Hello Ockley Green Families,

Recently, you have heard the news that Portland Public Schools (PPS) is facing a $10 million shortfall for the remainder of this school year updates from district leadership This is in addition to the $50 million shortfall for the 2026–27 school year. I want to share what the budget outlook for 2026-27 means specifically for our Ockley Green community.

We have finalized our staffing plan for 2026–27. The good news is that our enrollment remains relatively stable, which means we are not experiencing significant reductions due to a loss of students. However, districtwide changes will still impact us in the following ways:

• An increase in the student-to-staff ratio, which means fewer instructional positions and somewhat larger class sizes; and

• A reduction in funding for support roles previously allocated to us, including Interventionists, Instructional Coaches and Climate Specialists.

Ockley Green will continue to be a Title I school in 2026–27. This funding is critical in helping us support students. Up to 85% of Title I funds can be used for staffing positions that go beyond core programming and that directly align with our School Continuous Improvement Goals. Thus, the funds can not be used to fund positions that provide Core instruction, such as Science or World Language. The remaining funds support important efforts such as family engagement events, additional time for teacher leaders, collaboration between Special Education, ESL, and General Education teachers, school wide Positive Behavior Supports, and other strategies that strengthen student learning and well-being.

Despite careful planning and prioritizing what matters most for students, we did need to make full and partial position reductions affecting nine staff members. Additionally, two staff members have chosen to pursue other opportunities next year. These are never easy decisions, and they affect valued members of our school community.

For those who would like more detailed information, I am sharing the same slides that have been shared with staff. While the information is technical, I believe it is important to be transparent about the impact reductions will have for our school community.

I want to acknowledge the dedication and heart of our staff. Their work has helped strengthen our school community and improve both academic and social-emotional outcomes for students. Even in challenging financial times, our commitment to your children remains steady. We will continue to focus on providing a supportive, engaging, and high-quality educational experience for every student at Ockley Green.

In Partnership,

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal, Ockley Green Middle School