To the editor: On Nov. 2, residents in the Oregon school district will have a critical choice to make regarding the future of our schools and community. The Oregon City schools are on the ballot for a 5.9 -mill emergency operating levy. The levy will be collected for five years and will go towards the day-to-day operations of our schools including teachers, textbooks, utilities, and supplies.

Our schools operate in a fiscally responsible manner. Just like you, we are feeling the tough economic times. Many of our fiscal challenges are due to declining revenues from state and local resources totaling an $8 million loss from our district’s current operating budget. The economy is affecting everyone and our revenue projections continue to look grim.

Over the past four years, we have made cuts and enacted cost savings to our budget in order to live within our means. We have eliminated $7 million from our budget through long-term, district-wide strategies such as reducing staff positions and various programs. In fact, our current budget is less than what we operated on in the 2005-06 school year.

Understanding the need to provide quality education in these challenging times, our employees have responded by accepting an across-the-board permanent salary freeze for the 2010-2011 school year.  This makes it three out of the last four years that the staff has agreed to wage concessions and a restructuring of health care benefits.

These salary and wage concessions will save the district approximately $1.3 million this year. Not only do these actions save money, it also avoids further staff layoffs meaning more teachers in the classroom and lower class sizes.

We have stretched our dollars for as long as possible and the need for additional funding is now. The 5.9-mill emergency operating levy is a lean request and was based upon feedback from our residents. Our schools reflect the values of our community and your vote for the Nov. 2 ballot issue will help continue the success of our schools and the quality of our community.
Michael E. Zalar,
Superintendent, Oregon City Schools

Lake character praised
To the editor: Courageous, sacrificial, tough, determined, resilient, and, in some cases, even heroic:  these words capture the efforts and character of the Lake community during and after the June 5 storm, especially the Lake Township policemen, firemen, street and road crews, leaders, churches, and volunteers.

It has now been 60 days since the storm.  So much has already been accomplished. So much is yet to be done to rebuild our homes, our township building and park, our high school, and most difficult of all, our lives.

Lake schools want to express sincere gratitude to our community members and its leaders for your unflagging efforts and support.  Trustees Melanie Bowen, Rich Welling, and Ron Sims, Police Chief Mark Hummer, Fire Chief Todd Walters, Millbury Mayor Mike Timmons, and Walbridge Mayor Dan Wilczynski have all provided us with living examples of strong and effective leadership during a time of crisis.  Mark Wagoner, our state senator, and Randy Gardner, our state representative, have also been at our side advising and advocating for us from the start.

Lake schools and the board of education members sincerely thank all of you and we praise God for you and your ongoing assistance, support, and prayers.  Lake will, indeed, pull through this “united and strong.”
Tim Krugh
President, Lake School Board

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