Budget Cuts Will Hurt Hermiston

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Story Published: Jan 28, 2010 at 7:18 PM PDT

By Kyle Trompeter

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HERMISTON - Well it's the same song, just a different verse this time. Major budget cuts at the Hermiston School District.

"Yeah, it's a déjà vu for the district," said Hermiston Assistant Superintendent Wade Smith.

Let's wind the clocks back a year. In 2009, Hermiston schools chopped 2.4 million from the budget and lost 50 jobs in the district.

Now it's a $3,000,000 cut on top of the 2.4 from last year.
It's likely the district will have to scale back or even lose programs like P.E., music, art, and counseling.

"There is really no other way to make program reductions unless we increase class sizes. So that's what we're looking at for feedback. Are parents willing to deal with larger class sizes if it means the board is able to keep elective and athletic programs for students?" said Smith.

We talked to several kids at the high school about increasing class sizes. They said classes are already deep into the 30's and there is no room for more.

"It's ridiculous. There is already way too many stacked in there. They have to bring extra chairs and desks in. Increasing the sizes any more? I don't think it's physically possible to be honest with you. People are sitting on the sinks it's ridiculous," said Hermiston High Senior Mikey Royer.

What about layoffs? The district was lucky last year by having many of the cut positions coincide with retirements. Not this year.

"I do not see 50 retirees or 50 people moving on so ultimately it will result in loss of employees," said Smith.

January isn't too early to prepare for the big changes in September.

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