Salem, OR. — Salem-Keizer Public Schools on Monday released a proposed $23 million budget reduction plan aimed at improving the district’s long-term financial stability while maintaining key student programs and academic progress.
District leaders said the proposal follows two years of improving student outcomes and employee job satisfaction, but declining enrollment and rising costs have created structural budget pressures that require action.
Under the proposal, approximately $9 million—about 40% of the total reductions—would come from district-level services. These reductions include cuts to classified, licensed, and administrative staffing, compensation-related expenses, central office operations, professional services, technology equipment purchases, maintenance supplies, professional travel, and a slower replacement schedule for the district’s transportation fleet. Together, these changes are estimated to save roughly $9 million.
The remaining $14 million in reductions would occur at the school level, largely driven by enrollment declines of nearly 3,900 students projected between 2021 and 2027. The district estimates reductions of approximately 60 licensed and 60 classified full-time equivalent positions across 65 schools. District officials emphasized that published student-to-teacher ratios would not increase and that staffing changes are intended to align schools with projected enrollment levels.
Despite the cuts, district leaders said they are protecting programs the community has identified as priorities, including mental health supports, music, fine arts, career and technical education, athletics, extracurricular activities, dual language programs, and advanced coursework. The proposal also includes a targeted investment to reduce blended elementary classrooms by transitioning toward more single-grade classrooms. There are ~60 FTE in reductions proposed for licensed staff and another ~60 FTE reductions for instructional assistants (classified staff).
Superintendent and district leaders are inviting community feedback through multiple engagement opportunities, including an online survey open through February 13, a budget overview video, and community discussion sessions scheduled for February 3 and 4. District officials said feedback from families, staff, and community members will help shape the final budget decisions before adoption.
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