlighting the highly-trained teachers that they may provide preschool students, especially since the pandemic hit, Kindergarten enrollment is where the drop is most notable.
With this, they may attempt to counter their budget challenges resulting from declining enrollment by “funneling” young students into primary schools and assimilate them into the district.
This also helps with concern from the parents within the meeting, wanting more of a direct route school to school. The idea allows for students and their parents to have a very predictable route from elementary to middle school.
The other solution to this drop was a suggestion that schools encourage as much openness as possible, to show the public how the school itself runs. Principal of Boeckman Creek Primary, Greg James, shares the school’s “Open House policy” to show what they’re all about.
The overwhelming reaction to knowledge such as this is: “Why don’t we as taxpayers know that this is how our money is being spent?” Parents often wished they knew this earlier, and others that already knew, claimed it to be difficult to access.
The bond committee group, however, holds public weekly meetings. Additionally, they release quarterly progress and success reports. These explain both where the state funding is going, and the effectiveness of these payments.
Where the preschool talk went was budgeting and money. If you want a preschool it takes a tad more funding than a bake sale. The public may not want to hear this but property tax is key.
The most likely solution is raising the property tax, maxing at $4.50 per $1000 for education, but isn’t the most fond idea. With the recent decisions in DC to cut the federal education budget, how money will be arranged is a new concern this year because of a slashed budget.
With new policies all education spending relies on the state and local budget and even being part of a strong district, cuts must be made. Jared Alvarez, a teacher and coach for snowboarding and unified sports gives insight on how this all will play out.
Both sides of Alverez’s job will be affected through the classroom and with special education. Alvarez explains how “no matter what, some things can’t be cut.” For example, teachers and courses must be held to maintain class sizes and prepare for college.
On the unified/special education point of view it remains, some things must be kept. The special education department will remain at Wilsonville and prioritize whatever is needed for those with high cost disability but salaries or jobs of helpers could be at risk.
Unified sports and Special Olympics don’t rely on schools but still work hand in hand with them. The effects would only leave funds for the bare minimum. There will be less practices and games, players won’t be able to get new uniforms as often, and spending will be very limited.
Another subject at the meeting that needs funding from our district is the FEC (Family Empowerment Center) within the district. Many students know the FEC as the off-limit parking spots or the child development class, but the FEC helps give all families the same power, opportunities, and access to information.
Imagine you and your family just moved into town and as a parent you don’t speak any English. The difficulties resulting from this would be immense. The FEC offers all different types of language classes and builds a community to help those families.
Coordinated by Maria de Lourdes Horton, they are able to help parents with housing, language learning, reach job help programs, and have community college credit classes to help give more affordable and accessible education.
They don’t stop there, also providing students and community members with opportunities to volunteer alongside the language learning classes, to help teach or support the learning families.
Breaking down this language barrier helps with the FEC’s main goal of empowering parents and families to advocate for and support their children as students.
Unfortunately, despite having access to many district-wide email chains and PTA groups, outreach is hard- especially when the families needing their support most likely already have trouble receiving notices such as those.
Work has been done though- as discussed in the meeting- to get PTA’s more aware and involved in the sharing of the FEC’s goals to more families. Additionally, they are working to increase their social media presence to help garner support.
Schools have too many needs compared to their budget and that’s why the community is needed. Funding comes from the citizens in return for power to make a change. Attend a meeting or share your ideas, you have the power so before you judge you try to make an attempt.
