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These current cuts to Portland Public Schools are heartbreaking, but rallying to "save PE" or "save classroom teachers" for the coming year misses the point.  We have a broken revenue system in Oregon, and without statewide changes we'll be cutting and cutting for the next ten years. 

We need to hold our decision makers accountable for getting us off the boom and bust cycle.  A no-brainer first step is to reform the kicker and set up a robust rainy day fund for schools.  A second step is to elect quality, forward thinking, can-do leadership in the fall.  I am not inspired by legislative leadership telling Oregonians "not to panic."  I am inspired by politicians who care about student achievement, not just funding, and who are willing to take the bold steps necessary to stabilize our school funding so the conversation can turn to how our kids are doing, rather than what are we cutting.

posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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