Oregon House OKs school funding; Senate still in limbo

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The sergeant at arms of the Oregon Senate has a new regular duty these days besides assuring protocol and decorum are followed by staffers and visitors: Searching the state Capitol for Republican senators who have been staying away and have brought the legislative body’s business to a halt.

The tactic by the minority Republicans is rare in Oregon, but has been used throughout history, sometimes creating comical scenes. Abraham Lincoln once leapt out of a window in an attempt to deny a quorum when he was a lawmaker in Illinois. In Washington three decades ago, U.S. Sen. Bob Packwood (R-Oregon) was carried feet first into the Senate chamber after Democrats ordered the arrest of Republican senators who were denying a quorum.

The Oregon standoff entered its fifth day Monday, caused by GOP senators’ anger at a bill that raises taxes on some businesses to fund education.

Meanwhile, the Oregon House approved an almost 10% increase in funding for schools.

Lawmakers sent the Senate a $9 billion two-year school budget Monday. That’s $100 million more than what Gov. Kate Brown recommended in her budget proposal.

But legislative analysts say that’s still not enough. The Quality Education Commission recommends the state invest at least $10.7 billion to meet educational needs.

Oregon pays far less per student compared to other states, despite the fact that school funding takes up the largest portion of the state budget.

At least $200 million of the state’s school budget is dependent on a proposed tax on business that’s consumed the Legislature in the past week.

The House on Monday also approved appropriations from the business tax legislation it already passed to add more money for schools.

Here’s the Oregon House Democrats’ release on those actions:

House Approves $9 Billion State School Fund Budget, Advances Student Success Appropriation

Historic funding seeks to build a model public education system for Oregon

SALEM – The Oregon House of Representatives today approved a $9 billion budget for K-12 schools and advanced the nearly $1 billion appropriation bill for the Student Success Act. Combined, this legislation will help transform Oregon’s public schools into a model system that will give every student the opportunity to succeed.

The State School Fund budget, House Bill 5016, is 9.7 percent higher than the current biennium and maintains funding at continuing service levels for the upcoming biennium. It is the largest school budget in Oregon history.

“This session, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make transformational change in our public education system,” said Rep. Susan McLain (D-Forest Grove) who carried the budget on the floor. “This is the first step forward in a better future for Oregon’s kids. A strong budget for our public schools ensures that other investments we make can have the needed impact across the state.”

The budget includes $7.71 billion in General Fund, $535.7 million in Lottery Fund and $103.3 million in marijuana taxes, among other sources. The full State School Fund combines with $4.3 billion from property taxes to be distributed through the school revenue formula.

The State School Fund combined with the Student Success Act will make large investments in school nutrition programs that will ensure that every Oregon student has access to meals.

“In my years as a teacher in multiple districts and communities, I saw countless examples of the need for this funding,” said Rep. Courtney Neron (D-Wilsonville). “Children who are struggling with food insecurity and poor nutrition need our support. Hungry children enter the classroom at a disadvantage. But by ensuring they have access to nutrition, we are also ensuring they are ready to learn.”

Additionally, the House approved House Bill 5047, the 2019-2021 appropriation bill for the Student Success Act, which passed the Oregon House two weeks ago. That legislation, when fully implemented will provide $1 billion per year in additional funding for early learning and K-12 schools.

In the upcoming biennium, as the program gets implemented, it will provide nearly $1 billion in additional school funding. The Student Success Act will specifically allocate:

$472 million in funding for the Student Investment Account, a non-competitive grant for school districts to address student health and safety, broaden curriculum options and reduce class sizes; $170 million in funding for the Early Learning Account to invest in new and expanded early learning programs including pre-kindergarten, Head Start and early child special education; And $265 million for the Statewide Education Initiative Account, which fully funds career and technical education approved by voters in Measure 98, statewide equity initiatives, and additional programs to keep students engaged and successful.

“The Student Success Act is a light at the end of the tunnel for our education system,” said Rep. Barbara Smith Warner (D-Portland), the co-chair of the Joint Committee on Student Success. “These long overdue investments fulfill our long-standing commitment to stable, dedicated funding for our schools, and making the kind of investments our kids need to succeed and achieve their full potential.”

Both bills now go to the Oregon Senate for consideration.